What Samson teaches Christian Men and Women About the Delilah’s of This World
The whole story of Samson and Delilah has more to teach us than just the characteristic of Delilah. It is not a story about love and romance it is a warning about getting involved with the enemy and thinking it is okay to embrace their life style. The story of Samson and Delilah is more about deception, greed, lust and then destruction. This lesson is for both the men and woman belonging to Christ. We need to remember that sin is a deception and it can be deadly without the saving grace of Jesus Christ. We are special to the LORD God and we need to protect our relationship with Him by heeding His warnings about the worldly. 1 Corinthians 10:6-14
We have looked at the misdeeds of Delilah who betrayed Samson and caused his death. Now let’s have a look at Samson who was chosen before his birth to be dedicated to the service of the LORD God. The life of Samson takes place when the children of Israel one more time turned to idolatry and turned away from the LORD God. Their disobedience caused them to be under the rule of the Philistines for forty years. Samson was raised up and set aside to be for holy use by the LORD God to deliver the children of Israel out of their hands. Forty years in the Bible is always a testing for Israel giving the children of Israel a chance to turn from their ways and once again seek Him.
Samson did not look for a wife from the children of Israel. Instead, he fell in love with three Philistine women. First Samson fell in love with “woman of Timnath,” Judges 14:1-2; then there was the “harlot” in Gaza, Judges 16:1, and then fell in love with Delilah Judges 16:4. This spells out lust any way you look at it. This problem with lust and a series of perverse deviant sexual relationships with the enemy of his people certainly obstructed his ministry as the judge in Israel. It did not stop the ministry it just made things harder for Samson and eventually it lead to the death of Samson.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 is a reminder to all of us chosen by the LORD God: “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.”
Judges 16:4 tells us that Samson “loved” Delilah. Samson loved her so much it cost him his live because he devolved his most guarded secret, where he got his great strength. (Judges 16:17). There is no mention that Delilah loved Samson; on the contrary it tells us she loved wealth. It certainly appears that this Delilah accepted the silver offered by the lords of the Philistines to entice him to give up his secret of great strength.
There are many Delilah in the lives of Christian men and woman who have been chosen to follow Jesus Christ today. This is partially due to the lack of morality in our world and partially due to the desire of the enemy to destroy all those belonging to the LORD God. Just like Samson was chosen at birth to serve the LORD God so are you.
1 Corinthians 6:9-20 reminds us that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. We cannot allow ourselves to be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (or soft), nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous (one eager to have more that belongs to others, also greedy of gain), nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortions, if we are going to inherit the kingdom of God. Those that are washed and sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Holy Spirit must know our body soul and spirit belongs to the LORD God for His service. We were bought with a price and therefore we need to glorify the LORD with all we have.
The story of Samson and Delilah reminds us that the LORD does not want us fall into the traps that are laid by modern Delilah’s and by the devil in our lives today. He will enable us to escape these devil’s traps, all we have to do look to Him and ask Him for deliverance.
1 Corinthians 10:6-8 tells us not to lust after evil things this also includes not being idolaters. This includes any worshipper of false gods, or being a participant in any way in the worship of the heathen, attending their sacrificial feasts and eating of the remains of their offerings. This is also going to include being a worshipper of money. It needs to be said that we all need to be aware that it is not just a matter of sitting down to eat and drink and then getting up to go play and party is included in this warning.
Fornication is a word that is mocked today by the worldly. Whenever there is prostituting of one’s body to the lust of another is to commit fornication and this leads to sin. The fornication and lust that goes on in the world today is readily acceptable and it is like so many are trying to see how vulgar and immoral they can be. Nothing shocks anyone anymore especially when it comes to perverse deviant sexual relationships.
1 Corinthians 10:9-14 continues to instruct us to not tempt Christ or you will be destroyed of serpents. We should not murmur or grumble or you will be destroyed of the destroyer. You have to think and those who stand take heed unless you fall. Temptation is common to man; but the LORD God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able; also if there is a temptation He will make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. Wherefore my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
There was no honesty in the relationship between Samson and Delilah. Samson was so sure in his superior ability that he did not hesitate to lie about his strength three times. Each time Delilah proved she could not be trusted; she went to the Philistines after binding Samson in the manner he had suggested. Samson was guiltier of deception than Delilah was. Delilah was forth coming when she told Samson she wanted to know about his great physical strength so he might be bound to be afflicted. Why didn’t Samson hear that and guard himself against her treachery? Three times Delilah ask for his secret of great strength three times Samson told her a lie. Three times Delilah accused Samson of mocking her and telling her lies.
Samson was playing with sin thinking he could outwit Delilah. It was after the third deception when Samson was dangerously close of losing his life. The game of deception ended up with Samson
The only way any relationship can survive and thrive is for it to be built upon truth and honesty. A good relationship in when both husband and wife strive to honestly help each other for the good of both. It is not in playing a deadly game with sin. It is sad when people start playing with sin thinking they can have fun without crossing the line of committing a “really bad sin.” The problem is they are already committing the sin in their heart. They never realize that the sin has already gain control of them.
Delilah certainly did know what she was doing she played Samson like the preverbal fiddle. She used all her tricks of crying, pointing out what Samson did wrong, and just wore Samson down. She did not mention that she had agreed to betray Samson for a large sum of money or that the Philistines were waiting for the secret to be revealed.
Delilah played that all famous “I you really loved me you would…” card. This is a card that is played all too often today in our society by both men and women. There are many women who sleep with a man outside of marriage because of this “I you really loved me you would…” card. Or the man who would lose his wife and family for the woman who plays the “I you really loved me you would…” card. Just like Samson if you fall for this “I you really loved me you would…” card.
That card can lead both Christian men and women into temptation and sin. When you fall into sin you are endanger of sacrificing your intimacy with the LORD and hurting that relationship that really matters in your life. You can count that sin always will cost you and that cost comes at a high price. Just like Delilah would not stop nagging Samson; satan will not stop nagging you once you have been let into sin.
One last thought about Samson and Delilah would be Samson lost everything including his life. Samson had a purpose to serve the LORD but because he allowed his physical passion to govern his life he was humiliated and lost his ability to continue serving the LORD. He lost his freedom, his dignity, his vision both his sight and the vision that the LORD had planned for him, he was left humiliated. Samson allowed Delilah to govern and control his life instead of the LORD.
Delilah lost nothing she gained a lot of money. She enjoyed the fruits of her deception she destroyed Samson for a price. Yet in the end what she gained would rot and she was actually left with nothing. Mark 8:36-37 says it all, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
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MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “What Samson teaches Christian Men and Women About the Delilah’s of This World: .” Becker Bible Studies Library Oct 2014.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1687 ,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014, October) “What Samson teaches Christian Men and Women About the Delilah’s of This World:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1687 ,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014) “What Samson teaches Christian Men and Women About the Delilah’s of This World:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (October), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1687, (accessed).
