Judges 16:4-17 – Stay alert to resist temptation

Samson was so unaware of the danger that he was flirting with. Twice he had courted dangers and tested the grace of God. Obviously, he had not learned from both his encounters: not with the lady at Timnah, neither with the harlot at Gaza. He seemed to be oblivious to how close he was to his own personal destruction. This is what can happen to a person who does not take the time to evaluate his life. It will do us well to pause periodically to take stock of our journey. We will never be able to change for the better if we have no awareness of the wrong path we have strayed into. And we will never be aware if we do not take the time for some personal soul-searching. Samson obviously did not take time to reflect and take stock of his journey. His nonchalant attitude had caused him to court with yet another danger. He was insensitive to the lurking dangers.

Judges 16:4 tells us that Samson could not resist the charm and fell in love with the infamous Delilah. It had to do with yet another female. His weakness for women had got the better of him again. He did not suspect that Delilah would spell his ultimate downfall. Doubtless, the Philistine lords who were wearied of Samson must have tailed him closely. They were looking for one opening that they could get him. Samson’s weakness presented them with what they considered was the moment. They saw how attracted he was to Delilah. We are not told how many Philistine lords there were. But we are told in verse 5 that each of them promised to give her eleven pieces of silver if she would collaborate with them to plot for Samson’s downfall. Their plan was for Delilah to entice Samson to find out the source of his great strength. She was also to explore ways that they could bind and afflict him.   

Initially Samson was able to resist Delilah’s wiles. Verses 6-14 described three lies which Samson gave to Delilah concerning where his strength was. He first told her that if they had bound him with fresh cords, he would be weak. Then he lied to her that if he was bound tightly with new ropes that had not been used, he would have no strength. His third lie recorded in verse 13 says, “If you weave the seven locks of my hair with the web and fasten it with a pin, then I will become weak and be like any other man.” With each lie, Delilah would test it by doing what she was told. All three attempts were proven false. By this time, Samson should have smelt a rat, but he was too emotionally intoxicated to discover her ruses.   

Delilah was a consummate swindler. She came up with an emotional act and played on his emotion. It’s so well summed up in verses 15-16. She told Samson, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have deceived me these three times and have not told me where your great strength is.” It came about when she pressed him daily with her words and urged him, that his soul was annoyed to death.”  Samson was worn down by her emotional plead until he could not resist anymore. So, in verse 17 he revealed to her the secret to his strength. He told her truthfully, saying, “A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like any other man.” Sensing that he had finally told her the truth, Delilah activated the Philistine lords so that they could carry out the plan to bind Samson and take him away to afflict him.  

There are many lessons that can be gleaned from these verses. Suffice to say that we should guard our emotion carefully. Don’t court dangers. Very few can resist persistent emotional advancement. No wonder Paul’s advice to Timothy was to flee youthful lust. No man, no matter how strong he considers himself, will be able to withstand persistent emotional whining. The first and the best thing to do is to stay away from any appearance of it. Secondly, we must take time to evaluate our life and God’s purpose for us. We must keep ourselves constantly apprise of what God is doing and keep our experience with Him current. Stay alert, stay vigilant and pray at all times with all sorts of prayer. They will save us many untold sorrows.