Samson was a man of incredible strength and that strength was given to him because of his faithfulness to the Nazarite vow. His un-cut hair was one of the terms of his calling. (Judges 14-16)
I've always been curious about Samson. He has a calling before birth--as the angel of the Lord visited his parents and told them about the son they would have. God used him to do amazing acts of power even though he had a temper and a weakness for women. Twice, it is recorded that a woman (first, his Philistine wife and then Delilah) begged, nagged and pleaded with him until he was 'sick to death of it'. In each instance, he allowed himself to be wheedled down to give away something of his personal power and dignity. Each time it resulted in a horrible outcome.
Like a person who would manipulate, beg, nag and wear you down---a habitual sin will hang around; attempting to wear you out to the point of agreement.
It will try to cause you to give away something of your power and dignity---causing you to compromise in faith.
Samson played this like a sport. Every time Delilah would emotionally manipulate him, he would give her a false answer. She wanted to know, "Wherein lies your strength?" She asked the same question each time.
Each time, she would take the answer he gave her and call for his enemies to attack him. Three times, he would rise against the attack and win, because he was withholding his true secret; still seemingly winning at 'the game'.
Surely after the third time, he would learn that she meant evil for him. With the third attempt, he went dangerously close to the truth by mentioning his hair in his answer, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom and tighten it with the pin, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” And once again she said the same thing as the other times, "Samson! The Philistines are upon you!"
He KNEW he was dealing with a liaison with his enemy but he kept on walking on the razor's edge.
Why?
The next verse tells us. Delilah said again, "Samson! The Philistines are upon you!"
"He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.”
We've all toyed with things in our lives and thought we could still walk away.
“I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.”
But what if you couldn't? What if you were so worn down in your soul that you betrayed even your most sacred inner vows? But you had beaten the odds so many times, you actually began to think you are in control. What are we THINKING???
We KNOW we are making deals in our soul.
“I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.”
God can still rescue us from that bondage. But with that much self-delusion, we'll need to humble ourselves to others, confess and ask for help.
We tend to think we can 'shake ourselves free'.
Regarding the temptation to compromise, the Spirit of the Lord told me not long ago,
"Don't negotiate with terrorists."
You know that nagging, manipulative voice that pulls you into defeat is a representative of the enemy in the same way as Delilah with the Philistines--and we've negotiated too many times.
The next time we are tested and feel we are being pushed the wrong direction--we can know the enemy is mocking us with,
"Wherein is your strength?"
Consider these plans of action:
Godly friends:
I Samuel 23: 16 "And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God."
Time in His Presence:
2 Samuel 22: 33 "It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure."
I Chronicles 16: 11 "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."
Look how Jesus prayed for Simon---and remember, He intercedes for us now.
Here is how He prays:
Luke 22: 32 "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Let's trust in His strength and not our own, as Samson did.
(Kinda cute, right?) :)
Love,
Marcie
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