Judges 16:4 – 14 “Some time later, Samson fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. The lords of the Philistines went to her and said, “Entice him and find out the source of his great strength and how we can overpower him to tie him up and subdue him. Then each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.” (1,100 shekels is approximately 27.6 pounds or 12.5 kilograms of silver.)
So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me the source of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.” Samson told her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become as weak as any other man.”
So the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him up with them. While the men were hidden in her room, she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” But he snapped the bowstrings like a strand of yarn seared by a flame. So the source of his strength remained unknown.
Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have mocked me and lied to me! Now please tell me how you can be tied up.” He replied, “If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used, I will become as weak as any other man.” So Delilah took new ropes, tied him up with them, and called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” But while the men were hidden in her room, he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.
Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have mocked me and lied to me all along! Tell me how you can be tied up.” He told her, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the web of a loom and fasten it with a pin, I will become as weak as any other man.”
So while he slept, Delilah took the seven braids of his hair and wove them into the web. Then she fastened the braids with a pin and called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” But he awoke from his sleep and pulled out the pin with the loom and the web.”
Reading this story might cause us to ask ourselves how stupid can one man be? The first time Samson attempted to marry a Philistine girl, it was a disaster. The incident with the prostitute in Gaza resulted in Samson having to escape from Gaza at midnight, hauling the city gates with him. Now Samson has become entranced by yet another Philistine girl, this time from the valley of Sorek, a name some sources believe to mean “fruitless tree.”
Samson’s Nazirite vows are undoubtedly abandoned, apart from his allowing his hair and beard to grow. Delilah sees Samson as her opportunity to become rich and sets out to trap him by any means possible. Why is Samson sleeping as Delilah is tying him up with bowstrings and ropes? Who in their right mind is going to lie asleep while someone weaves his hair into the web of a loom? Has Samson been drinking each time these things happened in further rejection of his Nazirite vow?
Samson is so sure of himself that he continues to flirt with danger. One might observe that Samson’s ego is in a gaseous state, ever – expanding.
APPLICATION: At this point in the story, Samson is not yet completely doomed. If Samson stops, realizes how far he has fallen and repents, there will still be hope for him. Samson can tell Delilah “good – bye and and good riddance” and return to Israelite territory and stay there, renewing his Nazirite vows and leading a blameless life. But Samson has walked on the wild side and gotten away with it for so long that anything else appears dull by comparison. Samson has become an adrenaline junkie; the path of virtue doesn’t promise any adrenaline rushes.
God’s mercy extends down to the very last breath we take; however, we never know when that last breath will occur. Some of us may be in the same position as Samson. We have spent years chasing one thrill after another, searching for that next adrenaline rush that will spur us on to further exertions.
Perhaps your drug of choice is cocaine or meth. Perhaps you like alcohol. Perhaps you have become a gambler, betting on everything you can find. Perhaps your addictions are more socially acceptable – on – line gaming, playing the stock market, extreme sports, racing any vehicle you can find, or even working as many hours as possible. Whatever gives you your adrenaline fix has become an addiction, and addictions always separate you from friends and family until it becomes too late to turn back. One day, you look around and your friends and family are gone. Your children have grown up. Your spouse has found someone else. And you are alone.
Stop before it’s too late! Don’t copy Samson! Don’t tell yourself that you can always quit or that your obsessions aren’t harming anybody. Turn to God and let Him help you break out of that cycle. Let God lift you into a glorious life.
PRAYER: Father God, we confess that we have become adrenaline junkies, longing for the next high. Help us to see that You are the Life – giver, the Way – maker, and the only One who can truly fulfill us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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