Judges 16:4-22 – Samson & Delilah

Read Judges 16:4-22

Will he ever learn? I don’t think I’m the only one who sees Samson’s “weakness” to be women. It’s almost as if he is a lovesick puppy. God gave him the gift of strength, but when it comes to women, he melts all over the place! Delilah had him wrapped around her finger! Whether she loved Samson or not we never hear. Instead, we see Delilah as conniving and money hungry.

Samson had enough sense to keep Delilah in the dark about the source of his strength at first. But don’t you wonder what was going through Samson’s mind when the Philistines came to capture him the very way he had just told Delilah?

We also know that Samson was full of pride and liked to show his strength. Could it be that his mind was clouded with his feelings of superiority knowing he would only embarrass the poor Philistines again in their attempt to capture him? We can only guess.

By the fourth time, Samson appears to be tired of the game Delilah was playing, so he gave her truth. Nothing but the truth! Her nagging had finally paid off. After two failed attempts, the Philistine officials weren’t so sure, but Delilah insisted. “Come back one more time,” she said, “for he has finally told me his secret.” At this point, I was really feeling sorry for Samson.

When he woke to Delilah’s warning yet again, he expected to be victorious. Not only was his hair gone, but God had left him, too. Did Samson not realize the connection between his strength and God? I have a hard time believing that God was gone from his life completely. But the superhuman powers provided by God’s presence were certainly gone.

Can that happen to us? Can we lose our gifts if we abuse them, fail to guard them, or take them for granted? I don’t know and don’t really want to find out for myself. I prefer to try and figure out what my special gifts and talents are that God wants me to employ in my life to benefit his church, my family of faith.

Sometimes I marvel at what an honor and privilege it is to be used by God the way he does. Just today David and I were interviewed on a live daily podcast that we thought was going to be more marketing focused, and our delightful host took us down a whole different road and made our faith the focus! I was delighted that we could have a very open conversation with someone who clearly had different faith-related belief systems. He was curious. He was respectful. And I thank God we were given that moment in time to shine the love of Jesus in his life and in the lives of his listeners.

What about you? When was the last time you took an inventory of what gifts and abilities God has given you? I’d love to hear about your own walk of faith and how you’re using them to glorify God. I haven’t mentioned this in a while, but I do have a growing community over in a Facebook group. I’d love if you’d pop over and say hi sometime. Here’s the URL: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ReflectionsDevo

Let’s pray …
Lord, thank you for your provisions in my life. May I never take for granted all that you have given me. I thank you for the opportunities you give me to share my gifts. Use me to reach those who are far from you. May my message bring them back to a living relationship with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.