Judges 16:18-19 (MSG) When Delilah realized that he had told her his secret, she sent for the Philistine tyrants, telling them, “Come quickly—this time he’s told me the truth.” They came, bringing the bribe money. 19 When she got him to sleep, his head on her lap, she motioned to a man to cut off the seven braids of his hair. Immediately he began to grow weak. His strength drained from him.
Observation
What an example of the results of toying with and being betrayed by sin! Samson has already demonstrated that his personal life is out of control – his temper, his indulgences, his sleeping around – and now he falls in love with a Philistine woman who lives in the Valley of Sorek (Grapes). Since grapes in any form are forbidden to the Nazirite, it is fitting that his indulgences caught up with him here.
Delilah is an example of indulging a temptation until it ripens into addictive, soul-owning sin. Surely even if he was mesmerized by her, Samson had to suspect something was up when Delilah nagged him about the source of his strength – and tested each method!! – until he gave up the secret (16-17 She kept at it day after day, nagging and tormenting him. Finally, he was fed up—he couldn’t take another minute of it. He spilled it.). However, he chose to indulge her, to live in the moment, to have his sinful pleasure, to ignore the truth, until it was his undoing as she delivered him into the hands of the enemy. Before this night, Samson could have voluntarily repented, cut off his hair, offered the proscribed sacrifices and started over as a Nazirite, reconsecrating himself, bearing the public humiliation of his failure, and been restored before God; he did not choose to do so and the Philistines extracted a far greater price to eventually bring him to that same place.
In Roman mythology there are stories of the Sirens, women in the distance appearing beautiful and desirable who by their mesmerizing song would lure mariners to their deaths by shipwreck on rocky shores. Temptation is like this – it sings a beautiful, sweet and hypnotizing song of promise while in reality it draws us to destruction, away from our goal, our purpose, our commitment to follow, love, and serve well, distracted until we find ourselves lost, weakened and ashamed. We get our eyes focused on that beautiful, sparkly, shiny, or easy gain thing and don’t notice that we are being drawn into dangerous rocky areas that threaten shipwreck and death until it is too late. We are already compromised, addicted, consumed by guilt and shame, afraid to admit what we have done.
Impact on Me
Where are my Delilahs – those voices that promise pleasure, power, and the praise of men? Am I wiser than Samson? Will I recognize the false promises and flee temptation rather than be drawn by its tempting siren song to shipwreck? Why would I turn my ear to it when I can instead choose to listen to the songs of grace, love, salvation, redemption, mercy and restoration that God sings over His children? Why do I find myself indulging my personal wants and desires like a spoiled child when I know they have no real eternal value and do not please my Father? The Enemy, Satan, the devil, is like those sirens – appearing desirable while drawing me toward destruction.
I know that setting aside my wants, desires, and dreams to follow God’s dreams for me will bring real peace, joy, contentment, something my own efforts could never produce, and are worth whatever I perceive as the cost to me. What song I listen to is my choice and will rest on who I determine is more trustworthy to keep the promises made. May I be wise enough to turn away from the siren song of sin by keeping my ears tuned to the song that leads to and fills Heaven.
Prayer
Lord God, Eternal Father, Lover of my soul, You are not willing for any to perish and, yet, You allow the sirens to sing so I alone may choose the song I follow. I pray that I may always discern the source of the song I am hearing and then choose the song that leads to You and the part You have given me to play in bringing souls to Christ. May I turn my ear and heart to Your music alone so I may please You in my journey. In the name of Jesus, make it so.
Pressing On In His Footsteps 