Lessons From The Life Of Samson

Many of our life philosophies have been to do what is right in our eyes. If it feels good, do it. But that philosophy didn’t lead us where we thought it would. It broke us. And because God is good he forgave us and restores us.

It’s at this point where Samson finds himself. And he has a choice to make, should I stop what I’m doing and follow God? Or take his forgiveness and keep doing my own thing?

And sadly for Samson, and many of us, he choose the later. Rather then live in freedom he choose to go back to his old ways that caused so much destruction.

And here’s the lesson we get from Samson’s life… You cannot expect to go back to your old ways and get new results.

This is Israelites did, this is what Samson did, and this is what many of us do. We do what is right in our own eyes. our life falls apart. We cry out to God. He saves us. And then we go right back to where we started.

Listen if you keep going back to your old ways don’t be surprised by the destruction it brings. And yeah God will forgive you… But at some point he’s going to say you know what you can’t keep using me like that. And he’s going to give you what you want, life without him. He’s going to let you feel the weight of your sin so that hopefully you will see your error and come back to him.

That’s love right? Love cannot be forced, it’s a choice, and God will never force you to love him. So if you choose to not follow him he will let you go. But He will always take you back.

Unfortunately for Samson he chooses to keep doing his own thing…

Which leads to us to the most famous part of the story. Samson’s life decisions finally catch up too him. In Judges 16 we see Samson fall in love with Delilah. But what he doesn’t know is Delilah is working with the Philistines to trap him. She’s trying to learn his weakness so that they can capture him since he’s killed so many of them.

Over the course of this chapter we see Delilah seduce Samson and then beg him to tell her his secret to his strength. And he tells her a lie to appease her, she ties him up, calls in the Philistines, Samson breaks free and kills them. We see this play out over and over again.

Now I’m not sure why Samson kept letting Delilah tie him up… Well I have one idea, but we aren’t going to go there…

But he has to know at this point that she is just with him to trap him. But he doesn’t care. He doesn’t care about wisdom, he doesn’t care about what God says is best, His ONLY concern is getting what he wants. He is a slave to his lust and desires. So he keeps going back to the same trap. Knowing full well what is going to happen. But confident in his own strength to get him out.

Maybe you can relate… You know what you are doing is wrong. But you don’t care you keep going back knowing at some point you will get burned. But you are a slave to your own desires.

If you continue down that path it will destroy everything you love.

One day Samson has finally had enough of Delilah’s nagging. The Bible says Samson was sick to death of her nagging… So finally gives in and tells his secret. His power is in his hair. Samson has to know what is going to happen next… But he lets it happen. He’s a slave to his desires. He falls asleep with her, she calls the Philistines in, they shave his head. He wakes up and tries to break free… But this time God has left him and he has no power.