Those who are familiar with Greek mythology sure read about Achilles. Achilles was the bravest, and the most handsome warrior in the army of Argamemnon. It was said that when Achilles was still a child, he was held by the heel, and upside down was dipped in the river call Styx. From then on, he became invulnerable- except his heel which did not touch the water. During a battle, Achilles was killed. An arrow struck him in the heel, which became the cause of his death. He was invulnerable except the very small spot in his body, the heel. And yet that small area became his downfall. That is why in English we have the word, Achilles’ Heel which means point of vulnerability.
All of us have our own Achilles’ heel- our point of vulnerability in Christian living. For some, it’s money. For others, ambition. For Samson it was sensuality- women. Sensuous children can be born of spiritual parents. Sensuality is dormant, but never dead. Samson loved-at-first-sight at a Philistine woman, failed his parents’ dream and broke the Mosaic Law by marrying outside the covenant people. After twenty years of ruling Israel, he went with a prostitute and spent a night with her. When the enemies knew that he was in Gaza, he was trapped.
But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. (Judges 16:3).
When he left Gaza, he fell to yet another woman “in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah” (v. 4).
In our time, cities have its own prominent figure that mostly describe its place. Sorek, an author says, is known as a place of “choice red grape.” Choice red grape describes pleasure and sensuality. From there, Samson picks Delilah, a Philistine, as the next woman in his life.
The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, "See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver" (Judges 16:5).
The word “entice” or “lure” in the Hebrew means “to find an opening.” The Philistines knew Samson’s strength. They cannot conquer him face to face. They were looking for an opening for Samson’s his weakness. They paid Delilah a sum of money in order to lure him to reveal the secret of his strength. James 1:14 says, “but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.” The word lure gives us a picture of a fisherman who drops a bait to an unsuspecting fish. For Samson, the bait is the opposite sex. Proverbs 7:6-23 seems to give us the progressing picture of how Samson grabbed Delilah’s bait which led to his downfall.
“ At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice. I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment. He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house 9 at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: "I have fellowship offerings at home; today I fulfilled my vows. So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love! My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon." With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.”
Like the woman in the Proverbs, Delilah lures Samson to reveal the secret of his strength. Every time Samson answers to Delilah’s question, he comes closer to giving her the answer.
Samson’s Answers:
a. Judges 16:7 Samson answered her, "If anyone ties me with seven fresh thongs that have not been dried, I'll become as weak as any other man."
b. Judges 16:11 He said, "If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I'll become as weak as any other man."
c. Judges 16:13 Delilah then said to Samson, "Until now, you have been making a fool of me and lying to me. Tell me how you can be tied." He replied, "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." So while he was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabric
Samson grew weaker and weaker by Delilah’s persistent probing. The man who tore a lion with his bare hands, handled and killed thirty men, conquered a thousand with a jawbone of donkey, who “took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the posts, and tore them loose, bar and all,” and “lifted it to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill” (v. 3) can’t stand against the lure of a enticing woman. He grew weaker until finally, he was trapped and gave in.
Then she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when you won't confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven't told me the secret of your great strength." With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death. So he told her everything. "No razor has ever been used on my head," he said, "because I have been a Nazirite set apart to God since birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man" (Judges 16:15-17).
“Samson’s hair was only an outward symbol of his inward commitment to God” (Charles Swindoll). By telling Delilah about the “secret,” his vow has become unimportant and his commitment was loosing. The reality is, his strength does not lie in the length of his hair but in the Lord (No wonder every time Samson uses his strength, the Bible never fails to mention God’s Spirit). But Samson relied on himself instead of relying on God, the Source of strength. On the lap of Delilah, Samson’s hair was shaved off. When Samson woke up from sleep, he realized he was surrounded by vengeful Philistines. His supernatural strength was gone.
Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison (Judges 16:21).
Suddenly, he was helpless. He finally learned that his strength comes from the Lord as we read the story further. But what a way of learning a lesson. When we trust something for our security other than God, sometimes, God takes away that something in order that we may learn to trust Him fully. What do we lean on for security? Inside the dark dungeon, chained to a grinding mill, must be the place where Samson restored his relationship with God. When his hair started to grow once again, Samson trusted in God for strength.
The day came when the Philistines would offer a sacrifice to Dagon. They brought Samson out from prison to entertain the public. Standing between the two pillars, Samson made a final request, …"O Sovereign LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes" (Judges 16:28).
Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. Then his brothers and his father's whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led Israel twenty years (Judges 16:29-31).
Before throwing judgment on the strongest man in history, we might as well look at ourselves. The truth is, we have our own “Achilles’ heel.” These are areas of the enemy’s favorite target points. We may fall like Samson (only He knows) except when we lean on God’s grace in the spiritual battle. When God gives special abilities, the more we shall depend on Him for strength.
