One day Samson went to Gaza which is a Philistine town and spent the night with a prostitute. When word spread that he was there, the men of Gaza gathered and waited all night at the town gates. They kept quiet during the night saying to themselves that they would kill him when the light of morning comes. But Samson only stayed in bed until midnight. He then got up, took hold of the doors of the town gate including the two posts, and lifted them up, bar and all. He put them on his shoulders and carried them all the way to the top of the hill across from Hebron. Judges 16:1-3
Samson clearly hadn't learned his lesson in regard to the Philistine women. But that's what happens when you open doors that should stay shut.
Sometime later, Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah who lived in the valley of Sorek. (I know. You're probably thinking, "Another one? Yes, another one. Some people NEVER learn their lesson.)
The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, "Entice Samson to tell you what makes him so strong and how he can be overpowered and tied up securely. Then each of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver."
Who else has been offered silver to betray someone who loved them? Yes, Judas. Matthew 26:14-16 It's amazing how quickly people can change on you when money is involved. But it also reveals who they really are as a person.
So, Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me what makes you so strong and what it would take to tie you up securely." Samson said, "If I were tied up with 7 new bowstrings that have not yet been dried, I would become as weak as anyone else." So, the Philistine rulers brought Delilah 7 new bowstrings and she tied Samson up with them. She had hidden some men in one of the inner rooms of her house and she cried out, "Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!" But Samson snapped the bowstrings as a piece of string snaps when it is burned by a fire. Judges 16:6-9
So, the secret of his strength wasn't discovered.
Delilah said, "You've been making fun of me and telling me lies! Now please tell me how you can be tied up securely." Samson replied, "If I were tied up with brand new ropes that have never been used, I would become as weak as anyone else." Judges 16:10-11
So, Delilah took new ropes and tied him up with them. The men were hiding in the inner room as before and again Delilah cried out, "Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!" But again, Samson snapped the ropes from his arms as if they were thread.
Then Delilah said, "You've been making fun of me and telling me lies! Now tell me how you can be tied up securely." Samson replied, "If you were to weave the 7 braids of my hair into the fabric on your loom and tighten it with the loom shuttle, I would become as weak as anyone else." So, while he slept, Delilah wove the 7 braids of his hair into the fabric. Then she tightened it with the loom shuttle.
Again, she cried out, "Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!" But Samson woke up, pulled back the loom shuttle and yanked his hair away from the loom and the fabric. Judges 16:12-14
You would think by now Samson would realize Delilah was setting him up...especially after the first set up. But he didn't. Many people in toxic relationships rarely ask the questions about what the other person's motives are. Samson should have left Delilah after the first trick...especially considering he knew the Philistines has their hearts set on capturing him after the damage he'd caused them. But our hearts often betray our minds.
Then Delilah pouted, "How can you tell me I love you when you don't share your secrets with me? You've made fun of me 3 times in a row, and you still haven't told me what makes you strong!" She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it. Judges 16:15
Samson once again was dealing with a nagging woman. His wife did the same thing regarding the riddle back in Judges 14:16-17
Delilah should have just given up on trying to find out what made Samson strong because he wasn't going to tell her. Sometimes it's best not to reveal your secret talents to certain people because they'll either find a way to use it against you or sabotage it. But Samson didn't understand that.
After being nagged day to day, Samson finally shared his secret with her: His hair had never been cut for he was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If his head was shaven, his strength would leave him, and he would become as weak as anyone else. Delilah realized he had finally told her the truth and sent for the Philistine rulers. She told them to come back one more time and that Samson had finally told his secret. They returned with the money in their hands. Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap and she called in a man to shave off the 7 locks of his hair. She began to torment him, and his strength left him. Judges 16:17-19
A common theme here is that every time Delilah set up Samson, he was asleep. She never attempted anything when he was awake. But that's how the enemy works. He gets us in our most vulnerable moments.
Then she cried out, "Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!" When he woke you, he thought he would do as before and set himself free. Not realizing that the Lord had left him. So, the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison. But before long, his hair began to grow back. Judges 16:20-22
This is a trap a lot of people fall into. They knowingly go into the devil's playground and mess around with things and people that are poison. People can play these games for many years. When they see that they're constantly getting away with their foolishness, they believe they will NEVER face any consequences. From the outside looking in, we see people who have done a ton of crazy things and they seem to NEVER face consequences. Instead, they get stronger and better. But the reality is one day, a Delilah will come along and set them up.
Delilah will seduce, deceive, and manipulate a person into revealing their secrets. The person will be lulled to sleep and during this time, the connection to God will be cut off. They won't know it until they try to shake themselves free only to find they're trapped. Their Godly vision is removed, and they find themselves in prison now doing the bare minimum of what they were called to do.
But the good news is that God is still faithful and will allow things to grow again.
