Samson's Achilles' Heel

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.