SAMSON & DELILAH

LYING GETS YOU NOWHERE - LET'S SEEK GOD

JUDGES 16

The story of Samson and Delilah is an important one. I shall explain the story of Samson and Delilah according to the account in Chapter 16 of Judges.
God is consistent throughout the Bible, His hatred for evil and lies, and desire for us to seek Him is also consistent .

Samson was history's strongest man, Samson is a personal name meaning "of the Sun" and "Mighty Warrior".
Samson was chosen by God to judge the Philistines, However, from the beginning he began seeking women - This attraction led him to Delilah.

Samson was physically strong enough to kill many people, but spiritually weak enough to lie to Delilah, eventually he told her the secret of his strength. This was a tragedy and led to his death.

Some lessons to learn from this story -

• Samson was set apart for special service to God from birth. However for most part, he ignored his vow of devotion and depended more and more on his strength and abilities rather than on God's.

If we become successful using our God-given gifts, we must not forget who gave us these gifts, skills, abilities or the moral purpose that directs the use of those gifts. Noticed what happened when Samson forgot in  (Judges 16:20&21) we must always remember  and thank God because all our gifts and abilities come from Him.

• Samson was deceived because he desired to believe Delilah's lies. Although he could strangle a lion, he could not smother his burning lust and see Delilah for what she really was.

How can you keep your desire for love and sexual pleasures from deceiving you into believing a lie?

1. You need to decide what kind of qualities you will love before passion takes over. Determine whether a persons character and faithfulness to God are as desirable as his or her physical appearance.
2. Be willing to exercise patience. The second observation often reveals what is beneath the pleasant appearance and attentive touch.
3. Since most of the time you spend with your spouse will not involve sex; Your companion's personality, temperament, attitude and commitment to solve problems must be as gratifying as his or her kisses and touches.

If you think you love someone but first quality you describe are their physical qualities, You probably don't really love them in a Godly way. Lust and Love are two different things. Loving someone involves unselfish sacrifice and genuinely caring about their needs

• Delilah kept asking Samson for the secret of his strength until he finally grew tired of hearing her nagging and gave in.

What a pitiful excuse for disobedience. Don't allow anyone, no matter how attractive or persuasive to talk you into doing wrong.
Delilah was a deceitful woman with honey on her lips and poison in her heart. Cold and conniving, She toyed with Samson and pretended to love him while looking for personal gain.

How could Samson be so foolish? " Four times Delilah took advantage of him, He could not figure out what was happening the first, second and third time, Surely he should have understood by the fourth time!"

We think Samson is foolish; but how many times do we allow ourselves to be deceived by flattery and give in to temptations and false beliefs?

Avoid falling prey to deceit by asking God to help you discern between deception and truth {good and evil, right and wrong}.
                                                                                                          Akin Farmar.