Samson (Part 1 of 4): DELILAH & THE WORST HAIRCUT EVER! (Judges 16)

Описание: Samson and Delilah are a case study in extreme toxicity. And their story raises so many questions: Why does a haircut remove Samson's strength? Why does he tell her his secret in the first place? Why does Samson live so selfishly? And why is his name included in the Hebrews Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11)?

Physically, Samson is the strongest man who ever lived.
Morally, he’s one of the weakest.

His life summed up in one Bible verse…

Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
~ The apostle James (James 1:14-15)

This will be a 4-part series...

Part 1: WORST HAIRCUT EVER! (Samson and Delilah) – the dramatic
Part 2: WAS SAMSON A SOCIOCHOPATH? (The Psychology of Samson) – the psychological
Part 3: GOD BEHIND THE SCENES (How God works through bad events and weak people) – the theological
Part 4: SAMSON & JESUS (Parallels that Point to a Better Way) – the Christological

After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.
(Judges 2:10)

It only takes one generation for any society, culture, or faith group to experience massive identity loss.

In those days there was no king in Israel;
all the people did what was right in their own eyes.
(Judges 17:6; 21:25)

Nazirite Vow (Numbers 6).
On top of keeping the laws of Torah…
1. No touching dead things
2. No drinking wine
3. No cutting hair


[15] 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.” [16] With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it. [17] So he told her everything.
(Judges 16)

Samson finally told Delilah the secret of his strength, not because he was tempted, but because he was tired.

Samson was the strongest man who ever lived, but Delilah was stronger.

Samson had the power of his position, his sex, and his physical strength.
But Delilah had the power of a persistent personality. And that will win every time.

[18] When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. [19] After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him.
(Judges 16)

Samson survived a lion attack, but he couldn’t survive a nap on the wrong lap.

Samson wasn’t sexually seduced, he was just tired.

We never lose God’s love. God never gives up on his plan for us.

But we can lose his blessing. Not because of one bad decision, but because of continual boundary erosion.

Frog in the Kettle

No matter how much we screw up, God is only a prayer away.

SOME OBSERVATIONS…
1. Calling can be independent of character. Spiritual gifts can be independent of spiritual fruit. (1 Corinthians 12-13; Galatians 5:22-23)
2. The writer wants us to learn from nonbelievers - just like Jesus does. (Luke 15:25-37)
3. God’s forgiveness does not always remove consequences. (2 Samuel 12:13-14)

APPLICATIONS…
1. Read the fruit of the Spirit and ask God to help you move with, not against his Spirit.
2. Try to learn from those you oppose. Try to “Win” arguments by being the person to learn the most. (Maybe they are the Good Samaritan in your life. Maybe they are the Philistine – worshipping the wrong god, but still worshipping better than you are. )
3. Join with others on the same spiritual journey.

Samson was a lone wolf. Don’t be a lone sheep!

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
~ JESUS (Matthew 5:14)

When we let others see how we love one another, forgive one another, restore one another, we are showing the light of Christ.

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