I’m reading through the book of Judges right now and I
recently came across the story of a man named Samson. For those of you who
don’t recall his story in the bible or maybe need a refresher, I’ll lay it out
for you.
Before Samson was born, the angel of the Lord appeared to
the wife of a man named Manoah and told her she was going to have a son. She
was given strict instructions on what not to eat and drink since she was having
a child. She was also told not to ever shave his head and that he would be the
leader of the Israelites out of the hands of the Philistines. God blessed
Samson with ridiculously amazing strength that he was able to conquer thousands
of men on his own. At one point he is approached by a lion and rather than
running in fear he literally rips the lion open with his hands. Can you even imagine being approached
by a lion? I’d probably go into shock.
So, Samson didn’t have that great of a choice with women.
His first wife was threatened her life if she didn’t give up Samson. So she
attempted to hand him over to the Philistines. His second wife, Delilah, was
bribed money to get the secret of Samson’s strength so he could be overtaken.
She tried day after day, over and over and over to get Samson to trust her and
tell her why He was so strong.
Judges 15-17
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. “No razor has ever been used on
my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my
mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would
become as weak as any other man.”
What happens next is sad. Delilah puts him to sleep on her
lap, shaves his head, and then lets the Philistines come in and gauge out his
eyes. It says that the Lord left
him and with the Lord went his strength. Samson was taken as a prisoner of the
Philistines. How do you think he felt? I’m sure he was in pain; heartache from
the actions of his wife; disappointment in himself for trusting her and not
seeking God; ashamed as he is left bald and blind in a prison.
What can we learn from
this?
In life we have choices. Everyday we are faced with them.
Some of them are big and important and some are small. Like Samson, we have God
with us. Everyday in every decision we are forced to make, the Lord is there
with you and me. When we trust in Him, we have the power and the strength to
overcome anything, even an approaching lion. Samson trusted in the Lord and was
rewarded with great strength. But we also see that when he turned his trust
into someone besides God, he was left with the consequences of that action.
Likewise, when we begin to trust in the things of this world or trust in people
rather than remaining in the Lord we will be left with pain, heartache,
disappointment, and shame.
“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in
princes.” Psalm 118:9
“Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who
cannot save.” Psalm 146:3
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your
own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5
“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool….” Proverbs
28:26
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope
is the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:7
