Samson and Delilah – Point of No Return
June 26, 2022
Judges 16:1-5 Judges 16:15-31
Today we are concluding the life of one of the most puzzling characters in the Bible. An enigma.
From birth, Samson was called by God, set apart by God, and empowered with supernatural strength from God. Samson was called to free the Israelites from the oppressive rule of the enemy, the Philistines. (40 years)
It was clear from the outset that this child named Samson was going to have a profound impact on the lives of Israel. Judges 13:5 He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
Samson was an incredibly strong man with a dangerously weak will–and on many occasions broke his vows to God: chasing after the wrong women, touching things he wasn’t supposed to touch, perhaps drinking things he wasn’t supposed to drink. Now, getting a really bad haircut when he was never supposed to get it.
Samson lied about the source of his strength 3 times. He tried to deceive a deceiver. He tried to beat Delilah at her own game. (She is the enemy and a picture of the enemy) In verse16, Samson finally reached the point of no return, and he tells Delilah the secret of his strength.
In life, I have discovered that everything that seems good to me, isn’t necessarily good for me. There are some things in this life that I may find myself drawn to that are not meant for my good. Even though they may seem like they may be enjoyable to me at the time, in the end, they could cause me ultimate destruction.
I’ve also learned that it does not matter who you are. It doesn’t matter what your stature is, no one is exempt from being caught up in compromising predicaments or questionable circumstances.
One thing that we have to understand is that the enemy is crafty. He’s smart when it comes to the flesh. He knows what turns you on. He knows what makes you tick. He knows how to turn your head. He knows what buttons to push. And he’ll put it right in your face and say, here It is take it, you know you want it. We’ve all been there at some point. Fallen for the enemies’ tricks and we let him lead us like a lamb, to the slaughter.
But in every great failure, there is a point of no return. A point where the line is crossed and the consequences have been activated.
I say that to simply say this. We’ve got to stop letting the devil play us like puppets whenever he gets ready. We’ve got to stop falling for the same old tricks every time. Lust of the eyes-Lust of the flesh-Pride of life
The words of Vs20 are especially tragic. Judges 16:20 “He did not know that the LORD had departed from him.”
When I read these verses, I sat back in my chair and said thank you, Lord. Thank you that because of Jesus Your Spirit does not come upon me, but lives in me. Thank you I am sealed by the Spirit for the day of redemption-It’s a deposit guaranteeing what is to come.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit. And, make no mistake, we do both to get to where Samson is now. The Holy Spirit must be grieved and quenched to pass the point of no return.
Samson clearly expected to jump up and smash the Philistines once again, but found himself in the hands of the enemy–no longer as a Nazirite—no longer consecrated to God—but as an ordinary man, with ordinary ability. He had crossed the point of no return.
The eyes that had led him into so much sin are gouged out. The Philistines bind Samson in shackles and take him to Gaza, where he’s set to grinding in a mill. Betrayed by the enemy his Gentile lover, confined to back-breaking labor, Samson was humbled and shamed.
The Philistines hold a great feast in honor of their god Dagon. Dagon was the father of Baal. They worshiped Dagon as the god of corn and grain, and his image was half-man, half-fish. 1 Samuel 5
Thousands gather in Dagon’s temple, to sing and praise their god. They celebrate the triumph over the man who’d destroyed their land and killed thousands of their people. But now it’s all over. Now he’s helpless: weak, blind, and shackled. Vs24 “Our god has delivered into our hands Samson our enemy.” Samson did it
But as we’ll see God used a flawed Samson to deliver the enemy into His hands.
Vs25 “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. Being blind, he would look ridiculous. Defenseless before his enemies, he has nothing left. He can’t get any lower. But, as Samson blunders around, this would be the final humiliation.
Vs28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.”
This is actually a rare occasion in what we’re told of Samson’s life. It’s rare because we see him fully aware of his dependence on God.
Certainly, he’d taken his strength for granted, perhaps even used it for his own sinful purposes. But now that God has taken away his strength, he pleads for God’s help. He cries out from the depths of his soul for one more blessing.
And God hears Samson. Vs30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.
So how should we think about what he did? Was this the last act of a holy hero, someone who was dedicated to God and his glory? Or was it little more than a dramatic suicide? Even in his final prayer, Samson seems vengeful. “Give me revenge for the loss of my eyes!” (LAW)
It sounds like a selfish cry. But though we hear revenge in his cry, it’s also a cry of faith and surrender.
Throughout the narrative of Samson, the one thing that stands out is that he is a flawed character that God never seems to give up on.
Samson had a fatal attraction, was sleeping with the enemy, and was lured into sin and destruction.
He gave away the secret of his great strength while he was sleeping in the lap of Delilah. His hair was cut off and God’s presence left him.
Because of that, he lost everything – he lost his freedom, his strength, his eyes, and his dignity.
- The consequences of his choices had a far-reaching effect on his life.
- Take you farther than you want to go,
- Keep you longer than you want to stay,
- And, cost you more than you’re willing to pay!
We might think that the legacy Samson left behind could never be repaired. Yet, many years after his death, the writer of the Book of Hebrews included him in the Biblical Hall of Faith. Hebrews 11:32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, about David and Samuel, and the prophets,…
I believe that in the end, Samson made a complete turnaround in his life that ultimately changed his legacy.
In spite of his past, in spite of his moral failures, and the overwhelming weakness of the flesh, in the end, he was/is still considered to be a man of faith worthy to be recognized.
(Because God recognized him)
Regardless of what we have done in the past, regardless of the failures born out of bad decisions, regardless of the sins we have committed and the misery we have experienced, God can still forgive us and cleanse us and use us if we truly recognize and repent of our sins.
Listen! As long as you and I have life, breath, and heartbeat—Samson has shown us: that God is not yet finished writing our story of faith.
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