Samson and Delilah

‘...Samson went down...’ Judges 14:1 NKJV

Samson lost everything for several reasons. First, wrong relationships. When God says ‘no’ to a relationship He’s not being punitive, He’s being protective. ‘But I feel so good when I’m with them,’ you say. God sees where the road leads, you don’t! It’s better to want what you don’t have, than end up with what you can’t handle. Secondly, wilful disobedience. Three times we read, ‘Samson went down.’ And each time he got more entangled with Delilah! So, is this relationship taking you up or down? The poet wrote, ‘My old companions fare you well; I will not go with you to hell.’ The Bible says that ‘Samson went down’ to Timnath and married a Philistine girl, breaking God’s law. And even though she betrayed him ‘…the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men…’ (Judges 14:19 NKJV) Perhaps Samson thought God would excuse him because he was ‘special’. No, ‘He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed…’ (Proverbs 29:1 NKJV) Repent, before you run out of time! Thirdly, misplaced confidence. ‘[Delilah] said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke…and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down…’ (Judges 16:20-21 NKJV) When God’s blessing is no longer upon what you’re doing, it’s time to realise that there could be sin in your life that you must deal with, and that the secret of your strength is in God, not you.