Samson and Delilah (Judges16)

After Samson killed many of the Philistines, he went and lived in a cave just outside the town of Lehi where many of the Israelites lived. The Philistines wanted revenge on Samson and raided the town of Lehi. The Israelites cried out to the Philistine army. “Why are you doing this to us?”

 “We are looking for Samson. to pay him back for what he did to us!” The soldiers answered.

So three thousand Israelites went to the cave where Samson was living.  “The Philistines will continue to terrorize our town unless we tie you up and turn you over to them.” They said to Samson.
 Samson agreed to let them tie him up and hand him over to the Philistines. As the Israelites returned to Lehi, the Philistines cheered when they saw that Samson was tied up. Samson stood before the soldiers, then he broke free of the ropes that bound him. They snapped like they were made of paper. Samson found a donkey skull on the ground. He used the jawbone from the skull and killed 1,000 Philistines that day. Then he threw the jawbone away and that place was named Jawbone Hill from then on.

 One day the Philistines heard that Samson was spending the night in their town with a woman. They camped out by the city gates and planned on killing Samson when it got light the next morning. But Samson couldn’t sleep. He went to the city gate where the men were sleeping. He ripped the city gates right out of the ground! He carried them on his back all the way to a hill across town.


 Later, Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah. The Philistines offered Delilah eleven hundred pieces of silver if she would find out what makes Samson so strong. I guess Delilah didn’t love Samson, because she agreed.

 That evening Delilah asked Samson. “Tell me my dear, what would it take to tie you up so securely that you couldn’t break free?”
 “If I am tied with seven bowstrings that have not been dried, then I will be as weak as anyone else.” Samson answered.
 Delilah went straight to the Philistines and told them Samson’s secret. Delilah tied Samson with seven undried bowstrings and then called the Philistines that were hiding in another room. Samson jumped up and easily broke the bowstrings.
 The next evening, Delilah said to Samson. “You lied to me. Please tell me the truth this time.”
If I am tied up with rope that has never been used before, then I will be as weak as anyone else.
 So guess what Delilah did? yep. She went right to the Philistines. They provided her with brand spanking new ropes. She tied Samson with them and called the Philistines from the other room. When Samson saw the men, he jumped up and snapped the ropes like they were thread.
 Well you would think that Samson would start to catch on that Delilah didn’t have his best interest in mind. But no. The next night, Delilah begged Samson to reveal the secret of his strength, and how he could be subdued. Samson said. “If you braid my hair, and take seven of those braid and weave them into the fabric on your loom. Then I will be as weak as anyone else.”
So after Samson fell asleep, Delilah braided his hair. She took seven of the braids and weaved them into the fabric on her loom. Then she called out and the Philistines charged in. Samson jumped to his feet. He yanked his hair out of the loom and chased the Philistines out of the house.
 Now Delilah resorted to tears. “You have lied and made fun of me.” She cried. “Please, please, please, if you love me, tell me the secret of your strength.”Day after day, Delilah, cried, pouted and nagged Samson. Finally he said. “Ok, ok stop your whining! My hair has never been cut. I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me and I would be as weak as anyone else.” The Philistines hid in the other room as Delilah lulled Samson to sleep as he lay on her lap. Delilah was sure that Samson told her the truth this time. Next time we’ll find out if he did.

God warns us in the Bible about who we becomes friends with. Bad company corrupts good character. (1 Cor. 15:33) Which means if your best friends are not good, sooner or later, you’ll become more like them. The Bible also says not to marry someone who believes differently then you do about Jesus. (2 Cor.6:14) Because two people serving God together, gives Him glory. One serving and the other not serving Him is harder than one person serving God by themselves. I know what you are thinking... “well Jesus had dealings with a lot of bad people.” Yes that is true, but His friends were His apostles, Martha, Mary and Lazarus.