Download Judges 16:4

Building Strong Hearts, Cultivating Deep Life!
Judges 16:4–31
Let’s look at Samson & the last
woman of his life…
means…
• “delicate”
• “devoted”
• “coquettish” (flirtist)
• “amorous”
(full of sexual desires)
Judges 16:4….
“Some time later, he fell
in love with a woman
in the Valley of Sorek
whose name was Delilah.”
[TNIV]
The Valley of Sorek was
“the place of the
choice red grape”
connotes
(sensuality)
One author writes….
“[Delilah] was presumably
a Philistine, though that is not
expressly stated, only that she
belonged to the valley of Sorek.
She is not spoken of as
Samson’s wife, …
…. though many have
understood the account in
that way. The text simply says
that he loved her (verse 4).
The Philistines paid her a very
high price for her services:
eleven hundred pieces of silver
[each]. …
…. The account indicates that
for mental ability, self-command,
and nerve, she was a remarkable
woman. Unfortunately,
she put her gifts to an evil use
by exploiting Samson’s love.”
Judges 16:5….
“The rulers of the Philistines
went to her and said,
‘See if you can
lure him into
showing you the secret of his
great strength and how we
can overpower him ….
Judges 16:5….
…. so we may tie him up and
subdue him. Each one of us
will give you eleven hundred
shekels of silver.’”
[TNIV]
The Hebrew word
“lure” means…
“to find an opening”
– a point of vulnerability.
James 1:14….
“But each of you is tempted
when you are dragged away
by your own evil desire
and
enticed (lure).”
[TNIV]
For Samson,
the enticement is
the lure of the
“unattainable” woman….
… illustrates that there is pleasure
in sexual sin
– grapes are quick
to ferment and sour.
When we’re aware of our
weaknesses and turn them over
to the Lord, He can use us more
fully (see 2 Corinthians 12:9).
When our weaknesses are blind
spots, however, we’re in trouble.
What is your weaknesses?
The Philistines could
see Samson’s weakness.
Why don’t you ask a few friends,
your spouses or parents/children
for a candid film review
of your life?
Proverbs 27:6….
“Faithful are the
wounds of a friend,
but deceitful are the
kisses of an enemy.”
[NASB]
Judges 16:6-14 records
Delilah’s attempts to
unravel the mystery of
Samson’s strength
in order to weaken him
for the Philistines.
Judges 16:15….
“Then she said to him,
‘How can you say,
'I love you,' when you
won't confide in me?….’ ”
[TNIV]
• Judges 16:16….
Samson finally fell under
pressure.
• Judges 16:17….
Samson reveals his secret to
Delilah.
Judges 16:17….
“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.’ ”
[TNIV]
Samson’s hair … an outward
symbol of his INWARD
COMMITMENT to God.
In reality, Samson’s superhuman
strength lay not in his uncut hair, but
in the mighty presence of God in
his life.
The fall of
can be traced to 2 things….
He did not know his
WEAKNESS.
He did not know his
STRENGTH.
Mistakenly, Samson
did not realize that
God is the real source
of his strength.
God allows Samson’s strength to
be taken
from him so that
in painful circumstances
he will learn that without the
omnipotent God,
he is impotent.
Samson had grown to depend on
his own
strength instead of God’s.
God sometimes removes
our crutches – gently,
but suddenly and without
warning.
Proverbs 18:10-11….
“10 The name of the LORD is a
fortified tower; the righteous
run to it and are safe. 11 The
wealth of the rich is their
fortified city; they imagine it
a wall too high to scale.”
[TNIV]
During Samson’s
dark
experience in the dungeon,
God’s grace
begins to glimmer.
Samson’s hair starts
growing back.
Judges 16:22….
“But the hair on his head
began to grow again
after it had been shaved.”
[TNIV]
And as his hair grows,
so does his strength
and his relationship
with the Lord.
Now humbled and completely
dependent
on God,
Samson turns his thoughts
and heart
back to his Father.
In a final, momentous act of
courage and self-denial,
Samson fulfills his destiny
and begins
“to deliver Israel from the
hands of the Philistines”
(Judges 13:5).
With beggar’s hands of faith,
Samson reaches out to
touch the feet of his God.
He said, “Sovereign LORD,
remember me....”
(Judges 16:28).
If you’re an unbeliever,
you can pray with
the thief on the cross
– “Remember
me” –
you will be with Jesus in paradise
(Luke 23:42-43).
If you’re a believer
With a burden, you can
pray with Hannah
– “Remember
me” –
His compassionate love to help
you cope with your difficult
circumstances (1 Samuel 1:1-20).
If you’re a believer
who has blown it in life,
you can pray with Samson
– “Remember
me” –
God’s strength can help you
overcome your defeated past
(Judges 16:28-30).