Bible Study Lesson; Judges 16:1-31
As one of the most well-known stories in the Bible, the verses from Judges telling of Samson and Delilah did not sound so horrendous when I was a kid.
Deceit, gouging out of eyes? Death?
This is what happens when Samson disregards God’s plan for him. This Scripture lesson is about how NOT to choose your mate.
The other thing I learned during this study is that Samson and Delilah were not married – at least I couldn’t find where they were. Samson’s wife was burned along with her father, remember?
Samson and Delilah – The Secret Revealed
Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me?
You have deceived me these three times and have not told me where your great strength is.”
It came about when she pressed him daily with her words and urged him, that his soul was annoyed to death.
So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, “A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb.
If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like any other man.”
When Delilah saw that he had told her all that was in his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all that is in his heart.”
Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands.
She made him sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his hair.
Then she began to afflict him, and his strength left him.
She said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.”
But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.
Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains, and he was a grinder in the prison.
However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it was shaved off.. – Judges 16:15-22 NASB
Vengeance of the Lord
Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.”
Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left.
And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it.
So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life.
Then his brothers and all his father’s household came down, took him, brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father.
Thus he had judged Israel twenty years. – Judges 16:28-31 NASB
Deceit of Delilah & Desire of Samson
The reading here clearly shows that Samson was swayed by Delilah’s beauty. His desire for her was stronger than the truth of who she really was.
As it has been all through time, people many times choose who they spend time with because of appearance – what’s on the surface.
They never give a second thought to who the person is underneath.
Natural beauty and sensual desire can last for a while but most of the time spent with a mate is not in the bedroom. It is spent in everyday situations and they have to be willing to face life’s bumps and hurdles together.
This is what builds a meaningful relationship.
How to Choose Your Lifelong Mate
I’m not going to say I know all the answers and I’ve made my share of mistakes. But, finding my wife was not one of them. I realize now that God put Jean into my life to help me become closer to Him.
Here are some guidelines to choosing the right person for you:
1. Before using desire or beauty for your obvious choice, make sure the person you fall in love with is of good character.
There are so many people these days who go to singles bars looking for love.
Is this wrong? Not necessarily but it’s not normally the best option.
2. Think about his or her personality and commitment to your lives together before you say “I do.”.
What really lies beneath that beautiful face and pleasant appearance? Is this a person you can see living with for years to come?
The secret here is patience. Don’t hastily jump into a marriage that will most likely end up badly – for both of you.
3. Pray for guidance. Ask God to help you choose. He might just send your “soul mate” to you!
Delilah only had interest in money. Samson believed she loved him out of blind desire. The Book of Judges tells us how the story ended.
Choose wisely.
Love in Christ
– Bob
If you would like to discover more about the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to read John 3:16 here.
Read Today’s Passage Here:
New American Standard Bible
New King James Version