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Judges Chapter Sixteen（

 

ESV）

16 And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death. 17 And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”

18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. 19 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And 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 left him. 21 And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison.

 

REFLECTION

1. Samson allowed his sensual appetites to control his actions again and again. He did not possess the inner strength to accompany his outer strength.  Samson’s story offers a sobering reminder of the limitations of God given talents and gifts.  The temptation to rely on these gifts and ignore a commitment to personal growth in holiness can make us fall short of all God intends us to be.
2. For Samson, his greatest gift was his strength. Great strength masked great weakness.  Without personal discipline his bodily power was not enough to equip him to serve well.  I also face similar challenges.  It could be a gift of teaching might mask hypocrisy, a gift of speaking might mask an inability to relate intimately to others, a gift of the ability to create or build might mask a hollow family life, a gift to bring beauty might mask inattention to the beautifying of the spirit, a gift of compassion might mask cynicism…..
3. As I recognize my own forms of strength and weakness, may I not get discouraged. The God who has created me stands with me, ready to keep forming me in response to my obedience.

 

PRAYER

Sit quietly with God for a while.  In pondering Samson’s story, ask God for insight and help as I seek the discipline needed to live out in fullness all God has created me to be.

In the end, God left Samson without his knowledge.  When in my life did I feel the Lord’s presence had left me?  Did His presence leave me or did my attitude leave Him?

Continue to ponder throughout the day.  Wait to listen and to converse with God.