Samson was the pride of the Jews. He had indomitable power and spirit. The Philistines were sorely eager to subdue him. They engaged Samson’s wife Delilah, a daughter of Philistine to assist her kindred to execute their plot. Delilah, full of deceptive love said to Samson in Judges 16: 6 please tell me your strength and how to subdue you. Not all spouses and friends are true, honest and trustworthy. It takes the grace of God to discern their motives and agenda. Be alert; pray without ceasing!
From where comes our strength?
When Moses enquired from God his name to the Israelites, God said in Exodus 3: 14 I AM WHO I AM. Even God did not volunteer information about himself but answered with deep knowledge. Everyone’s strength is unique and a secret to God. Nehemiah 8: 10 says the joy of the LORD is your strength. To Nehemiah, our strength if God is happy will be assured, and vice versa.
Jesus said in 2Corinthians 12: 9 my grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness. Jesus was strong because God was pleased with him. God said in Matthew 3: 17; 17: 5; Mark 1: 11; Luke 3: 22 this is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased. Christ Jesus knew no sin. 2Corinthians 5: 21 says for our sake he (God) made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Our strength lies in the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
Nations boast of their military strength. People boast of their wealth and influence. Others boast of their gods, deities or spirits. Psalms 20: 7 says some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the LORD our God. David proceeded in Psalms 121: 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. God is the only authentic source of strength. Psalms 124: 8 says our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. God, the source of our help, is our strength.
Who was Samson before God?
As a Nazarene, Samson was devout to God from birth. He walked strictly by God’s instructions and ordinances; what he ate and drank; what he wore and how he kept himself; and those he associated with. He was called to divine discipline and a godly oath of obedience. This was the Jewish expectation of Samson’s engagement with the Lord. Delilah and her kinsmen had no such knowledge.
Delilah’s task was to expose Samson’s true source of strength; and to compromise the avowed Nazarite oath to the Lord God. Satan tempted Jesus and said in Matthew 4: 9 all these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me. Many have fallen for such deceit and lost their strength. 1Corinthians 16: 13 says keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Like Samson, we have exposed our strengths and compromised our oath in various forms. Samson failed on his divine discipline and godly oath of obedience. He recklessly betrayed the grace of his life.
How do we expose our strength?
We rely on ourselves rather than God. Proverbs 3: 5 says trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. We are enticed by Satan’s deception rather than seeking divine clearance. 2Corinthians 11: 14 says even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. We are destroyed by the haste of sight, not the tardiness of wisdom. Job 4: 21 says their tent-cord is plucked up within them, and they die devoid of wisdom.
Samson lost the discipline so had his eyes gauged and reduced to a laughing spectacle. Galatians 5: 1 says stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. The devil’s strength is trickery but Christ Jesus brings us strength in joy. 1Peter 5: 8 says discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Do not expose your strength, be alert always of the enemy.
2John 1: 8 says be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but may receive a full reward. We must avoid complacency. David said in Psalms 27: 1 the LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Had Samson kept the Lord as his stronghold, his responses would have been led by the Holy Spirit. Of what relevance is Delilah’s question to Samson relevant to us today?
Our lips must be guarded by the Holy Spirit. 2Chronicles 22: 7 says it was ordained by God that the downfall of Ahaziah should come about through his going to visit Joram. What does the Holy Spirit say about the people we have around us? We must be careful of what we say and do without the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Our Lord and father in heaven, Psalms 63: 8 says my soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. In the blood of Christ Jesus, be our strength. Grant us wisdom to guard our strength with your grace. Help us to keep our oath of divine allegiance; and by your Spirit maintain the discipline. Preserve our strength in your righteousness in your holy name, Amen!!
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