"Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison. However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven. Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, “O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God,..” -Judges 16:21-22, 28
Samson is known for his strength. However he did have two weaknesses; he was self reliant, and he loved women. Samson had won all his battles up until the time he met Delilah. His pride allowed him to be enticed and blinded by her and he eventually lost his hair. After the hair was gone so was his strength, then his eyes, followed by his dignity. The knees of a woman proved stronger than a thousand Phillistines.
Sin is like that it can gradually deceive us till it ultimately has us back under bondage. Somebody once said that "sin binds, blinds, and grinds." This is exactly what happened to Samson. But the bible tells us that his hair started coming back followed by a humble attitude that sought God instead of self to find strength. You see self exaltation will lead to humiliation while humility leads to exaltation!
When Jesus told Paul that His "strength is made perfect in weakness", Paul responded by saying "when I am weak then I am strong." (2 Cor 12:9-10) So then the key to finding strength in our defeat is on our knees, in humble recognition of who God is and who we are not. Let us find strength in our weaknesses and not rely on ourselves lest we fall like Samson did.
Sin is like that it can gradually deceive us till it ultimately has us back under bondage. Somebody once said that "sin binds, blinds, and grinds." This is exactly what happened to Samson. But the bible tells us that his hair started coming back followed by a humble attitude that sought God instead of self to find strength. You see self exaltation will lead to humiliation while humility leads to exaltation!
When Jesus told Paul that His "strength is made perfect in weakness", Paul responded by saying "when I am weak then I am strong." (2 Cor 12:9-10) So then the key to finding strength in our defeat is on our knees, in humble recognition of who God is and who we are not. Let us find strength in our weaknesses and not rely on ourselves lest we fall like Samson did.
- CHECK YOURSELF: LOOK FOR AREAS IN YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU USUALLY RELY ON YOUR OWN STRENGTH. HOW CAN YOU SURRENDER THEM TO GOD TODAY?
- “The lap of Delilah proved too strong for the heart of Samson” -C.H. Macintosh