April 9th | Judges 16

I heard recently that a well-known pastor who was faithful to the church for years and had a very prosperous ministry had cheated on his wife with the church secretary. Sadly, this is an all too common story—leaders in the church failing specifically because of sexual temptation. Spiritual leaders failing because of lust are not new; they are found in Samson's story years ago. 

Samson already had an issue with women controlling him and causing him difficulties in his spiritual life in chapter 14 of Judges. Chapter 16 opens with the same story of Samson lusting after women and it causing death, destruction, and pain. But in verse 4, we read, 

“After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, Delilah” 

Once again, Samson’s love and desires are given to this woman who will cause pain for Samson, the Judge of Israel. We know the story; Delilah continually asks Samson where his power comes from, and after several nights and much pressure, Samson finally gives in to her questioning. After telling her lies about where his power comes from, he finally tells the truth in verse 17, 

“And he told her all his heart.” 

Be careful where you give your entire heart. Samson had walked in God’s grace and power. He had accomplished great things. Eventually, his sin caught up to him. He gave all his heart to Delilah, and look at what happened in verse 20 after his hair had been cut, 

“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.” 

Samson’s power was not from his hair but from God. His Nazarite vow to the Lord and his devotion to be a man of God brought the power of God’s blessing. But when he gave his whole heart to Delilah, she took it and his hair, and Samson was left powerless. 

Samson’s sin led to his imprisonment by the Philistines and his eyes gouged out. While verse 22 shows that Samson’s hair would grow back out, and God would give him one last burst of power to defeat the Philistines, Samson would never be the same. His sin had left an indelible mark on his life. No longer would he see light, nor would he be a light to the nation of Israel. He had judged Israel for 20 years, but how long could God have used him? How much more could God have done through him?



Don’t let that be a question to be asked of your life. Don’t flirt with sin. Don’t give any of your heart to the enemy. Give yourself to Jesus, and walk in his grace and power daily. Be reminded of the words of Charles Spurgeon, 

“And though God did give him a great victory over the Philistines, it was but as the flicker of an expiring candle. He was never again a lamp of hope to Israel. His usefulness was brought to an end through his folly. Whatever the grace of God may do for us, it cannot make sin a right thing, a safe thing, or a permissible thing. It is evil, only evil, and that continually. Do not be enslaved by fleshly lusts.”