Samson's weakness with lust and incautious lifestyle continued (1-3). Being overly confident with his wit and physical strength, he lived according to his impulses.

When he fell in love with a Sorek woman, Delilah, the Philistines bribed her to get Samson's secret of his strength. Samson fooled her by giving three wrong answers that she brought to the Philistines, who tried to use these answers against Samson. Delilah's intention was obvious, yet Samson finally gave in to her tearful plea and told her he would lose his strength if his hair were shaved. His power did not come from his hair, but the Nazarene vow and God's calling (13:5). Keeping his hair uncut symbolized Samson's dedication to God. So, in the end, Samson gave up his commitment to God and chose to live by his physical desire and passion for a woman.

We often take God's blessings for granted. While we may not want to lose the blessing, we also tread water to see how much benefit we can get from the world. Samson's strength did not come from his hair but from the Spirit of God (14:6,19, 15:14). Samson ignored spiritual truth as he played with his desire for physical pleasure.


Application: Father, thank you for the spiritual gifts you've given me. Please help me to dedicate myself to you and glorify your name.
One Word: Keep the dedication to the Lord