Gospel Prism

Admittedly, I have no idea what Samson was like. But in Judges 16, he does not come off as the sharpest tool in the shed. What’s more he has the age-old sinful vice that so many men have, the desire for a woman at any cost. In verse 1, Samson “went in to� a prostitute. In verse 4, Samson “loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek.� She was a Philistine named Delilah, a people who were enemies of the Jews. But that didn’t matter to Samson. God who? It seems like his desire to worship God went out the window as soon as he his eyes lusted after Delilah. Sometimes men lust not only after a woman’s body, but also the companionship, conversation, and attention a woman gives to him. Perhaps the words of a woman are just as alluring as the fragrances and look and clothing. Thus, for Samson to love such a woman was quite telling of where he stood with his understanding of following hard after God. God told Israel in Deuteronomy 7:2-4 that Israel must never intermarry with its neighbors. God knew that to do so (which happens throughout Israel’s history) would lead to people turning away from God. He knew that when a worshipper of God married a non-worshipper of God, that God-follower would no longer follow Him. And certainly, this was the case for Samson.

Samson really turns into a dunce in this text. It should have been obvious to him that Delilah was trying to take advantage of his secret. As a reader, I am urging Samson from the stands to open his eyes and see the obvious chicanery Delilah is trying to pull. But alas, Samson’s passion and ‘love’ for Delilah not only makes him dull to her tricks, but also makes him numb to God’s presence in his life. Eventually, verse 20 says: “But he did not know that the LORD had left him.�

Lest we think this was Samson’s problem alone, we need not look much further to see that Solomon, the wisest and therefore dumbest person who lived, also was a fool when it came to his passion for women. Let me speak as a men to men, beware of your passions for women. Now I am married to a woman and every passionate for her in every way. Let me be a bit boastful here and say that I believe my wife is the most beautiful and caring and loving person I know. But what I love most about her is that she causes me to draw near to God and not further from Him. Anything less would make the luster of her beauty slowly fade away with time. But I know that her passion first for Christ and His Gospel makes her radiant with each new day. Samson’s problem, and Solomon’s as well, and perhaps yours, is that he was trying to find satisfaction in what would be fleeting charm and beauty (Proverbs 31). Such beauty fades with time. Conflicts arise in marriage. And without a deep passion first for our Lord, the marriage or affection is cast aside for ‘something better.’

Too many men have falsely believed that a woman’s love is more satisfying than the love of Christ. Samson proves to us that not only is this a red herring, it is an eternally dangerous notion. Thanks to the Lord’s grace, Samson was forgiven by God for his foolishness.

Do not take the fool’s road. Learn from Samson’s terrible mistake by choosing Christ and the ultimate satisfaction He gives over the ‘love’ of a man or a woman and the temporary satisfaction he or she gives. You will never regret it for an eternity.