Samson’s Downfall

Despite his massive ego and foolishness, God had used Samson as His chosen instrument against the Philistines. But Samson’s lust would be his downfall. The Philistines noticed his only weakness was his lustfulness, so they hired a beautiful woman named Delilah to seduce him into revealing the secret of his strength. After being lied to by Samson on three occasions, he finally caved in and gave her the truth. Teaching us that we should be careful not to flirt with sin or abuse the favor God has given us; otherwise, like Samson, we may make a choice we deeply regret.

In our last episode, we saw how Samson used his strength to exact his revenge and as a tool in God’s hand to push back the oppressive Philistines. His anger and quick temper left a trail of destruction and death across the region, but God used even Samson's failings to weaken Israel’s enemy. Ultimately Samson was filled with God’s Spirit and righteously defended his fellow Israelites, leading to him being judged over the people for twenty years. Sadly, Samson’s lust, disobedience, and foolishness resurface, and rather than flirt with danger, he plunges headlong into sin. Entangled with an evil woman, his strength will not match her hold on his mind. It’s a tragic tale of unchecked sin. But still, God will use Samson to win a victory over the Philistines ultimately.