Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
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S. Michael Houdmann
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The story of Samson and Delilah, recorded in the sixteenth chapter of Judges, has been the delight of scores of writers, artists, and composers for hundreds of years. When Samson dallied with Delil...
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Singapore Moses
Lessons learnt: 1. His strength was not in his hair or his muscles, but in the Holy Spirit (Judg. 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14) and his faith in God (Heb. 11:32- 40). 2. His hair was a token of his vow to God. 3. Samson betrayed both himself and God, and paid dearly for his foolishness and sin. 4. He should have seen that Delilah was determined to ruin him, but the weakness of his heart was greater than the strength of his body. 5. He lied to Delilah three times and (if not married to her) committed adultery with her as well as the harlot of Gaza (Judg. 16:1- 22). 6. His very soul would have been lost, if he had not been brought to his senses and prayed to God in his closing days (Judg. 16:28- 30; Heb. 11:32). Many a preacher has lost spiritual energy due to improper relationships with those of the opposite sex. Delilah's lap drained the might of Samson (Judg 16:19). This is one of the main reasons why most of our pulpits are void of the message from God. The lust of eyes dims one's spiritual vision. Sinful pleasures darken the soul. Extramarital affairs confuse the preacher's understanding of the ways of God. The vessel of honour is defiled. Its use for the Master gets diminished and in course of time it is set aside (2 Tim 2:21,22; 1 Cor 9:27). God challenges us, "What right have you to declare My statutes, or take My covenant in your mouth, seeing... you have been a partaker with adulterers?" (Psa 50:16,18). Apostle Paul reminds us of this challenge in Romans 2:21,22: "You, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?... You who say, `Do not commit adultery,' do you commit adultery?" Preachers have more opportunities than anyone else to move with the opposite sex. People trust them and come close for counselling and prayer. There's a specific warning against taking advantage of the situation: "This is the will of God... that you should abstain from sexual immorality... that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter... For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness" (1 Thess 4:3,6,7). A holy minister is an awesome weapon in the hands of God. When a preacher in his mind is preoccupied with lustful desires for another woman, the Word of God is no more his delight day and night. His concentration in the study and meditation of the Bible is disturbed. This reflects on his preaching. With oratory skills, sharp memory power and pulpit experience he can manage for a season. But keen spiritual minds can easily discern the absence of the "message" in his sermons. Oh, how many congregations are starving because of the careless living of their pastors! The closest competitor to the Word of God is the lips of an immoral woman which drip like honeycomb (Prov 5:3). Apostle Paul's testimony is timely: "I discipline my body... lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1 Cor 9:27).
Bruce Lyon
The question is: "What should we learn from the account of Samson and Delilah?" Paul gives us the best answer: 2Co 6:14 Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness? This advice should be adhered to by all believers if they want to be free from entanglements that will cause them a lot of pain and suffering as Samson underwent.
Doreen Lovell
OBEDIENCE to the laws and precepts of God will give us strength and ability to resist the devil and his hosts. Disobedience will cause our downfall and lead to destruction; but God like the father of the prodigal sons is always waiting to welcome us back to the fold and restore when we repent and ask for forgiveness. Samson knew God forbid His people to marry baal worshippers, (the Phillistines fell into that bracket). Yet because of lust he marry Delilah. He came to his senses, ask for forgiveness, repented and was given back his strength to defeat the enemy.
Jay Saunders
We should learn that pride comes before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 And that we should not be unequally yoked with unbeleivers. 2 Corinthians 6:14 And that God will always return to us when we return to Him. He is just waiting on you to turn around so that he can do and be all that you need in any situation. Jeremiah 29:13 Whether it be a very serious situation or a minor situation the Lord God cares always for us. 2 Chronicles 15:2 Like a mother hen protects it's young and will sacrifice itself for its chicks as he did on the cross at calvery for all that will call on His name Jesus. Isaiah 53:1-12
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