The Perils of Pride

Samson was an Israelite from the tribe of Dan whom God called from the womb to be a Nazirite, for he was destined to deliver Israel out of the hands of the pagan Philistines (Judges 13:5). As a Nazirite, he could not consume alcohol and other grape products (Judges 13:5; Numbers 6:1-4). He could not touch the dead body of a human or animal, nor cut his hair. For 20 years, God gave him supernatural strength to achieve victory over the Philistines (Judges 15:14-15).

Who were the Philistines. They were aggressive expansionist and warmongering occupiers who originated from the Aegean region which is mainland Greece to the west and north and Turkey to the east and the island of Crete. From there they migrated to the Mediterranean coast near Gaza, from where they harassed and oppressed the Israelites, often invading Israel’s territory.

Samson, a Nazarite Hebrew, was called to a moral and sanctified life, yet he visited a Philistine prostitute in Gaza. He also violated the Nazarite law not to touch a dead animal. So, when he came upon a rotting carcass of a lion filled with a swarm of bees and honey, he scooped out the honey, ate it, and took some to his clueless parents (Judges 14:9). This event alone has a profound meaning. The dead carcass represents those who are spiritually dead but offer false pleasures to destroy the unsuspecting.

Samson’s first attempt to take a Philistine wife caused his parents to ask, “Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” (Judges 14:3) For the Philistines worshipped pagan idols and foreign gods. It was the Philistines whom God had enabled Samson to defeat on numerous occasions. Ignoring his parents and God’s purpose, he married a Philistine woman who betrayed his trust. Through various circumstances, both she and her father were murdered.  

It was Samson’s attraction to another Philistine woman who lured him further away from obeying God. Samson (meaning sun and light) lacked moral judgment when he chose Delilah (meaning darkness; separated from God). She had caught his eye (the lust of the eye) because of her great beauty. Like the beauty of the forbidden fruit that brought about man’s destruction in the Garden of Eden, his lust for the forbidden would eventually bring about his destruction.

God had gifted Samson with unique strength and power to deliver the Israelites from the oppressive Philistines (Judges 13:5). His gift of strength was to be used to defeat their enemy and secure Israel’s safety. We read that each time before God led Samson into a battle, the Bible records these words, “The Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him…” (Judges 14:6 NKJV).

Samson was clueless to Delilah’s relationship with the Philistinian authorities who had offered her a great sum of money if she could discover the secret of his strength. Sadly, Samson’s ego, pride, and lust for Delilah would lead him to trust her love and devotion for him, just as he had trusted his first wife, who had betrayed him.

Samson’s lust for beautiful women and his sexual appetite controlled his life (1 John 2:16). The more we allow the world’s allurements and pleasures to draw us into its clutches, the further we distance ourselves from God. Samson’s fleshly desires settled so deep within his spirit that he became spiritually blind to his God-anointed purpose and to Delilah’s agenda.

Three times, Delilah bound Samson and called out, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” His confidence and ability to quickly break free from his bonds and overpower the enemy gave him a false sense of empowerment and security. His arrogance had robbed him of godly wisdom and discernment to question Delilah’s motives.

The question often asked is, “Why did Samson not become angry when, three times, Delilah set a trap for his arrest?” His downfall was in his misplaced trust in Delilah and in his own strength. He viewed those “futile” efforts to overpower him as nothing more than amusing parlor tricks and a way to show off his strength to those who attempted to seize him.

Delilah continued to nag Samson for the secret of his strength until he finally relented and told her that his hair was the source of his strength. His undoing would be his failure to understand that his hair was not the source of his strength but a symbol of God being the source of all power.

The final test came when he fell asleep in Delilah’s lap, and she called for a man to shave Samson’s head. (We can only guess that Delilah drugged him so he would fall into a deep sleep). “Again, she yelled, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” He immediately said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free! But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him” (Judges 16:19-20 NKJV).

The “I” in Samson’s statement reveals that he believed he was in control and his hair was his source of power. He did not shout, “The LORD will give me strength to overpower my enemies!” Samson was captured and his eyes were gouged out. And it had been his eyes that lured him to the beauty of pegan, idol worshippers who betrayed him and caused him to disobey and lose reverence for God’s call on his life.  

Our strength comes from obedience, “…for obedience is better than sacrifice, for rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:22-23). God desires a surrendered heart that completely trusts Him. And that surrendering requires humility and sacrificing fleshly desires.

Today, there are Christians who want both worlds—the security of heaven and the pleasures of the world. Samson’s life is a tragic example of what happens when light and darkness are joined. Though we can be a light in the darkness, we cannot join light with darkness as Samson did in pursuing Philistine women.

Samson’s hair had grown back while in captivity; however, he had repented and recognized that his strength could only come from God. So, as he stood between the pillars of the building, he called out, “O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God…” (Judges 16:28 NKJV). We read further that on that day, he had killed more at his death than he had killed in his life.

Samson’s story is a portrait of harsh consequence that come from disobedience, pride, and arrogance. Those sins cause a person to stray from God’s path and pursue personal desires. Samson had placed his faith in himself and in his strength. He sidestepped God’s command, breaking every Nazarite vow.

The story of Samson should caution us to “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.” Samson had touched what was unclean and sought after pagan Philistine women. Therefore, “Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you” (1 Corinthians 6:17).

PRAYER: LORD, thank you for Your truths and that every good thing comes from You. For You liberally supply my every need according to Your riches in glory through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). It is Your divine power that gives me all things that pertain to life and godliness for each day (2Peter1:3-10). Thank you that You are my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, and my strength in whom I trust (Psalm 18:2). In Jesus’ name, amen.