Why, Why, Why Delilah?
One Year Bible (May 2)
Judges 15:1-16:31
“Why, Why, Why, Delilah”
I saw the light on the night that I passed by her window
I saw the flickering shadows of love on her blind
She was my woman
As she deceived me, I watched and went out of my mind
My, my, my, Delilah
Why, why, why, Delilah
I could see, that girl was no good for me
But I was lost like a slave that no man could free
There is just something about this girl’s name. When I hear it, Tom Jones just starts crooning in my head. I promise you that by the end of today’s story we will ALL be asking, “Why indeed?”!
Let’s backtrack for just a bit as I really didn’t give too many details in yesterday’s study. I just wanted to paint the scene and hang some questions out there in the air for us to ponder.
Why, Why, Why? I do have at least three questions for us to look at together…
The first thing that comes to my mind is, “Are you new here?” Now I have a friend that likes to ask this question. Let me share with you what it really means. She talks Southern and the more Southern she gets the more she is “shaking her head” (and that is not a compliment). Well, there is a whole lot of shakin’ going on in this story.
Do you remember when “The Man of God” appeared to Samson’s mom? She was told that Samson was to be dedicated to God as a Nazarite from the moment of his birth until his death.
Then Manoah, Samson’s father, prayed to God, “Please, let the man of God come back to us again and give us more instructions about this son who is to be born.” Manoah gets his wish and this is his big question, “What kind of rules should govern the boy’s life and work?” Really? That's it?
The Angel of the Lord repeats that Samson is to be a Nazarite and his wife is not to eat any grapes, raisins, drink wine, alcohol, or any forbidden fruit while carrying him.” The father offered a grain offering and the Lord did an amazing thing. The flames shot up toward the sky and the angel of the Lord ascended in the fire. Scriptures tell us that “Manoah FINALLY realized it was the angel of the Lord and he said to his wife, “We will surely die for we have seen God!”
His wife had to remind her husband that The Angel of the Lord wouldn’t have come to make these promises just to kill them. How would Samson have been born? (I think she was shaking her head at this point and I am pretty sure the angel had a southern smirk by now.)
My second “why” has to do with Manoah’s son, Samson. He also seems to be a “Little New Here”. Seriously! Did we not just read all about his premiere season on the bachelor? Before we even switch the channel the next episode is playing on rewind… It is indeed the same chorus with a different verse, and trust me it DOES GET WORSE!
Who stays with a woman who repeatedly asks, “How can we tie you up and take away your powers?” This is bad enough, but the girl practiced this on him repeatedly, and Samson still stayed with her! He revealed his calling and secret to her as well, and it cost him his life! His eyes were literally “gouged out”. He was then taken captive and made to be a slave by the people that he was to overthrow.
Both father and son seem to be missing an understanding of Samson’s true calling as a Nazarite. His strength was to be in his purity and complete dedication to his God. He was not to partake of any grape substances, have his hair cut, or come in contact with the dead in any way. Yet, he was easily allured by women. He seemed to be a few “raisins short of a cake” as he went down the very same path that ensnared him the first time around.
The saddest verse in this whole story is this, … “But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.”
Here is a man with superhuman strength who forgot to keep his eyes on the source of that strength.
What is even more remarkable than Samson’s many weaknesses, is God’s abiding strength through him. It tells us that “The Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson.” God was not deterred from accomplishing his plan through Samson, in spite of Samson. The scriptures tell us, “But before long, his hair began to grow back”. That’s when God’s spirit filled him one last time and he literally “Brought the House Down!”
What does Hebrews 11:32-34 tell us about him? Samson… ”and the prophets, who THROUGH FAITH conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.”
But, make no mistake, what a tragic ending to a man who was “set apart” to free others while becoming enslaved himself. He lost his vision and it cost him his sight and his life.
Why, Why, Why Delilah?
