Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued. Judges 16: 6
The story of Samson and Delilah is one of the most interesting stories of the Bible because for the most part, it reads like fiction about how a very strong man was subdued into submission by a beautiful woman. When I was a kid, I thought it was one of those fairy tale stories that were meant to teach us moral lessons in the end. Little did I know that the story was actually taken from the Bible and it contained richer spiritual lessons for our lives today.
One such lesson that struck me today when I chanced upon the passage was how Samson didn’t protect the source of his strength. On many occasions, we read of his loose morals. Like so many young people today, he was one who sowed wild oats wherever he went. He was young, he wanted to enjoy life and he wanted to explore the wonders of his sexuality. Whenever he saw a girl he liked, he’d do everything he can to get her even if it meant stirring up trouble. His extraordinary strength afforded him everything he ever wanted. It was probably the coolest thing in the world for a guy.
But the day of reckoning came faster than he expected. He met the beautiful Delilah and in a short period of time, his world crumbled down.
In his preoccupation with pleasure, Samson forgot to protect the source of his strength. He forgot that God gave him power to accomplish something greater than his escapades. His gifts were meant to deliver Israel, not create a harem of girls who swoon when they see him. He forgot that to maintain his power, he needed to keep his commitment and integrity as a Nazirite.
The tragedy of Samson’s life speaks loud and clear to us today. It teaches us to cover and protect the very things that make us strong. That includes our time of communion with God when we read our Bibles and pray; our fellowship with other believers when we attend church and discipleship groups; our commitment to our calling; our personal time of worship and a hundred other things that keep us spiritually strong and refreshed.
How are you protecting the things that keep you strong?
Jojo Agot 