Bringing Down the House

I believe that there are times in our lives that we find ourselves tempting our adversaries, thinking that we are strong enough to handle anything that comes our way. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says “if you think you stand firm, take heed lest you fall.”How true that is and yet how often it is that we avoid all the warning bells and signs because we are too caught up in our own “attraction”. I was reading in Judges about Samson and the kind of man he was, the fact that before he was born God said he would be a great man for His cause. I was reading that in spite of the purpose for Samson’s life there was one BIG problem: His eyes. Well maybe not his eyes, though that was the means by which the real problem was carried out. Samson was a man who “danced with the devil”, he thought he was stronger than any adversary and because of his “self-confidence” he would be overtaken and made a mockery of. As I was reading I was struck by some details that hit me right between the eyes. First Samson was joining himself with people he never should have been with. I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 15:33 that says, “Bad company corrupts good morals”, and yet those are the people we can be so easily drawn to because they live more sensual fun filled lives (or so we think). Second Samson let his “passion” overshadow common sense. Not many of us would hang around people let alone want them to be our closest friends if they openly asked us how they might bind us and overtake us and yet that is exactly what Samson did all because his desires overcame common sense. I read about how Delilah came to him not once or twice or even three times, but FOUR times and specifically asked Samson how she could bind him so that he might be overcome and every time he flirted with the adversary. I am reminded of James 1:14, 15 that says “but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” This is exactly where Samson found himself…being drug away by his desires and passions. Third Samson, finally being “pestered and tired to death” gave in seeing no relief. In Judges 16:16 Delilah bugged him day after day after day until he could not take it any longer; so the ONLY solution Samson saw was to give in. I was struck because I have felt that way before. Looking back I know I have placed myself among places and people I had no business being around, teasing my adversary thinking that I could handle things on my own, that I was somehow strong enough to endure; I have been at the point where Satan has pestered me day after day after day until I finally just gave in and acted out. Fourth Samson realizes that the strength he thought HE had was not his strength at all but was of the Lord. I am reminded of Psalm 121:2 where David says: “My help comes from the Lord, the maker of the heavens and the earth.” After the fourth and final time Samson let them cut away the vow between him and God and he was weakened, he was overtaken and he was made a mockery of. Man did this hit me, because I have been there, thinking I was stronger than I really was and flirting with them enemy until I found myself overcome and mocked. It is very redeeming to read the end of the story as Paul Harvey would say, and see that even though Samson acted in these ways that were not pleasing to God, when Samson called upon God He was there!

As I think about these things I know that what was true for Samson and what was true for me is true for everyone: sometimes we bind ourselves up in things that God could set us free from is we would just accept HIS strength and be willing to just get out of His way...let God be God!