Judges 16

Here is our hero. Samson. Why is he going into the home of a prostitute? We know why the spies hid at the home of Rahab, but what is Samson doing? But then the gates of an enemy city are not able to prevail against him, and we think of our Redeemer and his church. The gates of hell shall not prevail against the Lord's church.

Then again there is Delilah. Why does Samson love her? But why was Hosea told to take Gomer as his wife? And why is Jesus so steadfast in his love for us?

It is hard for us to understand the Lord. He is full of compassion, but He will not clear the guilty. Yet we have been loved with His great love, and He has made us alive. We must have somehow been declared “not guilty.” How did that happen? In Christ. In His death.

Delilah is very plainly in league with the enemies of God who seek to destroy Samson. Samson toys with her and her friends. But Samson is not God. Bad company can ruin God's servants. No one, even Samson, should think of himself as stronger than he really is. A bad decision can be made in a moment that can lead to death.

She pressed him hard with her words day after day. “His soul was vexed to death.”

So He told her everything, but did he think that he was still invincible? “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But the LORD had left him, and he did not know it.

“Never will I leave you.” This is the Lord's promise to us. Yet could it be that for a season we lose something of His presence as He works out a purpose that must happen in His way?

Samson would die. That had to be. He was pointing forward to the one Savior that all of the judges pointed toward, Jesus of Nazareth.

Where did Jesus win His greatest victory for our sake? In His death. But that death was followed by a resurrection.

Samson's greatest victory came in the Lord's surprising vengeance. He killed 3000 with his death. Jesus saved millions upon millions with His death and resurrection. He has given us eternal life.