Don’t miss this next verse:
Now men were lying in wait,
staying with her in the room. And she said to him, "The Philistines are
upon you, Samson!" But he broke the bowstrings as a strand of yarn breaks
when it touches fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.
(Judges 16:9 with emphasis)
“Samson, we’re alone honey, why don’t you take a little
rest.” He may have believed that they were alone, but the place must’ve
been packed. How many thousand can you fit under a bed? It must have been
teeming with people; in the closet, under the bed, hiding in the bathroom,
two guys behind the drapes. All with one purpose, just like in Gaza.
Watching every move, listening to every word, just waiting for the moment.
Then Delilah said to Samson,
"Look, you have mocked me and told me lies. Now, please tell me what you may
be bound with." (Judges 16:10)
I don’t know about you, but it would make me leery if
my wife asked me what my most hated meal was and then made it. Wouldn’t
that make you wonder? What if after dinner she says, “Is there anything
else you hate worse than this?” Most men would become nervous, but not the
invincible Samson.
In verses 11-14 Delilah continues her game of “How can
I kill you,” and each time Samson sleeps, she tries out one of his
“secrets”. First the bowstrings didn’t work, then the new ropes didn’t
work, finally sticking his head in the family sewing machine failed as
well. The scene is the same each time. Samson lies, Delilah tries, but no
one dies! It’s nearly comical (if it weren’t so sad). Every time he’s
asleep in Delilah’s house, there’s a crowd in the closet and under the bed.
Now men were lying in wait, staying with her in the room. (Vs. 9)…And
men were lying in wait, staying in the room. (Vs. 12) Samson’s
“unfaithfulness” is supposedly breaking her heart…
How can you
say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these
three times, and
have not told
me where your great strength lies.” You have mocked me and told me
lies” (Judges 16:15)
Is her heart really breaking? Does Delilah really care
if Samson loves her, or is it simply a tool? She can’t overpower him,
wrestle him to the ground and take his weapons from him, or else I believe
she would. Her technique is to entice him! Fulfilling her name by
wearing him down and taking his strength from him, so his real enemy can
destroy him.
There is a spiritual picture here. John 10:10 says that
the devil has come for three purposes. To steal, kill and destroy. The
Philistine lords have the same goals. To steal Samson’s strength, kill him
and destroy God’s power over them. But they couldn’t just attack Samson
head on, because he was too empowered by God. So instead they deceive him
with Delilah. This is a picture of Satan, the world, and the Church.
PART II—THE CHURCH
When was the last time Satan confronted you face to
face? Where you smelled his breath and saw his eyes? If he did this, you’d
respond wouldn’t you? Prayer meetings would be full. There wouldn’t be
such a thing as a sleeping Christian. So instead, Satan gets at us
indirectly through our weakness…the world.
The world is a very alluring seductress. The Bible says
in 1 John 2:16 that the world goes for our three weaknesses; the lust of the
flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Did Samson fall for the
lust of the flesh? How about the lust of the eyes? Was pride an issue for
him? These are the same tools being used on you. And they work! The world
bats its eyes at us and we get stupid.
John 7:7 says the world hates Jesus, and yet we still
flirt with it, don’t we? Think about this the next time you’re tempted to
turn on a T.V. program that you’re pretty sure you shouldn’t watch. Right
before you grab the remote, say to yourself, “This program hates Jesus.”
It’ll affect you. All of a sudden it won’t be so beautiful or so funny.
Perhaps like most of us, you compromise by saying, “I just skip past the bad
parts.” Or, maybe you are “enticed” by other things the world offers; how
to dress or what to drive. Who knows what it uses on you; the world is good
at “enticing” us. Perhaps you think you can handle it. I mean, you are a
Christian! The Bible does say, “[No] created thing, shall be able
to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:39)
This attitude is called “Samson logic”. You are
missing who is really behind these compromises. Satan is pulling the
strings. He is called “…the ruler of this world…” (John
12:31) The world is not spiritually “neutral”: it is his. It’s not about
entertainment, or making people happy, or helping you relax. It’s a Delilah
trying to lower your guard. And just as Delilah was so much weaker than
Samson, so is the world compared to believers.
These things I have spoken to
you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation;
but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
You are of God, little
children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than
he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
Yet, Paul warned Timothy that he could still be tied up
by the enticements of the world.
No one engaged in warfare
entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who
enlisted him as a soldier. (2 Timothy 2:4)
STAY AWAKE
Are you aware that Jesus has commanded us to stay
awake? In seven chapters Jesus says seventeen times, “Stay awake.”
(Matthew 24, 25, 26, Mark 13, 14, Luke 12, 21) Why did our Lord repeat it
so often? What does it mean to “stay awake”? Does it mean that Christians
shouldn’t take afternoon naps? Does it mean that Christians aren’t supposed
to rest at night? What does “stay awake” mean? What was He talking about?
Jesus was referring to spiritual alertness.
Let’s look at one instance in Mark 13. Jesus is
talking about the coming destruction of the temple. The entire temple, He
says, will be utterly destroyed. He begins teaching about the world-wide
wars that will occur prior to His return. He gives extensive detail about
the Antichrist. He informs us that children will soon betray their parents
to death, and cults will jump up all over the place saying that He has
returned. In verses 24-27 He says, “When I come it’s going to be a terrible
day.” Then in verses 28-29 He exhorts us to recognize these as signs,
because they are like leaves on the trees signifying Spring. In verse 32,
He tells us that no one knows the exact day He is coming.
Now let’s look at Mark 13:33
Take heed, watch and pray; for
you do not know when the time is.
Let me translate it literally!
Look around, do not sleep
and pray, for you do not know when the season is.
Then He gives a Parable:
It is like a man going to a
far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to
each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
(Mark 13:34 with emphasis)
He didn’t ask, he didn’t say it would be a good idea,
he didn’t encourage, he commanded the doorkeeper to watch. That word
is grhgorew (gray-gor-eh-o),
we get the name “Gregory” from it. It means “stay awake”! He commands the
doorkeeper to stay awake.
How long?
Watch therefore (stay
awake), for you do not know when the master of the house is coming; in
the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—
