Samson’s Real Weakness...

Samson had his weaknesses. If you read the text, it’s easy to assume that his hair was his greatest weakness. He was told by his parents (who were told by God) to never cut his hair. When he did have his hair cut, he lost his freedom, as well as his dignity, but it wasn’t his hair that cost him his life. Samson’s greatest weakness was his lack of ability to keep his eyes focused on God. Which eventually (and ironically) cost him his eyes (physical vision). We continually see his behavior acted out with revenge, with lies, and lack of discernment; especially when it came to women. Samson’s strength came from God not his hair. When he placed Delilah above God, and broke a vow that he was supposed to keep, he not only lost his strength and his hair; God’s Spirit also left him. This one act of disobedience revealed the state of his heart. He served Israel for 20 years as judge, but his lack of discernment, selfish pride, and weakness towards women, eventually cost him his freedom and his life. When we put our worldly desires above God’s commands, we lose the ability to see spiritually. For Samson, his inability to see spiritually cost him his physical sight as well, along with his very life.

But Samson replied, “I only did to them what they did to me.” Judges 15:11c

15 Then Delilah pouted, “How can you tell me, ‘I love you,’ when you don’t share your secrets with me? You’ve made fun of me three times now, and you still haven’t told me what makes you so strong!” 16 She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it.17 Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.”18 Delilah realized he had finally told her the truth, so she sent for the Philistine rulers. “Come back one more time,” she said, “for he has finally told me his secret.” So the Philistine rulers returned with the money in their hands. 19 Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap, and then she called in a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair. In this way she began to bring him down, and his strength left him.20 Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!”When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.21 So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison. Judges 16:15-21

28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, 30 he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime. Judges 16:28-30