Judges 16 NOT DONE YET There were five major cities of the Philistines, each one with a ruler who wanted to maintain the prosperity they had even at the expense of others. These rich powerful men wanted to be rid of Samson, so when he went to Gaza to a harlot, the time was ripe, they thought, to capture him. We may think a matter is acceptable because "everyone does it" but there is always a high price to pay for sin, no matter what the issue is. "When lust is conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." There are always consequences for any action we may take. For those things that are good and done for God's glory, or for those that are done for the pleasures of sin, there are good or bad consequences.
Samson's lust, and the gates of Gaza may have seemed to be a done deal and a personal victory at the time, but what he sowed in Gaza he reaped in the valley of Sorek. A person can be involved in a spiritual work for the Lord for twenty years, and still fall into sin. It is possible to get out of fellowship with God when we are engaged in spiritual service. The deception of temptation cannot be completely avoided. Temptation is not sin - yielding to it is. Samson did not fail because the temptation was too strong or because it was inescapable. He failed because he trifled and played with sin. Probably during the 20 years of judgeship he went to Gaza with self-confidence that reveals carelessness in spiritual life as well as physical. He was out of fellowship with God. His confidence was based on the flesh and his life was in conflict with the will of God. He was filled with carnal self-confidence.
Now he had power without purity; strength without self-control. For 20 years he had enjoyed a life of victory, not once defeated. Instead of thankfulness it produced spiritual complacency in him. The result was his Nazariteship meant very little to him. Because he had experienced no defeats, only more of God's grace, he might have thought that God was not concerned about immorality and broken vows. There at least three reasons why we succumb to temptation when it enters our lives. Moral compromise deceives us and always makes us vulnerable. There is a start at the top of an incline rather than a fall off of a cliff. Personal purity is a critical issue in every Christian's life. Temptation comes in attractive forms and has the power to manipulate us. Sin usually comes as desirable, good, fulfilling rather than ugly and destructive. Temptation comes when we chose wrong company. Nothing shapes our character more than the people with whom we chose to spend time. We need to learn to help people say, "NO," and to stand alone with grace and strength.
Process of temptation begins with a sense of interest and then gradually works closer to the source of our power. Temptation urges us to try a thing, and then to try it again. The principles of temptation begin with the fact that when we trifle with temptation it traps us. The scripture plainly states, "Flee immorality" (1Cor.6:18); "Flee idolatry" (1Cor.10:14); "Flee these things (materialism) (1Tim.6.11); "Flee youthful lusts" (1Tim.2:22). Samson chose not to flee and lost his character. Life-style, leisure and even occupation may be lost in order to preserve one's character. Self-confidence blinds us to reality. You cannot trifle with sin and keep it in bounds. Sin makes a fool of us. Samson's hair held no magic but it indicated that at least in a measure he had trusted God. By pride and self-indulgence his life was devastated.
Lust, and the gates of Gaza led to love, and the lap of deceit, and finally loss and the blindness of sin. Before one of God's children makes any kind of a commitment to another with a view to marriage, decide what kind of person you believe God is leading you to before passion takes control of you. Determine if faith is real and character is righteous. Personality, temperament and the commitment to solving problems rather than running from them, are more important and gratifying than love and passion. Take time and be patient when making decisions that affect the rest of our life. The pleasant appearance and attention a person show toward you may appeal, but deceit and honey often go together. No matter how attractive, or persistent a person may be, do not surrender to nagging. Coldness and underhanded calculation often go together. Pretense and professions of love often go together. Flattery and temptation also go together. We all need God to help us distinguish between deception and truth. The unrelenting pressure of deception and pressure of the lust of the flesh brings one down.
Dignity, honor and self-respect fall before the persistent pressure of unrestrained lust. To resist the pull of affection to follow the Lord is one of the most difficult things a disciple has to face in life. A believer who thinks they can bring the unbeliever to faith in Christ, or even get a carnal believer to follow them, needs to remember that seldom happens. Because Samson had refused to discipline his own life, God disciplined him in chains and fetters under the control of his enemies. In grace God stripped away everything that kept him from trusting God. This is the work of the Refiner. Discipline promotes maturity and restores usefulness. Discipline happens to those who the Lord love. It hurts sinners and those around him who have no love or time for God. It heals and changes behavior when heeded.
Loss of strength, willingness and strength to serve the Lord, liberty in Christ, commitment to walk in the light, and spiritual discernment, follow disobedience to God and yielding to the flesh. Delilah, the deceiver became rich when she brought Samson into bondage. It was God purpose to restore Samson. His last downward journey to Gaza brought him into slavery. No matter how far, we fall we are not beyond the possibility of God's forgiveness. While forgiveness was immediate, restoration was gradual. The consequences of sin are not erased. Sin traps, blinds, deceives and controls us when we yield to it. The loss of his eyesight was permanent. However, even after failure and sin takes place, there is a place for recovery. Forgiveness follows repentance and confession of sin. That is immediate. Restoration takes time. The growth of his hair was a visible indicator that his fellowship with God was growing.
In Samson's prayer, he accepted God's forgiveness, he was trusted wholeheartedly in God, and finally he was committed unreservedly to God. Final victory comes after admission of failure, acceptance of forgiveness, acknowledgement of fellowship with God and acting in faith. Samson had gone down so many times that it could discourage us unless we realize God is not done with us yet. The conclusion of the story of Samson is that after his death he was "brought up" to where he started.