19. After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him. 20 Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. 21 Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison.”
pleasures affected Samson spiritually as well. Samson did not know the Lord had departed from him (verse 20). When Samson revealed his secret, he submitted to Delilah. He gave into Delilah’s persistence and she shaved his head. The last of the four vows of the Nazarites was broken. Samson was unholy in his sexual pursuits - he drank and ate unacceptable foods. Samson had also touched killed bodies and took pride in it. Now the last vow was broken - no razor was ever come to his head.
Without God, Samson became as weak as any man. His physical weakness resulted from moral weakness because it was a divine gift to be used for God. A vow required obedience to God’s authority. He lived in continued disobedience so the spirit of the Lord left him.
often think of a man departing from the Lord, not the other way around. It is possible to so harden yourself so that God will no longer come to you. The time comes when we no longer hear the conviction of God and that is a pity. When we no longer listen for Him, we cannot tell when the Spirit stops speaking to our heart.
Maybe some if you are caught up with your passions. I am convinced there are good church goers that are playing with sin. Like Samson, the passions may affect you physically, mentally, socially, but more than anything they affect you spiritually. Do you still hear the Lord? Usually, it weakens when we no longer have any interest in personal Bible reading. We become cold toward the Lord when we no longer communicate in prayer. We no longer go to church, or desire to be with other Christians.
Listen to God who the best friend that you can ever have. He is the one who really loves you and wants your ultimate blessing. Will you let Him clean up that special sin? He wants to talk to you about that spot on your soul.
You know what you must do. You know that there are things that you need to get right with God. Only Jesus Christ can save us from our sins and ourselves.
Application: Do you need to turn to Him before it is too late? Read or listen to the Bible today. The Psalms are a good place to start. Be a regular in your church attendance.
Prayer: Lord, keep me attune to the voice of Your Holy Spirit nudging me. Show me where I might be dabbling in sin, the wrong lifestyle or entertainment. Guide me in paths of righteousness for Your Name's sake.
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