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. 23 Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.” 24 When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, “Our god has delivered our enemy into our hands, the one who laid waste our land and multiplied our slain.” 25 While they were in high spirits, they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So, they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them.”
We are made aware of the price Samson paid for his sin. First, in addition to the loss of the presence of God, he lost his freedom. He was bound by ropes that before could not stop him. He was enslaved against his will. He lost his strength.
often does sin enslave us with consequences we ignore. In our society we see addictions to various sins bring unwanted pregnancies, abortions, venereal disease, and premature marriages that ends in divorce. We see consequences of illegal drugs resulting in addictions that enslave people. We see alcohol addictions where victims spend money they cannot afford, or steal for their next fix.
immediate consequence for Samson was blindness, when he had been subdued by Delilah the Philistines gouged out his eyes. This man whose name meant “child of the sun” had been with Delilah whose name meant “night”. This woman who tempted him and lured him to reveal that last vow had overcome Sampson. Up until that time he had broken three out of the four vows- unholy, drunkenness, and touched dead bodies. He did keep that one vow of not shaving his head, but in telling Delilah, she cut off his locks.
Samson did not realize the cost of sin until it was too late. Last chapter was a warning. This chapter was the reality. Last week he played with fire in resisting God, his people, and his own discipline. This week we observe him paying for his actions and attitudes.
Society has become blind to sins and they have learned to accept them. Sexual perversion, homosexuality, promiscuity, wickedness, gang warfare, murders in the streets, strife, deceit, malice, gossips, slanderers, God haters, the insolent, arrogant, boastful even in ways of doing evil, disobedience to their parents, senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless. Although they know God‘s righteous decrees, that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things, but also approve of those who practice them. (Portions from Romans 1:29-32)
Samson failed to realize that no one is too smart to outsmart God.
Application: What warnings do you see around you that shows results of disobedience to God’s laws?
Prayer: Lord, I thank you that through Your life, death and resurrection, I am now able to live “in Christ”. Holy Spirit continue to guide me and teach me to flee those places in my life that present compromise or temptation.
