Bible Reading
Judges 16:4-22 (ESV) — > 4 After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
> 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.”
> 6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.”
> 7 Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.”
> 8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
> 9 Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner chamber. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he snapped the bowstrings, as a thread of flax snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.
> 10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies. Please tell me how you might be bound.” And he said to her, “If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.”
> 11 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And the men lying in ambush were in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.
> 12 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me how you might be bound.” And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and fasten it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.”
> 13 So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web. And she made them tight with the pin and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web.
> 14 And she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.”
> 15 And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death.
> 16 And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”
> 17 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands.
> 18 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.
> 19 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.
> 20 And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison.
> 21 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
Observation Questions
- What repeated pattern do you notice in Samson’s interactions with Delilah, and how does he respond each time she tries to discover his secret?
- According to the passage, what was the real source of Samson’s strength, and how did he lose it?
- What detail does the writer include after Samson’s capture that hints at hope or restoration?
- In the sermon, what reason is given for why God gives us boundaries and commands?
Interpretation Questions
- Why do you think Samson kept playing along with Delilah’s requests, even though he knew she was trying to trap him? What does this reveal about his attitude toward sin and God’s commands?
- The sermon says that God’s laws are not arbitrary, but are for our good and the good of His kingdom. How does Samson’s disregard for God’s commands affect not just himself, but others around him?
- The moment when “the Lord had left him” is a turning point in Samson’s story. What does this teach us about relying on our own strength versus depending on God?
- The regrowth of Samson’s hair is described as a symbol of hope. What does this suggest about God’s grace and the possibility of restoration after failure?
Application Questions
- The sermon challenges us to consider if we treat God’s commands as optional or arbitrary. Are there any areas in your life where you tend to ignore or downplay God’s boundaries? What is one step you could take this week to honor God’s guidance in that area?
- Samson played games with temptation, thinking he could manage the consequences. Is there a temptation or sin in your life that you tend to “play games” with, assuming you can handle it? What would it look like to take it seriously and seek help or accountability?
- The sermon asks, “Do you think you’re invincible?” Have you ever assumed you could get away with something because of your abilities, status, or past successes? How did that turn out, and what did you learn?
- When have you experienced a loss of strength, purpose, or God’s presence because of your own choices? How did you respond, and what did you learn about God’s character in that season?
- The detail that Samson’s hair began to grow again is a reminder of God’s grace. Is there an area of your life where you need to believe that restoration is possible? What would it look like to trust God for a fresh start?
- Repentance is described as a gift, not a punishment. Is there a sin or failure you’ve been hiding out of shame? What would it take for you to bring it into the light and receive God’s forgiveness and freedom?
- The sermon ends by asking, “What do your actions say about your faith?” If someone looked at your daily life, what would they say you value most? Is there anything you want to change so your actions better reflect your trust in God as your true hero?
