Judges Chapter 16 Verses 1 – 3

• Samson came to the gates of the city and found them locked and so he pulls them from the earth and carries them off. His thought pattern is so far gone at this point. I wonder do you see this? He shouldn’t be in Gaza. He has no business He shouldn’t be toying with his enemies. That is a mark of pride…
• He started well. His mother prayed and God heard her prayer. Gave her a son. A son that would be a judge of Israel. A hero of his people. But unlike any other. And yet he has made such poor decisions. Not cared about his calling. Cast aside his potential for knowing the Lord, honoring God and honoring his people. Honoring his mom and dad. Honoring his wife. And here he is, young, strong, but almost a total waste…and what we will see…is he is at the end of his life already.
• What’s his thing? What makes him…him? It’s not his strength. Everyone knows and no one is making a big deal over it anymore. Maybe they did once but now folks could care less about his gifts and talents…all they want to do is take him out. His thing is that he serves his flesh…and he’s all a wreck! His thinking, his past, his present, his people…
• Past the loss of relationship with his parents is their Past the loss of his first wife is the fact that she is dead. Past the loss of the respect of his people is what could have been. Past the great strength he has is that he is the weakest of all men and that shines with obvious brightness in these first few verses. He goes to a prostitute. And then when he finds himself trapped he throws a tantrum and rips apart the wall of the city…Here’s the thing though, his thinking is so far gone, his heart so seared, he doesn’t see his own childish behavior and he certainly doesn’t care.
• Is that you? Do you see childish behavior in your life? If the answer is no or you can’t think of anything at this moment then you’re not right, you’re blind. Man pray for repentance!

Judges Chapter 16 Verse 4

• The Valley of Sorek literally means, “The Valley of the Vine.” And literally the name Delilah in the Hebrew means, “To weaken,” or “To make poor.” He knows this no doubt…but he just doesn’t care…he probably has 1,000 excuses…

Judges Chapter 16 Verses 5 – 6

• Thanks honey! HA! How is this ok? But here’s the dig! This is exactly what the world, your flesh and sin does. Here is their pitiful offering (you worthless quim)! And like a fish mesmerized by the bait we take the hook! Delilah was a trap from the get go but Samson is a fool. He thinks wrongly, believes wrongly, acts wrongly and does wrongly. All the time expecting to be just fine…he will be dead soon. There is no negotiating with the flesh.

Judges Chapter 16 Verse 7

• Look at this! “If they…” She didn’t ask him that! She asked him how she could bound and afflict him…but he’s no dummy. He knows that he is in the wrong place with the wrong people! Are you like that? Are you in the wrong places with the wrong people knowing that what you’re doing is the wrong thing and yet you walk in and out thinking you will be fine? That is the mark of a fool. You may not lose a limb or your life and nobody may ever even know but oh hard hearted one, do you now know that betrayal of God in your heart comes at a great cost…in your heart?? It kills your personality!

Judges Chapter 16 Verses 8 – 13

• Pride is growing his blind spot. He is getting closer. Do you see this? This whole time Samson is being set up and even if he sees it, he doesn’t care. At this point Samson is not even using common sense. He’s playing games and what’s happened without him even perceiving it? He’s paying a great price in his heart. He is about to give away his secret. The only treasure he has left and the Bible says, and life proves, “Where you place your treasure, your heart will follow.” You may not think you’re doing it, but your greatest treasure is your time…think about it…Ever see that movie, “Out of Time?” That’s a great illustration!
• Do you spend an hour a week at church? That’s it? Half an hour a couple days a week struggling to stay awake as you read the Word of God? 5 minutes a day praying? You have 168 hours a week…what we just covered is about 3…how many hours do you spend watching TV, playing games…walking in the flesh…being high…where and how is your time spent? Answer that question and that will reveal where you are giving yourself away. Nothing is worth you except Jesus. Have you been tricked to think wrongly?