Samson had muscles coordinated by the power of God. But his emotions were so uncoordinated!

Who was to blame? His parents were, I think. Can’t you picture them, with intense delight and great care, helping little baby Samson to walk. Supporting him as he wobbled.

Now, what about all the wobble in his moral and spiritual life? Upon reading the story of his self-willed, promiscuous ways, the conclusion is obvious — his parents failed to discipline and order Samson’s early life. Read Judges, chapters 13-16.

Samson was a colorful character. He liked life. Nothing wrong with that….providing we aim at God’s glory.

Again, Samson liked women.  Few men marry who don’t!  Apparently, too, his sexual desire was quite strong. In itself this is not evil. Young people need to know that such desire is a sign that they are developing and will make a normal, good marriage partner.

However, if your sexual urges are expressed promiscuously and selfishly as Samson did you will pay and pay and pay. God says so.

Judges 16:4 introduces Delilah to us. It was at best a mixed marriage. She did not follow the one and only true God, whom Samson professed.

Indeed, theirs was not really a true marriage. It takes more than the physical to make such a union. The physical is but a vehicle to express the deep well of love between man and woman.

If a man is to have Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, he must keep from Delilah’s door. On the other hand, there are many Delilah-like influences in the world. The devil intends these to mislead believers. One can sense the evil pattern and power of her dealings with Samson.

Although he was looked to as a judge and leader of God’s people Israel, Samson is seen sliding downward in the arms of a wicked woman. Israel’s enemies, the Philistines, now have one of their very own worming her way into the heart of Israel’s leader. He is under a sacred Nazarite vow with God. He is supposed to lead a strict life and never to cut his hair. If the long hair goes, his great strength will be lost.

It is painful to see the strong man folding up before Delilah’s charge. Time and again, she pleads with him to tell her the secret of his strength. The Philistines are there in the home hiding, waiting for his fall. What a picture! How suggestive of life itself!

How, she pounds the wobbling, compromised Samson with the logic of her “sermon.” “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me?” verse 15. An utterly unanswerable question!

Let us now study the chain of consequences which flow from compromise. These truths ought to be taught carefully in all our homes.

I. PAIN

There is no escaping this.  The anguish of the impossible straddle. Wrong is never an open option for the Christian. A young person, or older one, may for a time merely compromise with wrong, but a final decision is inevitable.

Study with me through this text chapter, Judges 16. Verse 5 shows that your Delilah, your pet sin, will give Satan his opportunity against you.

Why does she keep working on Samson, begging him to tell his secret? (That is, that the long hair was the pledge of his vow and necessary for his miraculous strength.) Unknown to Samson, the Philistines are said to be with her, “hidden in the room.” You won’t always see Satan’s evil hosts against you but life is a spiritual warfare. They are there — waiting for you to weaken and then ruin comes.

Repeatedly Samson is forced to lie to her. A compromised Christian is always a deceiver. So far, however, he still has his strength, but not for long. At this point she comes forth with her famous “sermon,” saying in effect: Samson you cannot both love me and keep your heart from me.

Men and women, young people, that is the way it is. Jesus also taught this basic axiom of all spiritual life.  “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”  Matthew 6:24.

Samson now feels the pain of his split condition, “until he was sick to death of it,” 16. The temptress says, “If you love me, share with me.” God is saying, “Choose my way.” Sampson decides for Delilah. He tells her of the vow, and falls asleep in her lap.

II. PEACE

Even as Delilah springs into action to destroy Samson, peace comes to him. Do not be surprised at this. It is often so! The tearing, resisting is over. Samson has now given in to Delilah. They are now united on the devil’s ground.

He is next seen asleep in her lap. There is a pleasure in sin but only for a limited time. Samson will awaken to horrible ruin: Evil habits allow a measure of peace — then comes disaster.

III. PRICE

The stream of consequences from this compromise flows irrestibly onward. There will be no stopping it until Samson loses all. First, his long hair is cut ending the covenant with God. Suddenly, the Philistine soldiers burst in upon the fallen man. At the moment of our greatest weakness, comes the greatest test– if we wander from God.

Sadly the Scripture adds, verse 20, that he knew not “that the Lord had left him.” He tried to fight, but was now easily taken. Our well-being is, after all, from God.

IV.  PUNISHMENT

The divine rod of chastisement falls! Samson’s eyes are put out and he is dragged in helplessness to Gaza, bound in chains, and forced to animal type labor in grinding grain.

Later, the Philistines have a great holiday and feast commemorating their victory over Israel’s hero. They call for Samson. The earth rings with their shouts as they see the broken warrior led along by a child. They praise Dagon, their idol god. God is shamed and demons gratified when a Christian goes down.

Finally, he is placed between the pillars supporting the great banqueting hall. There are thousands gathered on the second floor above him.

Now, right at this juncture, the chain of consequences from evil compromise can be broken. There is no need for any of us to be plunged into hell because of a wrong turn. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is still in Scripture.

V. PRAYER

What a contrast between the man before us now and that earlier Samson in Delilah’s lap! He is maimed and humbled. Look at him. You see nothing left to dazzle the flesh. There is something deeply spiritual about him now. He desires to raise again the flag of God’s glory. Let me say that a man who is willing to go to the cross and get right with Jesus Christ need not have his eyed poked out and become miserable in order to become holy. Don’t try it Samson’s way.

Gripping those columns upon which the banqueting hall rested, Samson is praying: “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more….let me die with the Philistines!”

VI.  POWER

The man who belongs to God will turn again at his Shepherd’s voice, according to John 10. Samson turned and prayed. The power was restored. “Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.”

Samson’s greatest victory came right where yours will come — at that point when you turn wholly into God’s way. If you have fallen don’t wait for your hair to grow out again! “The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin,” I John 1:7.  In prayer, accept this. Tell Him you choose Him to rule you as Lord.