March 30 – Reading 89

MARCH 30 – Reading 89

by John Pra | March 30

“THE ENEMY’S LULLABY”
(Judges 13:1 – 16:31)

[Delilah] made [Samson] 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 [nag] him, and his strength left him. 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. And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. – Judges 16:19-21

“The darkest times in all of history” is what some historians say was the time of the Judges. 350 years that Israel rebelled against God in disbelief, idolatry, and backsliding. 

God in His mercy raised up judges to deliver Israel from other nations. And although God used them for His purpose their stories didn’t always end well. Samson was one of those judges. Samson was set apart for God’s special use from birth and as a young man “the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him” (Judges 13:25). 

As part of Samson’s Nazarite vow, he would not touch anything unclean, touch the fruit of the vine, nor cut his hair. But Samson violated his vows and succumbed to fleshly passions routinely. Time after time he pursued women and prostitutes that schemed to overtake him and, in doing that, defeat God’s people, Israel. Finally, he met his match. Seduced and manipulated by Delilah he tells the secret of his strength – his promise to God that no razor would come upon his head. Lulled to sleep, his hair was cut and his God-endued strength left him.

When Samson woke and tried to fight off his enemies just like “at other times” he was defeated and humiliated. There are a lot of lessons to be learned from Samson’s life, here’s a big one – the collapse of faith is usually gradual, not sudden. Prayerlessness, little or no Bible study, isolation, apathy, all lead to spiritual decline.

The sobering reality is that Samson had no idea he had wandered so far from God that His presence and power had been withdrawn. That’s what happens when we crave the things of earth. It’s what happened with the Children of Israel when they tired of manna from heaven and demanded meat. God “gave them what they asked for, but sent leanness into their soul” (Psalm 106:15). Dissatisfied with God and His provision we will always find ourselves empty with an insatiable longing that can never be filled.

Don’t be lulled to sleep! Guard your heart. Abide in Christ. Walk in the Holy Spirit. And God will lead you into blessing and victory.

Pray for…

• Vigilance against spiritual apathy and that the Lord will keep you alert and aware of any gradual compromise that may distance you from his presence. (1 Cor. 10:12)

• Discernment in relationships and wisdom to avoid alliances that may lead you astray. (1 Cor. 15:33)

• Restoration after failure and for mercy to restore and renew. (Psalm 51:10)