Welcome back!
If you are new, thanks for stopping by!
Last week we talked about The Woman at the Well.
Today I am going to focus on Delilah.
Is it just me or when you hear the name Delilah does this song come to mind:
Okay...sorry, let me get back on track.
Oh Samson and Delilah.
Aside from the story of the Ark, Moses and the 10 Commandments, Jonah and the Whale, and a few others this is one of the stories I remember from Sunday school lessons past.
I don't think I ever really fathomed what was going on here.
An unwed man and woman, having an intimate relationship, only to end because of deceit, greed, and selfishness.
Did anyone else read this story and think, "What was wrong with Samson"?
I mean seriously how did he not see this coming?
She nagged him and pestered him and poked and prodded the answer right out of him.
What is the saying:
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me".
"Fool me three times and I'll totally not see it coming when you succeed the fourth time"?!
If you are human you know the 'benefits' or the feeling of nagging.
As children we probably asked our parents over and over and over again for things, wants, etc.
As teens it was probably 100x worse.
In relationships whether dating or married we've probably nagged about bad habits or attempted to find out about surprises....
Yet when everything is said and done, and if we get our way, we don't tend to feel as satisfied as we thought we would.
As a spouse, if I have to nag my husband to do something, when he finally does, I don't feel a sense of relief because it's done, I feel sad that I stressed my husband out about something so minuscule.
All Delilah was offered was enough money to make a new life for herself...
I guess that in itself was motivation enough.
Can you imagine her thought process.
She's unwed.
Having relations with this gorgeous man.
But they aren't married.
She's disliked because she is a harlot.
It's possible that Samson was an irritating, full of himself man.
I mean he was a prideful man, can you imagine him walking around tossing his hair over his shoulder and going on and on about how awesome he was.
Maybe Delilah couldn't take it anymore!
They offered her money.
Enough money that she could move away, start fresh, maybe find a man who would marry her and make an honest woman of her.
What would you have done?
We will never know, hopefully you've never been put in that situation.
WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM DELILAH?
- 1 - The love of a man is to be treasured.
"The heart of her husband trusts in her." ~Proverbs 31:11
- 2 - Silver and gold aren't good company.
"To be esteemed is better than silver or gold." ~Proverbs 22:1
- 3 - Weaknesses need to be strengthened, not exposed.
"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses...For when I am weak, then I am strong." ~2 Corinthians 12:10
- 4 - For a happy home, keep your scissors out of reach.
"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." ~Proverbs 14:1
Let's take a moment to reflect on our own lives.
Have you ever had a time in your life that you wanted to hurt someone?
Physically, emotionally, financially, socially....any other "-ally" way?
Did you seek revenge?
What happened because of it?
Did you feel better afterwards?
If you did nothing how were you able to resist the temptation of revenge?
In my own life I have been hurt by people, mostly emotionally.
I've been taken for granted.
I've been walked over and trampled on.
It's easy to look back and say I wish these people knew how they made me feel, but at the same time I don't wish that on anyone.
It's horrible to feel so alone, so guarded, so afraid to speak for fear you'll be misinterpreted.
That's the big one in my life.
I lost a friendship because a friend misinterpreted something I said.
Despite trying to resolve the issue there was no going back.
Do you think Delilah, after witnessing Samson lose his strength, wished she could give the money back and go back to what was?
I have to imagine that the feeling of cold coins in her pocket book did not feel nearly as comforting as the strength and warmth of Samson.
We live in a world where revenge is the motivation for so many movies and tv shows.
I have yet to watch it, but there is actually a show called "REVENGE".
We thrive on the drama...we tune in week after week.
Over and over again.
Read this verse and see what the Bible says about revenge:
Leviticus 19:18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
Brush it off?
Walk away?
Forgive and forget?
Isaiah 30:12-13 Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit, this sin will come for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant.
Do you think of Delilah when you read that verse?
"depended on deceit"
"sin will come for you like a high wall...."
The question is posed in our study guide,
Do you think Delilah was among those killed when the temple collapsed?
I assume she was.
She DID have feelings for Samson, I'm sure she was curious how her actions would affect this man.
She probably went to see what everyone around her had been talking about..."Did you see Samson in the temple....weak and beaten"?
She probably couldn't believe it having only known him as strong and mighty.
How does this reflect now days?
How many of you have 'friends' on Facebook to whom you aren't actually friends with anymore?
Have you stalked them, curious of what they became?
It's hard, especially now days, to be and let be.
Curiosity gets the best of us.
Even if Delilah did get away do you think she was ever happy?
Can money ever really make you happy?
What's the most important lesson you've learned from this Woman?
I learned 1 lesson from Delilah and 1 from Samson.
For Delilah money can't buy you happiness, cliche as it sounds.
For Samson, never confuse lust (which promises nothing) with love (which provides an environment of trust, safety, and honesty).
Is there someone who has betrayed you recently?
Have you been hurt?
I ask you today to forgive the person.
By doing so you will have done the best you can.
You can walk away feeling at peace.
It's simple....
Keep Calm....and let go.
Don't be a Delilah.
Don't be greedy.
Don't be deceitful.
Don't be a Samson.
Don't be prideful.
Don't be blind.
I hope you have enjoyed this time of study.
Please let me know if you would like to see something in particular in our discussions or if you have any questions.
I hope you have a Blessed Friday!
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