Samson’s Mistress (Judges 16:4–19)

My immediate devotional response to reading: Even by annoying and nagging, a mighty man of God can fall. She nagged him until “his soul was annoyed to death” and he gave in. Beware of following lust and passion into a dangerous place because it will blind you to the true dangers. Even after being successfully used by God, he fell to his own selfishness.

Later Samson loves a woman named Delilah. Her name was Delilah, and she lived in the Valley of Sorek. (Sorek, isn’t that Spock’s father on Star Trek? Was Delilah a Vulcan?) The Philistines offer Delilah a great deal of silver to find out the secret of Samson’s strength. On three occasions Samson lies to Delilah about the source of his power. Finally, after much nagging by Delilah, Samson confesses he is a Nazirite and that if his hair is ever cut, he will lose his strength. So, Delilah lulls him to sleep in her lap and calls for someone to shave his hair off.