A Cautionary Tale: Samson – Part 3

Samson didn’t sabotage his life in one moment;
Samson sabotaged his life one step at a time…

4 Steps in the Wrong Direction:

1. Underestimating Our Enemy.

“The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn we’ll kill him.” But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. Judges 16:2-3

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  I Peter 5:8

2. Rationalizing Our Sin.

“Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.” Judges 16:4

Secret sins always hurt you and a “hurt you”
will eventually hurt those around you…

3. Ignoring the Warning Signs.

“So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.” Judges 16:64. Discounting the Consequences.

“He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free, but he did not know that the Lord had left him. Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison.” Judges 16:20-21