"SAMSON and the PHILISTINE WOMEN!"

The story of Samson (Judges 13:1- 16:31) is a prolific story of enticement, control and betrayal. Samson was a descendant of the tribe of Dan who experienced great pressure and discomfort from the Philistines. His birth was announced by an angel like that of Isaac and John the Baptist.

He was a Nazarite (one separated or consecrated by God) and they were identified by the length of their uncut hair (called "diadem") or "crown of God." Samson was violent, turbulent, vindictive and extremely aggressive. He was defiant, belligerent and fearless.

He had an insatiable appetite for foreign prostitutes. I would assume his extreme sexual urge was due to abnormal levels of testosterone because of his amazing strength. His tribe endured 40 years of Philistine domination. Samson had no integrity, moral or religious convictions and was hyper sensual. He was extremely irresponsible and had no relationship with God. It is an enigma as to why God even gave him the time of day. We can question God's use of a man like Samson (or anyone of us for that matter), but God is sovereign and He uses us as He sees fit. Yet Samson's name is included in the catalog of the heroes of faith (Heb. 11:31-39).

Every one of the Vows of a Nazarite (Numbers 6:1-21) were broken multiple times by Samson as his vows were to last his entire life! His dalliances with other Philistine women are a huge part of his disobedience and resistance to his calling. In the Old Testament, charismatic anointing or gifts did not necessarily produce purity of life.

We all know the story of how Samson lost his eyes and made a humble plea to God to give him once last opportunity to serve Him with his incredible strength. But that's not the story here. The story here is about our CHOICES. It's about why we choose to do certain things and the consequences of those choices. This story shows us that every crisis in Samson's life was the result of a conflict in a relationship a Philistine woman. A Philistine woman is a SPIRIT not a specific PERSON and these are some of her attributes:

• A woman that God has forbidden you to touch;
• A woman God did not ordain for you to be with;
• A woman that does not know (fear) God;
• A woman whose intentions are not pure towards you; and,
• A woman who roped you in through the lust of the flesh.

As I stated at the beginning, the world's dominance over Believers is accomplished by:

  ENTICEMENT--> CONTROL --> BETRAYAL

Selah...