DELILAH


A. "AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTERWARD THAT HE LOVED A WOMAN IN THE VALLEY OF SOREK, WHOSE NAME WAS DELILAH" - JUDGES 16:4
  1. When Samson disobeyed his parents and married out of the faith:
    1. He began to go downward morally mentally and physically; the road of sin leads downward
    2. It was on this downward road that Samson fell in love with Delilah who became his ultimate ruin
  2. Inspiration had a reason for recording the story of Delilah:
    1. Much may be learned from Judges 16:4-21; and Proverbs 5
    2. Many mighty sermons are based upon the story of Delilah
B. THE WOMAN WHO BETRAYED HER HUSBAND FOR SILVER Name Meaning: Delilah is a sweet sounding word; it means "delicate" or "dainty". Because of the foul deed of which Delilah became guilty, no other female in Scripture appears with such a tarnished name Family connections: The Bible gives us no information as to who her parents were, or of any other relatives; all it says is that she lived at Sorek
  1. The first impression we get from the story of Delilah is:
    1. She was a heartless wrecker of a mighty man; this crime is given in eighteen verses of the Bible
    2. It covers Samson's blind love; his gradual bondage and eventual ruin
  2. What must amaze the reader is:
    1. What sin under the guise of love can do to the mightiest; Examples: Solomon - Neh. 13:26; David - 2 Sam. 11:12; the man of God - I Kings 13 and Judas - Matt. 27:1-5
    2. That we might be warned against such treachery, the story of Delilah is recorded in the Bible - Rom. 15:4
    3. the story of Delilah should put every Christian on guard against the enticement of sin - whatever the form it may take - James 1:15
C. A FOURFOLD LESSON FROM THE STORY OF DELILAH
  1. Whoever ventures on forbidden ground does it at a risk to his soul:
    1. When Samson disregarded the counsel of God-fearing parents; he went down because that is the path of sin to all who take it
    2. Satan knows our weakness and he will tempt us on our weakest point; he did that to Samson
  2. Satan has used the women to beguile men into sin with great success:
    1. He used Eve to persuade Adam to eat of the forbidden fruit
    2. The outlandish women beguiled Solomon to forsake the God of his father David and serve idols - Hos. 13:26
    3. The nation Israel went into whoredom through being beguiled by heathen women - Num. 25:1-9
  3. The story of Delilah proves beyond the shadow of doubt:
    1. That the sex appeal is one of Satan's strongest weapons to lead men to ruin
    2. That the only safeguard against this enticement is absolute chastity as practiced by Joseph - Gen. 39:9-22
    3. Had Samson practiced self-control and chastity, Delilah would never have been able to wreck his life
  4. Note what carnality did to Samson that mighty man of God:
    1. He saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines - his parents warned against it, but he rejected their counsel - "he went down" - Judges 14:5
    2. Later he saw an harlot and he went down - Judges 16:1
    3. Finally, he loved a woman at Sorek and he went down for good - Judges 16:4-31
  5. A timely lesson for our young people:
    1. John warns us against three enemies of our soul; the lust of the eye, the pride of life; and the lust of the flesh - I John 2;15-16
    2. Paul admonishes the young, "But thou, O man of God, flee these things" I Tim. 6:10-11
    3. That is good counsel for all of us


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