Pitifully sad is the story of Samson, called to be a Nazarite—one separated to God,—but again and again seeking gratification for his desires among the enemies of God instead of making war against them. This is always a Christian's danger. To yield to the constant pressure to ally oneself with the world, and thus going on with conduct opposed to the believer's true character, always brings disappointment, and the world at heart despises such worldly Christians. Samson showed his strength in freeing himself from the trap set for him in Gaza, but what excuse had he for being there, with such a character given him as chapter 13 discloses?
Verse 4 begins the last and most sorrowful section of Samson's history. Again he seeks enjoyment in the Philistine world, his heart going out after one of the enemies of the people and of God. We see no real affection on Delilah's part toward Samson; rather is she working with the lords of the Philistines to accomplish his downfall. Money was her object in part (verse 5), and God is not in her thoughts. Acknowledging his great strength (which the Philistines had felt and feared) all her artifices are employed to find how Samson got it, that she might take it away, and finally Delilah succeeds, for (verse 17) Samson at last told her "all his heart."
All attempts were powerless while Samson maintained his Nazariteship; this once lost, Samson was apparently as strong, but God was departed from Him (verse 20). He had despised the precious position in which divine grace had placed him, and, in the discipline of God, lost his sight forever.
Yet God remembered His own glory, and His poor failing servant suffering under the chastening his sin had brought him. Samson's strength too returns as God is before his mind. The opportunity is given to destroy the great house full of men and women and the lords of the Philistines,—more falling on that occasion at Samson's hand than in his free days, but he had to perish himself in the judgment. He had identified himself with the world, and he must share in its judgment. What a warning to those who, having believed in Jesus to the salvation of their souls, the true Christians, are exposed to the temptations of the world! May God Himself speak to all who are His, that they may seek to maintain the Nazariteship which is theirs by God's ordination. It is not a question of losing eternal life, which cannot be, but of unfaithfulness to God in identification with the world, involving the loss of spiritual strength and eyesight, and removal in judgment from this scene.
As to the unsaved, it is again our solemn duty to call, attention to the certainty of God's unsparing eternal judgment on those who neglect so great salvation as has been wrought by His Son's sin-atoning death. Delay no longer; turn to Jesus!