參孫可能順服上帝，稱職的作了二十年的好士師（15：20），但他再次落入非利士婦女的試探，導致他的沒落，及完全的毀滅。他強壯得足以赤手空拳殺死一隻獅子和一千個非利士人，但他卻沒有力量克制對婦女的慾望。他的行為似乎總是出於自私的動機，而不是為他的以色列民。參孫的得勝雖屬個人，但不論他做什麼，都影響整個以色列國，也影響以色列之上帝的聖名。

        參孫不知為何緣故下到非利士南部一座重要的城市，迦薩。在那裡，他受到妓女的引誘，落入她的陷阱。聖經勸告信徒：「自己以為站得穩的，須要謹慎，免得跌倒」；即使在試探中，我們信實的上帝也總會「給你們開一條出路」（林前10：12~13）。參孫卻不選擇出路，而選擇犯罪。上帝滿有憐憫，祂仍舊願意幫助參孫，賜給他力量拆毀上鎖的城門。

        參孫應從他的錯誤中學到教訓而悔改，但他卻繼續的犯罪、墮落。他不顧拿細耳人的誓約，投入外邦女子──惡名昭彰的大利拉──的懷抱，後來果真成為他的網羅。「因為，被她（妓女、淫婦）傷害仆倒的不少，被她殺戮的而且甚多。」（箴7：26）上帝不再讓祂的兒女繼續犯罪而不感受到罪的痛苦。

        大利拉背叛參孫的動機是因為她的貪婪。如果她能發現參孫神力的來源，使非利士人成功的捕獲他，非利士人的五個首領（來自非利士的五個主要城市）就會給她一大筆錢。他們以為參孫也像他們一樣，使用某種神奇的符咒，但事情並非如此，參孫的力量來自上帝，聖靈因他所發的拿細耳誓而賜給他能力。

        經過三次失敗後，大利拉的嘮叨終於使參孫煩悶得要死（16節）。參孫愚昧的對大利拉掏心剖腹，大利拉也知道參孫向她說了實話（18節）。參孫洩露自己的祕密，也失去了他外在僅存的屬上帝的記號──他的長髮。當他試著掙脫捆綁時，他發現靠自己的力量再也做不到了。這不是因為他的長髮已失，乃因「耶和華已經離開他了」（20節），參孫自己也心知肚明。參孫與罪打交道，使他喪失與上帝的關係，也失去了他的未來。上帝不再容忍他，而必須審判他。這是參孫生命中最大的悲劇。今天，當上帝揀選的領袖犯罪，生命裡失去了上帝恩膏的能力，他們也會發現自己與參孫一樣可悲，因為靠自己的力量服事不但徒勞無功，也是不可能的。

        引誘參孫犯罪墮落的雙眼如今被敵人剜出來。他被羞辱，淪為最卑微的奴工。非利士人公開嘲笑他和以色列的上帝，讚美他們的大袞神為勝利者。參孫一定真心悔改了。在極度的絕望中，他真誠的向他唯一能信賴的上帝呼求。上帝也憐憫的應允他，使獨一的真神在參孫死前再次藉著他得榮耀，並審判罪惡的非利士人。

        希伯來書十一章卅二節將參孫也列為信心英雄，因為儘管他犯了許多錯，他仍是那個時代上帝唯一興起來完成計畫的以色列人。為了讓我們不要犯相同的錯誤，聖經並沒有企圖掩蓋參孫（或任何其他英雄）的罪。我們不可向罪妥協，也不應向試探屈服，但我們若果真屈服、跌倒了，也必須將罪剜出來，免得它生根（太5：29），因為罪至終會引向毀滅和死亡（羅6：23；7：13）。

        主啊，我們讚美您，即使我們會跌到，我們不會失去到您面前的機會。我們為自己和他人呼求您，求您再次復興、祝福您的百姓。保守我們不犯罪，並幫助我們完全的跟隨您。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        Samson may have been doing quite well in obeying the Lord and in leading Israel as their judge for a period of twenty years (15:20), but once again he fell prey to temptation by Philistine women, which led to his downfall and total ruin. He was strong enough to kill a lion and one thousand men single-handedly, yet he lacked the strength to overcome his lust for women. It seems he always acted out of selfishness rather than on behalf of his people Israel. His victories were always personal, yet whatever he did affected the whole of Israel, as well as the Name of the God of Israel.

        For some unknown reason, Samson went to Gaza, an important southern Philistine city on the Mediterranean coast. While there, his eyes lusted after a prostitute, and he fell into her trap. The Scriptures admonish believers, “let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall”, but in temptation, our faithful God will always “make the way of escape” (1 Cor.10:12-13). Samson chose not to escape, but to sin. The Lord was merciful and still willing to help him by giving him the strength to carry away to locked city gate.

        Samson should have learned from his mistake and repented, but he continued in sin and decline. Disregarding his Nazirite vow, he regularly went to another immoral woman – the infamous Delilah – who truly became a snare to Him. “She has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong me” (Prov.7:26, see also vv.10, 21-27; Prov.5:3-4, 8-9). The Lord will not allow His children to continue in sin without eventually exposing it and letting them feel its sting.

        Delilah’s motivation to betray Samson was her greed. If successful in discovering the secret of his strength, and thereby letting him be captured, the five Philistine leaders (from each of the five major Philistine cities) would each give her a very large sum of money. They thought Samson had some magical charm, as they commonly used, but such was not the case. Samson’s strength came from God’s Spirit empowering him, cased upon his vow as a Nazirite.

        Delilah and Samson played a lovers’ game, but that game was deadly. Finally, after tree unsuccessful attempts, she nagged him beyond bearing (v.16). Samson foolishly opened his heart to her, and she knew he told her the truth (v.18). By revealing his secret, Samson lost the only remaining external sign of his consecration to God, his uncut hair. When he tried to free himself, he could not do it on his own strength. This was not just because the long hair was gone, but because “the Lord had departed from him” (v.20) and Samson knew it. He had forfeited his relationship with God and his future potential by playing with sin. God could no longer be patient with Samson’s life, and it is equally tragic today when God’s chosen leaders fall into sin and, having lost the anointing power to God upon their lives, still try to mister on their own strength. This is not only futile but impossible.

        His eyes, which had lusted and caused his downfall, were put out by the enemy. He was humiliated and made to perform the lowest form of slave labor. The Philistines publicly mocked him and the God of Israel and praised their god Dagon as the victor. Surely, Samson repented with all his heart. In great despair and sincerity, he cried out to the Lord in whom alone he could put his trust. The Lord was merciful to answer so that, before Samson’s death, the only true God would once again be glorified through him and bring judgment on the wicked Philistine.

        We read in Hebrews 11:32 that Samson was a man of faith, for even though he had many faults, he was still the only Israelite in his day whom God raised up to fulfill His purpose. In order that we might learn not to make similar mistakes, the Bible does not attempt to cover up the sins of Samson (nor of any other hero). We must not compromise with sin nor yield to temptation, but if we do yield and fall, we must pluck our that sin before it takes root (Matt.5:29), because sin will ultimately lead to destruction and death (Rom.6:23; 7:13).

        We praise You, O Lord, that even though we may fall, we are not without access to You. We call upon You today for ourselves and others, that You might restore and bless Your people once again. Keep us from sin, and help us to wholly follow You.