5.2.9 "The Danger of Falling Asleep"

"The Danger of Falling Asleep"

Judges 15:1-16:31
John 2:1-25
Psalm 103:1-22
Proverbs 14:17-19

It can be a struggle to determine whether or not Samson is a hero. When I was a kid I loved Samson. I thought he was a great hero. He had cool hair (remember, I was a kid in the 80's), and was like Rambo. The more I read into his story though, I'm not so impressed. Yeah, there's the good stuff: Samson is born of the promise to a barren woman. He was set apart from birth to deliver Israel from the Philistines. As you read of his exploits, though, you find they are mainly motivated by his greed, jealousy, and anger.

Here he is. The strongest man in the world. The power of God at his finger tips. Yet only two times do I see it recorded that he cried out to God. The first was because he was thirsty. Listen to this prayer: "You have given Israel such a wonderful deliverance through me today! Must I now die of thirst, and fall to the mercy of these heathen?" (Jud 15:18) The last time he called out to God was just before his death. "O Lord Jehovah, remember me again - please strengthen me one more time, so that I may pay back the Philistines for the loss of at least one of my eyes." (16:28)

My impression of Samson is that he's a bit self-centered. It's a good thing we're not that way today! It's a good thing we don't pray so selfishly...

We all are familiar with the story of Delilah. This is the woman he falls in love with, although she shouldn't be confused with the one he had married in chapter 14, or the prostitute from Gaza he had visited earlier... (you picking up on a weakness?) Delilah is approached by the Philistine leaders to discover the secret of Samson's strength. Samson lies to her 3 times before revealing the truth to her.

There is a key phrase to note in this chapter. "...while he slept she tied him..."(vs. 8) "...as he slept, Delilah took new ropes..." (vs. 12) "So while he slept..."(vs. 14) "She lulled him to sleep with his head in her lap..." (vs. 19)

I believe the saddest verse in the bible is verse 20. "Then she screamed, 'The Philistines are here to capture you, Samson!' And he woke up and thought, 'I will do as before; I'll just shake myself free.' But he didn't realize that the Lord had left him."

As we read this story it is so easy to wonder how Samson could be so stupid to allow Delilah to seduce him like that. But I believe the challenge is before us.

How could we be so stupid to be lulled asleep?

Samson did not just wake up one day to find himself captive. It seemed that way to him, but we can see that where he ended up was the result of pursuing fleshly desire, and laying his head in the lap of bondage. This wasn't a "one night" event of losing the blessing of the Lord. This was a gradual progression of being lulled to sleep.

We must guard against the same danger. Often believers will be lulled to sleep in the lap of worldliness. We become numbed to the blatant sin that is all around us. It becomes normal and acceptable to live in selfishness.

After spending time in our comfort zones and selfish prayers, we are often surprised when we don't experience the power of God in the way we wish we could. The strength is gone.

We must realize why we are here and what we are called to do. We can't compromise the mission. Samson was there to deliver the people from the Philistines, yet his life seemed devoted to himself. This resulted in the enemy celebrating his captivity. He became a mockery.

The church should not be a place that the world mocks. The world shouldn't see a church that is self-righteous and haughty. The church should be seen as a place full of the power of God. How is this going to happen? It happens as the people of God remember the vows they have been called to fulfill. Vows of separation, holiness and devotion to complete the mission God has called them to.

As the body of Christ we need to WAKE UP! We need to see that the comforts we desire are lulling us to sleep and bringing us into captivity.

God has a plan for us, and it is for victory, not defeat. We will overcome as we devote ourselves to him!



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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