Judges 16:25-30 Revised Standard Version
25 And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may make sport for us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he made sport before them. They made him stand between the pillars; 26 and Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the house was full of men and women; all the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about three thousand men and women, who looked on while Samson made sport.
28 Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be avenged upon the Philistines for one of my two eyes.” 29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars upon which the house rested, and he leaned his weight upon them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people that were in it. So the dead whom he slew at his death were more than those whom he had slain during his life.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
In our lives, desires can be both beautiful and dangerous, life giving, life taking.
Samson was a strong man who struggled with his feelings and choices.
He became attracted to a Philistine woman, which set off a conflict between what he is meant to do and what he wanted. This important part of Samson’s story reminds us that our desires can sometimes lead us away from our true purpose, causing us to make choices that compromise who we really are.
Today, think about your own desires and how they influence your decisions.
Last night, The Super Bowl 59 was played in New Orleans. Two professional football teams played for the privilege of being hailed as “World Champion.”
Players on the winning side receive the championship trophy, a large sum of money and a great big ticker tape parade in their home city – Philadelphia.
Players and coaches too, can parlay their championship moments into all manner of lucrative endorsements, contract extensions with more money.
No condemnation by any means is intended towards the players or coaches.
It is a laudable goal for youth and teenagers and young and older adults to be able to play a sport or game compete at high levels, achieving goals, success, to learn about competition, fairness, sportsmanship along with winning, losing.
Such lessons develop one’s character, self esteem, self confidence, humility.
Like the Judge Samson, we often find ourselves drawn to things that seem appealing- Such as relationships, goals, or material possessions- That can attract us or distract us, or turn ourselves away or off, from our true calling.
By looking closely at Samson’s experiences, we can discover and explore the risks of letting our desires control us.
We’ll explore how to manage our feelings and seek what truly fulfills us by aligning our desires with God’s will.
Together, let’s try to find God’s wisdom and strength to break free from the distractions that lead us away from God and deepen our relationship with Him.
Desires that…
1. Dazzle.
Samson’s focused desires highlight the struggle between following God’s path and our own wants. Samson is drawn to a Philistine woman, which not only shows his personal attraction but also marks a break from God’s commands.
His single minded, single directed, strong desire blinds him to those important cultural and spiritual consequences of his choice, demonstrating how even the mightiest, and thereby the most vulnerable, can be led astray by their desires.
This serves as a reminder that our own worship, desires need to match what God requires, or we risk ending up in situations that put our faith to the test.
Proverbs 3:5-12 The Message
5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It’s the child he loves that God corrects;
a father’s delight is behind all this.
On a practical level, Samson’s story teaches us how we should each be able to recognize our desires in a world that often focuses on quick satisfaction.
As Samson was trapped by something that looked good on the surface, we too can find ourselves chasing desires that seem joyful but ultimately lead to harm.
To avoid getting caught up in these distractions, we should take time for prayer and reflection, which helps us see the difference between fleeting temptations and true fulfillment.
This can include praying, studying the Bible, and seeking advice from wise people. By doing this, we can guide our desires to align with what truly honors God. In turn, we not only protect ourselves from dangerous temptations but we also pursue desires that bring growth, purpose, and a closer connection to God.
Desires that…
2. Deceive, Betray.
Samson’s desire for a Philistine woman highlights the struggle between what God wants for us and our own human desires.
Samson’s wish to marry someone outside his people shows how our desires can lead us away from God’s plan.
It reminds us when our wants drift away from God’s teachings, they can pull us towards choices that seem good but actually harm our relationship with Him.
Samson’s desire for Delilah cost him his strength, credibility, and sight. He also betrayed God as Samson reveals his secret to his strength and God pulled away.
Deception and betrayal inevitably lead to Samson being mocked and scorned. He was chained and bound to hard prison labor, eventually destroying himself.
Just like Samson, who was caught up in his attraction, we need to continually examine our own desires carefully and cautiously, making sure they align with God’s will instead of just our own things that rust away, our temporary wishes.
On a practical level, this issue of deceptive desires can have a huge impact upon our daily lives. Our immediate impulsive desires often disguise themselves as good or harmless, leading us down paths that can distract us from our faith.
Things like online shopping, certain relationships, or career goals can seem like positive pursuits, but they can also take our focus, resources, away from God.
Like Samson, we must be careful and watchful about the desires that might pull us away from our commitments.
We should take time to think about where our desires are leading us and ask, “Are they helping us grow spiritually or are they dragging us into distractions?”
Through prayer and seeking advice from others, we can better understand our desires, making sure they guide, lead us to what truly fulfills us, honors God.
Desires that…
3. Distract.
Samson encountered a lion and later found honey inside its dead body.
This story shows us how our desires can distract us from what really matters.
Although Samson may have started with good intentions, he got sidetracked by his cravings.
The honey looked sweet and appealing, but it came from a source of death.
This reminds us that our desires can lead us away from God’s plan for us.
When we chase after things like pleasure, approval, or power, we risk getting caught up in distractions that pull us away from our true purpose in life.
Today, we need to take a moment to check ourselves.
We live in a world full of competing desires, from wanting “likes” on social media to chasing after money and success.
It’s important to think about what truly feeds our spirits. Are we, like Samson, going after things that seem attractive but keep us from getting closer to God?
By taking time for self-reflection and prayer, we can uncover those distractions before they take over our hearts. We should strive to nurture desires that match God’s purpose for us and set aside the temptations that surely lead us astray.
If we focus on our spiritual well-being and stay alert to distractions, we can reach our full potential and discover the true sweetness that comes from our efforts at aligning our lives with Him.
Desires that…
4. Divide.
Proverbs 16:18-20 English Standard Version
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Whoever gives thought to the word[a] will discover good,
and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
We see how uncontrolled desires can lead to serious problems, as shown in the short, impulsive life of Samson. Each time Samson acted based on his personal wants- Like when he chose to marry a Philistine woman- He moved further away from his agreement with God and created division among his people.
This story teaches us that our desires can create all manner and degrees of hardcore conflict and inevitably pull us apart from God’s plan for our lives.
Samson’s desire for what was forbidden caused confusion and strife, showing us that when we let our wants take the lead instead of following God’s guidance, we risk creating divides that can weaken our relationship with God, with others.
As followers of Christ, we need to be careful and aware that unchecked desires can lead us to isolation, distancing us from God and from our community.
To be practical, understanding how desires can cause division encourages us to look closely at our own motivations.
Every day, we face continuous temptations that can harm our relationships with family, friends, and the Church. To counteract this, it’s important to find trusted friends who can help us stay on track with God’s will.
Engaging in prayer and study and fellowship and seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance will help us, guide us to manage our desires in a positive way.
When our desires align with God’s purposes, we create unity instead of division.
This allows us to lift each other up in our spiritual growth and mission together.
By focusing on desires that honor only God, we can turn potential conflicts into chances for deep healing, bringing ‘lusty’ people back together in the Church.
Psalm 16 The Message
16 1-2 Keep me safe, O God,
I’ve run for dear life to you.
I say to God, “Be my Lord!”
Without you, nothing makes sense.
3 And these God-chosen lives all around—
what splendid friends they make!
4 Don’t just go shopping for a god.
Gods are not for sale.
I swear I’ll never treat god-names
like brand-names.
5-6 My choice is you, God, first and only.
And now I find I’m your choice!
You set me up with a house and yard.
And then you made me your heir!
7-8 The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake
is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
Day and night I’ll stick with God;
I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.
9-10 I’m happy from the inside out,
and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed.
You canceled my ticket to hell—
that’s not my destination!
11 Now you’ve got my feet on the life path,
all radiant from the shining of your face.
Ever since you took my hand,
I’m on the right way.
As we reflect on the story of Samson, we see how his desire for Delilah has become an entangling force in his life.
He is caught up in the moment, blinded by his passions, and unable or unwilling to see the harm that his desires are causing him and those around him.
This is a stark reminder of how easily we can become entangled by our desires, whether it’s for a person, a substance, a status, or a feeling.
Our desires can all too easily lead us down a path of self-destruction, just like Samson’s did; but the good news is that it’s never too late to break free from the entanglements of our desires. With repentance and a renewed commitment to following God, we can all find freedom and live the life He has called us to live.
Hebrews 12:1-3 The Message
Discipline in a Long-Distance Race
12 1-3 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
So, let us ask ourselves,
“What are the desires that are entangling us today?
Is it the desire for validation, or for power, or for control?”
Whatever it is, whatever they are, I want to strongly subtly encourage you to take a significantly closer look, exclusively, seek the Lord’s help to break free.
May we not be like Samson, entangled by our desires and powerless to change.
May we instead be like those who have been set free, and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, living a life that is not controlled by our desires, but controlled by our love for God.
May we receive grace in the same Spirit it was bestowed, to be free to serve and worship Him, without the burdens of our entangling desires weighing us down.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 103 The Message
103 1-2 O my soul, bless God.
From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
don’t forget a single blessing!
3-5 He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.
6-18 God makes everything come out right;
he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work,
opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace;
not easily angered, he’s rich in love.
He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,
nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.
Men and women don’t live very long;
like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
leaving nothing to show they were here.
God’s love, though, is ever and always,
eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
as they follow his Covenant ways
and remember to do whatever he said.
19-22 God has set his throne in heaven;
he rules over us all. He’s the King!
So bless God, you angels,
ready and able to fly at his bidding,
quick to hear and do what he says.
Bless God, all you armies of angels,
alert to respond to whatever he wills.
Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—
everything and everyone made by God.
And you, O my soul, bless God!
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 