Delilah’s Betrayal and Samson’s End

This meditation is based on a passage for August 15, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Judges 16:15-31

Reflection and Question: Not one character in this well-known ending of Samson emerges from the story with any virtue intact. Delilah betrays her lover for payment by nagging him to death. The Philistines humiliate Samson who is willing to die along with his enemies as a last act of revenge. And God gives Samson strength based upon the length of his hair. What we hear most about Samson is his womanizing and his taunting of his enemies, yet the story ends with the reminder that Samson was judge over Israel for twenty years. What lesson does the Holy Spirit inspire you to see in Samson’s story?

Prayer: Blessed Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us so that we may learn from this tale of Samson and Delilah the lesson You would teach us. Spare us from such sad ends by inspiring in us a wide sense of Your compassion and mercy. Amen.