"What's the Scoop on........Delilah?"

On Tuesday in Bible Study Annie taught on Delilah.  Many of us know Delilah as the Philistine woman who tricked Samson into betraying the secret of his great physical strength.  As I read over the account of Samson and Delilah found in Judges 16 from the Life Application Bible, a sentence in the commentary jumped out at me: “A person’s greatest accomplishment may well be helping others accomplish great things.”  I was intrigued to see how we would apply this concept to this notorious woman.

Before he was born, Samson’s calling was prophesied by an angel, “No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5, emphasis added). God had set Samson apart for a very special purpose. At the time of Samson’s birth Israel had suffered much under the oppression of the Philistines.  As you read through chapters 13-15 of Judges, the time of Samson sat as judge, you can see that his actions resulted in the death of many Philistines.

Delilah entered Samson’s life when he had been judging Israel for 20 years.  Throughout chapter 16 it is obvious the amount of influence that Delilah held over Samson.  He was thoroughly under her manipulative control.  She nagged him mercilessly in order to discover the secret of his strength. “Then she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when you won't confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven't told me the secret of your great strength." With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death” (Judges 16:15-16).  Samson finally acquiesced to her demands, resulting in tragic personal consequences.

As we have progressed in our study of the women of the bible throughout the year we have learned that all woman have influence, either positive or negative.  Delilah was a woman of influence-of very bad influence! She manipulated Samson into betraying the very special calling God had placed on his life.

Like Samson, God may call some of us to a very specific, visible purpose. It may be a position of leadership, to start a ministry, set out for the mission field or maybe a public speaker. But God also calls many of us to something that might not be as concrete. We may be called to help someone else fulfill the vision God has given them. This is no less a calling of God.  As we have been studying in Sunday services, the individual gifts of the Spirit enable the body of Christ to function together as a whole, for the glory of God.  Each part needs the others.

If we are called to come alongside someone to help them fulfill their God-given purpose there are a few things we can do to better serve them as they serve the Lord.

1)Prayer  -  “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”(James 5:16b).  You can pray not only for the needs of this person but also that you would have wisdom in how you could serve them best.

2) Gift of helps - “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might”  (Ecc. 9:10a).  Do whatever might need to be done. Do what you can do so they have the time and concentration to do what God asks of them.  God will equip you with what He asks you to do.

3) Words of encouragement -  “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Eph.4:29).  Challenge them to be the best that they can be.

4) Willingly offer yourself as God’s instrument in their lives - “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men” (Eph. 6:7). As it also says in Romans 12:1b, “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship”.  As we willingly offer ourselves in service we please Him.

As women of positive influence we want to spur those around us to do what God has called them to do. Delilah is certainly not an example for us to follow.  She used her influence to achieve her own purposes, much to the detriment of Samson.  As we embrace the calling that God has upon all our lives to accomplish His purposes, we will fill no greater contentment.  Whether that call is to a position of leadership, to step out on the mission field, open our mouths in public speaking or to come alongside and encourage and help those who are.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms  If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praises through Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.  Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11).