It's Not Complicated: Samson and Delilah, Ruth and Boaz
Samson and Delilah. The story of Samson and Delilah can be found in Judges 13. Before Samson was born, his mother was visited by an angel who said to her, "You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razorbecause the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” Samson was destined to lead and deliver Israel from its enemies. But we know that his life was far from simple. He made personal decisions that changed the course of his life, including marrying Delilah, which eventually led to his death. It's a tragic story and Pastor Joe explained why it happened to Samson - wrong place, wrong standard, wrong person.
Samson, although he was set apart as a Nazirite, spent time in Philistine places. He was being willfully ignorant of the dangers of being in inappropriate locations and having close encounters with the same people he was supposed to deliver the Israelites from. In Timnah and Gaza, he had relations with women who conspired with other Philistines to capture him. He was strong and on both occasions, escaped and even sought revenge. The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. (Proverbs 27:12)
Still he did not change his ways. He met Delilah in the Valley of Sorek and she became his wife. Delilah coaxed Samson several times to tell her the secret of his strength because she was promised money by the Philistine leaders in exchange. Samson lied to her on the first few occasions and it just so happened that what story he told her was done to him. Why did Samson not figure out at this point that there was a conspiracy against him? Maybe because good judgment has left him. He eventually told Delilah the truth.
No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man. (Judges 16:17) Then Delilah cut Samson's hair while he was asleep and the Philistines subdued him. “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Samson was captured and blinded. His hair grew back and his strength returned. He was called in to entertain the Philistines during a celebration. He prayed to God for strength and he was able to topple the pillars that supported the temple, killing many, including himself.
It's a tragic outcome for Samson that could have been avoided if he stayed within the bounds of God's will, followed what he has been taught and built relationships with people who also walked in faith.
Ruth and Boaz. The story of Ruth and Boaz turned out very different from Samson and Delilah. Naomi was an Isrealite woman who fled with her husband and two sons to Moab during the famine. Her husband and sons eventually died and she was left with her two Moabite daughters-in-law. She told them to go back to their families, as she was also going back to her people. Orpah bid her goodbye but Ruth decided to stay with her. “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17)
In those days, women were like second-class citizens and being a widow practically meant hardship and slavery. Even though Ruth could have returned to her own family, she chose to go back with Ruth and serve her. She gleaned leftover grain from the fields, which happened to be owned by Boaz, a distant relative of Naomi. Boaz showed kindness to Ruth and when Naomi heard about him, she gave instructions to Ruth that eventually led to invoking Boaz' right as kinsman-redeemer. The kinsman-redeemer can buy back property or relatives sold into slavery and marry to continue the lineage of the redeemed family. Boaz first asked the closer relative if he would like to redeem but he declined because it will endanger his property. Boaz became the kinsman-redeemer and Ruth gave birth to Obed. Obed became the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David.
Ruth walked in faith, was honorable, industrious and resourceful in her service to Naomi and trusted in God's providence in the midst of uncertainty. The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. (Psalm 37:23-24)
In those days, women were like second-class citizens and being a widow practically meant hardship and slavery. Even though Ruth could have returned to her own family, she chose to go back with Ruth and serve her. She gleaned leftover grain from the fields, which happened to be owned by Boaz, a distant relative of Naomi. Boaz showed kindness to Ruth and when Naomi heard about him, she gave instructions to Ruth that eventually led to invoking Boaz' right as kinsman-redeemer. The kinsman-redeemer can buy back property or relatives sold into slavery and marry to continue the lineage of the redeemed family. Boaz first asked the closer relative if he would like to redeem but he declined because it will endanger his property. Boaz became the kinsman-redeemer and Ruth gave birth to Obed. Obed became the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David.
Ruth walked in faith, was honorable, industrious and resourceful in her service to Naomi and trusted in God's providence in the midst of uncertainty. The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. (Psalm 37:23-24)
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