Lent 2025 Day 11: Mon 17 Mar
Judges 16:4-6, 15-19
4 Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. 5 The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, ‘See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so that we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.’
6 So Delilah said to Samson, ‘Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.’
6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.” 7 Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” 8 Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. 9 With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.
José Echenagusia Errazquin (1844–1912)
Samson finally meets up with Delilah. She’s easily bought out by the Philistines. We know how she tried to wheedle out of Samson the secret of his great strength, and how Samson teased her with wrong answers. He cannot or chooses not to see her betrayal of him.
I can’t be the only person who wonders why Samson didn’t see through her ways. Was he so besotted with the woman? After all, the Philistines keep on appearing from under cover to attack him – surely Samson should have twigged?!
Delilah coaxes and cajoles Samson with suggestions that if he loved her he’d tell her. Eventually the truth is out and the Philistines overpower Samson. Samson is betrayed. His misplaced trust of this woman, a Philistine, allowed him to be captured. Delilah was paid handsomely.
But God did not choose this oaf, this bull in a china shop, for nothing.
Pictures abound of the capture scene. It has all the elements for painters wanting to display their skills. A voluptuous half-clad woman (I've chosen a more modest example here than some I could have picked), a muscular man, even a lion (the one he'd killed?!), wine jars liberally scattered in some portraits (was Samson meant to drink wine?) and Philistines lurking in the background. Such drama in oils. I tend to imagine Samson with massive hair and beard that would extend beyond his waist when untied, but perhaps that didn’t suit the painter’s taste.
Have you had your trust trampled on by another?
Father God, help me see in my life where I have placed my trust – in my own skills or strength, or in the poor counsel of others. When I place other things or people above you, then I have betrayed your trust in me. Forgive me, and keep me looking to you, Lord. Amen.
39:35 O Schmerz (Arioso)
19. Recitative T (Chorus I) and Chorus II
O pain!
Here the tormented heart trembles;
how it sinks down, how mis face pales!
What is the cause of all this trouble?
The Judge leads him before judgment.
No comfort, no helper is there.
Alas! My sins have struck you down;
He suffers all the torments of Hell,
he must pay for the crimes of others.
I, alas, Lord Jesus, have earned this,
that you endure.
Ah! Could my love for you,
my Saviour, diminish or bring aid
to your trembling and your despair,
how gladly would I stay here!
Ends at 41:10
Paul