Tues, Nov. 2, 2004
Martyrs Akindinos, Pegasios, Aphthonios, Elpidophoros, & Anempodistos
Kellia: Judges 16:1-14 Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10 Gospel: St. Luke 11:1-10
STRONG> Judges 16:1-14, especially vs. 5: "And the lords of the Philistines came
to [Delilah] and said to her, 'Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lies, and by what
means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to subdue him; and we will each give you
eleven hundred pieces of silver.'" The previous chapter relates that Samson "judged Israel in the
days of the Philistines twenty years" (Jdg. 15:20). Having been put through the school of bitter
experience and the persistent tutelage of the Holy Spirit, Samson seems to have focused on his
Nazirite duties, subsequently devoting himself fully to the service of God. Apparently, he was
able to avoid further distractions caused by his eye for Philistine women.
St. John of the Ladder sagely warns against lowering our guard in the struggle against the
passions, particularly the adversary which he calls "love with love...the material fire." As he
says, "a fox pretends to be asleep, and the body and demons pretend to be chaste; the former in
order to deceive a bird, and the latter in order to destroy a soul." Therefore, "throughout your
life, do not trust your body, and do not rely on it till you stand before Christ." However, after a
long twenty years, Samson's weakness for women returned in a moment when he relaxed his
vigilance. The desires of the flesh, which in his youth the Lord had healed through chastisement
and persistent recall to his true life task, in his mature years led to his famous downfall and death.
Let us explore how this happened to Samson, bringing a sudden end to his career as a Judge
through blindness, imprisonment, and death. Considering Samson's supernatural strength, he
might have guided Israel out of "the hand of the Philistines" (Jdg. 13:1), but that conquest God
would leave for the great King and Prophet David - and that many years later.
The reading begins with a very simple statement - not be overlooked: "Samson went to Gaza"
(Jdg. 16:1). Past experience should have set off alarms in his memory when that impulse to go
among the Philistines arose afresh. But note: the bitter results of the past were not in sufficient
force in his will, nor did he seem to give much thought to the fact that he was on the "most
wanted" list of the Philistines. Alcoholics assert that it is not the first drink that overcomes, but
the entertaining of negative thoughts. No matter! Whatever it was that drew Samson to Gaza, he
went to a place certain to inflame his passions.
The demon of fornication is pitiless, and, as St. John of the Ladder says, "with nature on his side,
he has the best of the argument." In Samson's case he had only to "see" a harlot, and he went in
to her (vs. 1). The dam of restraint was broken by mere sight. St. John adds that "great is he who
remains unwounded by the sense of sight, and who...has conquered the fire caused by sight."
Without repentance and immediate confession, Samson had opened the door to further troubles,
and these came soon after his escape from Gaza. He fell in love with Delilah (vs. 4).
Never in Samson's whole lifetime did he consider the wisdom in his parents' suggestion that he
consider taking a wife "among the daughters...among all our people" (Jdg. 14:3). Always he was
drawn to the allure of women "from the uncircumcised Philistines" (Jdg. 14:3). Delilah was no
exception. If she had scruples about protecting Samson, these soon were eliminated by the offer
from "the lords [no less!] of the Philistines," that each would "give [her] eleven hundred pieces of
silver" (Jdg. 16:5) - a tidy sum!
How she labored to entice Samson! Let us not, like Samson, suffer loss through lust but keep our
vigilance, for he who "does not fear God....disdains prayer" and is "out of his mind." May the
demons perish from the presence of us, Thy weak and impure servants, who sign ourselves with
the sign of the Cross and cry out unto Thee, Help us and save us O our Savior.