I was unable to share one of the interesting aspects of the story of Samson that really stuck out to me as I was reading through this story over the past couple of weeks. Each time Sampson finds himself in trouble it is the result of a woman. And each time he responds by thrashing on the Philistines. Somehow he thinks the Philistines are his problem when the story makes it very clear that the only reason the Philistines had any power was because the Israelites were walking in complete disobedience to God. Every man was doing whatever he felt like and as a result, they had walked right into bondage.
Notice that Samson never drives the Philistines out, he just hurts them enough to make his point. Then, seemingly unwittingly, he invites them right back through his immoral liaisons with foreign women. The Philistines didn't need to fight Samson, they just needed him to continue to exercise no self-control with his lifestyle. Sure enough, another woman willing to sell out and the rest is history, Samson is enslaved.
Part of being defeated by a lie is the constant battle that doesn't deal with the real problem. Paul says not to fight as one beating the air and yet Satan loves to keep us distracted from the real issues and focused on the symptoms. We end up chasing ghosts round and round in an effort to get free, all the while the real enemy is steadily gaining the upper hand.
We don't need to be so deceived. We fight on three fronts: the influence of the world, the wrong desires of the flesh, and the Devil himself. Don't be fooled into fighting on only one front while losing the battle on the other two. I have talked with countless individuals struggling in the fight against the flesh who at the same time saturating themselves with worldly influences through the media. We have to be smarter than that.
Remember, victory has been guaranteed! We just have to know how to lay claim to it. The truth WILL set you free. I promise.
Aaron
