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Sharing the insights I discover as I explore and experience the mystery that is our reality. Join me in my journey and share yours.




Monday, June 27, 2011

Who is Your Delilah? (Guest Post!)

Being away on vacation has left me short on time when it comes to my blogging pursuits and I was very fortunate when blogger,  William Meli, agreed to write a guest post. I encourage you to visit his blog, "A Kingdom Reflection", here:  http://akingdomreflection.blogspot.com/    His posts are full of insights and reflections that are thought provoking and inspire those who read them to develop a deeper walk with God.



Today's post carries an important message and leaves us with some reflective questions to ask ourselves when it comes to the people we allow in our lives to influence us.



Enjoy! Please feel free to leave leave your comments and thoughts in the comments section!




Who is your Delilah?
Who is your Delilah?

After feeling prompted to read the story of Samson from the Bible recently, "Lord, you mean the guy with really long hair?" I was surprised how much I received from the short story after reading it a couple of times.

The story of Samson and Delilah
   Samson dates a girl named Delilah whose name means feeble. Anytime a name is mentioned in the Bible, its meaning relates to the person's character. In this instance, Delilah means feeble which means someone who is morally weak. We could probably stop here, "Don't date or associate with anyone who is morally weak" but we would miss a great story.
   So, everyone knows that Samson is the strongest man around, probably had to do with the fact that he killed a thousand men with a donkey's jawbone earlier in the story. So, a group of men bribe Delilah with lots of cash to find out where Samson's strength comes from so she keeps pestering and pestering Samson to tell her his secret; and so the term "Gold Digger" is created for the first time. The first time, Samson tells Delilah that if he is tied up with fresh bowstrings he will lost his strength. So, Delilah waits for Samson to fall asleep, ties him up, allows the Philistines, Samson's enemies, into her house, wakes Samson up and discovers that Samson is lying to her, after Samson easily breaks the bowstrings. This goes on two more times. What is Samson thinking? He wakes up on three separate occasions to realize that his girlfriend wants him dragged off to jail. I think Samson would be a good candidate for The Bachelor.
   Finally, in Judges 15 - 16 Then she (Delilah) said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies." She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it.
   Samson finally tells her the truth, he gets his strength from his hair which has never been cut, so Delilah cuts his hair when he falls asleep, he loses his strength, and he is dragged away by his enemies to be tortured and imprisoned; what a caring and thoughtful girlfriend. Samson is eventually imprisoned, his eyes gouged out, and is made fun of of in front of his enemies.

So, "Who or what is your Delilah?" What, or who, in your life, is…
• Taking away your strength little by little?
• Holding you back from your destiny and life's vision?
• What are you allowing in your life that you are sick to death of that you are refusing to let go of?
• What are you putting up with today that one or two years ago you would have dismissed in your life?

What are the consequences of putting up with a Delilah in your life…

• The eventual loss of your vision and life's calling (Samson was called from birth to a particular task but Delilah derailed his life's vision and he paid for it with his eyesight and his life).
• You will eventually be worn down to the point of putting up with things you would normally not put up with (Samson allowed Delilah to try to tie him up three times before he told her his secret).
o Toxic friendships and relationships will do that to you.

What to do, what to do…Get rid of those things in your life, those habits, or those toxic relationships that are wearing you down little by little. You know you need to and your life will be so much better once you do!
After feeling prompted to read the story of Samson from the Bible recently, "Lord, you mean the guy with really long hair?" I was surprised how much I received from the short story after reading it a couple of times.

The story of Samson and Delilah

Samson dates a girl named Delilah whose name means feeble. Anytime a name is mentioned
in the Bible, its meaning relates to the person's character. In this instance, Delilah means feeble which means someone who is morally weak. We could probably stop here, "Don't date or associate with anyone who is morally weak" but we would miss a great story.

So, everyone knows that Samson is the strongest man around, probably had to do with the fact that he killed a thousand men with a donkey's jawbone earlier in the story. So, a group of men bribe Delilah with lots of cash to find out where Samson's strength comes from so she keeps pestering and pestering Samson to tell her his secret; and so the term "Gold Digger" is created for the first time.

The first time, Samson tells Delilah that if he is tied up with fresh bowstrings he will lost his strength. So, Delilah waits for Samson to fall asleep, ties him up, allows the Philistines, Samson's enemies, into her house, wakes Samson up and discovers that Samson is lying to her, after Samson easily breaks the bowstrings. This goes on two more times. What is Samson thinking? He wakes up on three separate occasions to realize that his girlfriend wants him dragged off to jail. I think Samson would be a good candidate for The Bachelor.
Finally, in Judges 15 - 16 Then she (Delilah) said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies." She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it.
Samson finally tells her the truth, he gets his strength from his hair which has never been cut, so Delilah cuts his hair when he falls asleep, he loses his strength, and he is dragged away by his enemies to be tortured and imprisoned; what a caring and thoughtful girlfriend. Samson is eventually imprisoned, his eyes gouged out, and is made fun of of in front of his enemies.

So, "Who or what is your Delilah?" What, or who, in your life, is…
• Taking away your strength little by little?
• Holding you back from your destiny and life's vision?
• What are you allowing in your life that you are sick to death of that you are refusing to let go of?
• What are you putting up with today that one or two years ago you would have dismissed in your life?

What are the consequences of putting up with a Delilah in your life…

• The eventual loss of your vision and life's calling (Samson was called from birth to a particular task but Delilah derailed his life's vision and he paid for it with his eyesight and his life).
• You will eventually be worn down to the point of putting up with things you would normally not put up with (Samson allowed Delilah to try to tie him up three times before he told her his secret).
o Toxic friendships and relationships will do that to you.

What to do, what to do…Get rid of those things in your life, those habits, or those toxic relationships that are wearing you down little by little. You know you need to and your life will be so much better once you do!

13 comments:

  1. Hi Jessica, so you’re finally back – or not?

    Hi Bill! Allegorically speaking, there are a number of Delilahs around. After reading this awesome message I’ll be contemplating how to get rid of her – whatever form she may take in my life.

    This is certainly a fresh new way of presenting an old story, and I thank you for taking the time to share your insights here. When you put the narrative in the light of personal blindness and lack of apt judgment, it takes the story to a whole new level of meaning.

    Happy Independence Day! Have a blast :)

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  2. Bill, great post about human nature and people who stab you in the back, in this case Delilah attacked from front. Humans do have to learn a lot about enemies in disguise.

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  3. Yes Debra...Back! :) I am going to enjoy catching up on your posts...I'm glad to be back online after more than a week offline. I'm happy you enjoyed Bill's post! Have a happy 4th as well :)
    ~blessings

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  4. Thanks for stopping by Sulekhha :)

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  5. Brilliant story to remind us of relationships that take down Bill.Loved it

    http://rimlybezbaruah.blogspot.com/2011/07/darkness-in-her.html

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  6. Thanks for visiting Rimly :) Your latest poem was stirring! ~blessings

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  7. One of my favourite stories. We all have our Delilahs who can control us through our passions, urges and desires. All good reasoning abandones us , and unless we take back control, we are going to be far weaker than we should. The problem is knowing when this situation exists.

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  8. Larry...exactly! Knowing is the first step to overcoming the situation. So true. Thank you for stopping by :)

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  9. Glad to have you back Jessica! Hope you enjoyed the holiday! Such important points that are raised! Some are not easy like getting rid of toxic relationship :)

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  10. Glad to be back Nelieta! Can't wait to catch up on your posts...I missed them! So true...sometimes it can take year, or a lifetime, for some of us to shed those kinds of relationships that only impede on our progress and from fulfilling our potential that God's given us. To feeling joy and peace.

    I'm thankful to have a God of power that can break us from those chains :)

    ~blessings

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  11. Oh you just don't know how much I missed our reflections and sharing...Somehow you're one of those who influence me to go back on the right track :P...

    This post is so timely Jessica. I was reflecting on your other post on the tethered ass... and this is a continuation.

    This has been a cause of my frequent sickness--letting go of unhealthy relationships"...In a way, I'm Delilah.

    Pray with me that I could let the voice of God speak for me.

    WELCOME BACK! YEY!

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  12. I am so glad to be back Melissa...I treasure our correspondence...it's a blessing to have found a soul sister whom I can relate to and share and receive from! :) I will pray for you...that God will give you the discernment and resolve to let go of the attachments in your life that keeps you from experiencing the full joy that God has for you. My prayers are always with you.
    Blessings.

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  13. Thanks for sharing this with us, Jessica. Bill has done a wonderful job of bringing that story in to our daily lives. I have 'killed' some of my Delilahs but some more need to be worked on!

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