Judges 16

v1-3: As Samson leaves the city taking the gates with him, we have a picture of Christ’s victory over death and the grave. “He not only rolled away the stone from the door of the grave and so came out himself, but also carried away the gates of grave, bar and all, and so left it forever, to be an open prison to all who are his.”

v4-17: How evil is the love of money. Delilah happily betrayed “the one she pretended to love” for it, **similarly, the Lord Jesus was “betrayed for money by one whom he called friend, and with a kiss too.” All kinds of evil done because financial reward is promised.

v18-19: “Satan destroys people by rocking them to sleep, flattering them into thinking they are safe, and so making them care about nothing and fear nothing.” It dangerous to think we are so secure because “when we sleep, our spiritual enemies do not.”

v20: It is tragic to lose “the favourable presence of God” and not be aware of this. Many “have provoked God to withdraw from them but are not conscious of their loss and do not lament it.” When this happens “their souls become weak, their gifts wither, everything goes wrong for them,” but they are not aware of why and “are not in the slightest concerned to reconcile themselves to [God] or to seek to regain his favour.”

v21-31: God forgave Samson’s great disobedience, and showed this by giving to him the strength which he had lost by sin. Though “Samson died with the Philistines, he did not share their eternal destiny.” The vilest offender who repents and believes will be saved.