“Now therefore beware I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing…and behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion. And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating…” -Judges 13:3; 14:8-9.
In Judges 14 Samson is on his way to Timnath, enjoying a lovely day in the vineyards, when a lion sneaks up behind him and decides to let him know that there isn’t room for the both of them there. Without any delay, the Spirit of the living God comes upon Samson and he literally tears the lion apart like it is a baby goat. The anointing of God fell strong on Samson and enabled him to shred his enemy without any competition because Samson was a covenant child. From the moment of his birth, he had entered into a sacred agreement with God (Jud. 13) that destined him to lead his people from the hand of the Philistines. His only requirement was to take the Nazarite vow and refrain from strong drink, unclean (dead) things, and cutting his hair. This was a contractual agreement between him and God that would last his lifetime.
In like manner, we as believers have entered into a much better contract (Heb. 8:6). As new creatures that have put off the former ways of living (Eph. 4:22), and we are now mightily equipped with the ability to overcome the enemy, whom we used to belong to. Just like Samson, we can expect a lion to roar in our face from time to time (1 Pet. 5:8-9) yet, our contract and new covenant with God GUARANTEES us that we will always triumph over him because the triumphant one is in us (1 Jn. 4:4; 5:4; 2 Cor. 2:14). And just like Samson, we will tear the enemy limb from limb. WITH THAT SAID….
How is it possible for such a mighty man of God, like Samson, to end up with his eyes poked out, his strength completely zapped, and instead of setting Israel free from the oppression of the Philistines, he becomes a slave to the them? Have you ever noticed concerning one of your Christian brothers or sisters? They once were a powerful man or woman of God. They were destined to loose people from the bonds and ties of satanic oppression, but now; they aren’t even interested in the things of God anymore. They have lost their vision, they have lost their productivity, and you can only help but pray they aren’t working as a slave of the enemy.
When the devil notices a mighty man of God he plots to trap them in a gradual way. Though we always say that the great downfall of Samson was Delilah, it would probably be more accurate saying that Delilah was the climatic and final downfall of Samson. The repeated incidents with Delilah were a reflection of Samson’s position in compromise. It was a reflection that he no longer took his Nazarite covenant, his prophesied destiny, and his mighty anointing seriously. The anointing is a fragile thing and must be guarded by the one carrying it. Before Samson got into the sack with his two-faced “lover” he was fooling around with dead things.
The first great mistake Samson made in Scripture occured right after he killed his enemy, the lion. In Judges 14 Samson comes back to where the lion’s carcass lay and noticed that there was a swarm of bees and a honeycomb inside. Without hesitation, Samson put his hand in and began to eat. So what’s the big deal? Samson was forbidden from touching dead things. And there is no doubt that he knew that what he was doing was detrimental to his destiny and the destiny of nation Israel.
Sweet things in dead things; what a device of the enemy. We have all killed lion’s once in our journey but the master plan of the enemy you killed is to take you back to the thing you killed, tell you that it is forever dead, and show you that you can still get the sweet thing out of the dead thing without it ever killing you because it is lifeless. And just like Samson, the lion will not come back to life to kill you. BUT, just like all sweet things, it will begin to rot your covenant. And when your covenant gets weak like Samson’s did, the great schemer of mankind will bring something larger than a young lion to take your vision, steal your productivity, and hold you in bondage under his control.
Today think of all the victories that you have won with God on your side (Rom. 8:31). It may do you good to list those victories. Afterward, make a decision that you will never re-visit the thing that you once killed, even if you think that there may be some excitement in doing so. The wages of compromise is not sin. The wages of compromise is DEATH (Rom. 3:23). Your anointing is too important and is meant to help the lives of everyone around you. Don’t compromise it!
Prayer:
“Father your Word says that we are not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Cor. 2:11). You have told is to “be sober and to be vigilant” (1 Pet. 5:8,9), to “stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free” (Gal. 5:1), and to “resist the devil” (Eph. 4:27). IN THE NAME OF JESUS, I will not go back to dead, inactive things that together we have put down through the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. I boldly defend my deliverance, healing, salvation, anointing, covenant, righteousness, and all the other benefits of being a child of God by saying NO to sin and temptation. I recognize that the enemy has no power to come between you and I, and that the only way something like that could happen is if I allow it. Well, I serve the enemy notice today that it will not happen! I maintain my freedom today because I have your Word close to my heart. Thank you that where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom and because he is in my life, there is true liberty in every area of my existence! IN JESUS NAME, AMEN!”
