The art of being Delilah

[singedwingangel]

Samson came to mind today. You remember him, the Nazarite from birth in Judges. He was to sit and judge over the tribe of Israel. He was born into the post. With it came great expectations, responsiblities and stress like we could never imagine. Enemies surrounded him, rules that bound him, family that hounded him. To say he was a spoiled brat from birth would be an understatement. To call him egotistical is another. His ways of destruction seldom had to do with strength but more to do with anger. Enrage him and you were fighting a ticking time bomb. As a young man he fell for a girl from the tribe of the Philistines, a sworn enemy to the Israelites. But love has no barriers and he basically threw a temper fit until he got what he wanted. But she was a nagger. He had posed a riddle to her family, promising them great wealth if they solved it. Of course none of them knew of his previous attack upon the lion in one of his rages, and of course would have never imagined honey coming from the carcass of it. Using his adoration of his soon to be wife they used her influence, no let's be honest, like Samson she threw a hissy fit because he had not told HER , his wife to be, the answer to the riddle. He finally revealed the secret of the riddle to her and she of course in loyalty to her family told the answer. The end result was not pretty. Samson threw a hissy fit and tore up jack to put it bluntly, leaving his wife behind with her family. In his absence the woman was given to his friend. When he calmed down and returned for his wife the rejection sent him over the edge. He caught 300 foxes and tied their tails together sending them with lit torches to burn the entire town. 

Not long after this, continually seeking what he thought ws love Samson meets Delilah. The bible does not say she was amazingly beautiful. We cannot say she ws breathtaking. For all we know she was as ugly as sin. But what she became to Samson was a safe place. A place to lay his head and escape from the stresses of being Samson. It does not he went to her for sex, only once is there a hint she may have been a prostitute. But it was not sex Samson was after. It was after a place to lay his head and rest. To have someone to talk to , and one who would listen. It never says she gave him ideas, or critiqued his decisions. She did not nag him about where he had been, what he had done, or being late for dinner. She was his haven. He came into a harbor of peace, somethign he had sought all his life. She did not ask him to put on a show of strength for her, buy her this, pay for that. She brought him into her home and gave him rest. It was an art for her. She had learned to listen to her man. To make him comfortable with her secrets. Even though Samson KNEW she was consorting with the enemy, her apparent protection each time they came in gave him the comfort of thinking she loved  him back.

How many of us tempt fate with a Delilah and our mates each day? Do we provide a safe place for him to land and still feel protected, accepted and loved?? Can he tell us our secrets and fears without fear of it being gossiped to another or ridicule?? Delilah had it figured out. The world's strongest man was putty in her hands.  Yes she played on his love to get his secret but she did it with tact and the talent of being his safe place. She didnot ask him as soon as he came in. The bible tells us that he had loved a woman, that takes time. She built up the trust. When the time came she called in her chips on returning the trust. She allowed him to believe her feelings were hurt and the fear of losing her companionship became greater then the thought of losing his strength. I think at that point to Samson it was more a nuisance then soemthing to be desired. It had left him in need of someone to understand. Of course he had God to turn to, but he needed a human touch. A feminine touch. Comfort and security laced with Saffron and Myrrh. 

So rather then look at the fact that she was a seductress look at what she made herself to be to Samson...are you doing the same for your spouse?? Find the Delilah in you and become that safe place so he won't have need to search for it in dangerous territory.