Judges 16

His word is as good as his bond: if he has made a promise, though it be to his prejudice, and does intrench upon his profit, he will not go back. The hypocrite plays fast and loose, flies from his word; there is no more binding him with oaths and promises, than Samson could be b…

First he saw, then he coveted, then he took them, then he hid them, then Israel falls and he is attached by lot; so it is said of Shechem and Dinah (Genesis 34:2): He saw her, and took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. So of Samson (Judges 16:1): He went to Gaza, and saw t…

In this manner the word mock is sometimes used in scripture. Thus Delilah says to Samson, Behold, you have mocked me, and told me lies, Judges 16:10, 13. That is, you have baffled me, as though you would make a fool of me, as if I might be easily turned off with any vain pretens…

It is pleasing to God, when we desire him to renew his work, to bring forth the actings of grace out of his own seed, to blow with his wind, with the breath of his spirit upon our gardens, that the spices may flow out (Song of Solomon 4:15). But now when we depend upon ourselves…

A man may repent of the eruption of sin, the former act, but the inclination to sin again is not taken off. (Judges 16:2) Samson loves a woman of Gaza, and she had betrayed him; but by carrying away the gates of the city, he saves his life; possibly upon that experience he might…

Seeing always comes between the sense and the heart. So of Samson, (Judges 16:1) Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a harlot, and went in to her. So David was ensnared by looking on Bathsheba, (2 Samuel 11:2) and it came to pass in an evening tide, that David arose from off his…

Even flattery has a force in it, and offers a kind of violence, as (Proverbs 7:21). By importunity; Delilah made poor Samson almost weary of his life, she never left him till she had undone him; he stood it out a great while, but her importunity prevailed at last (Judges 16:16-1…

But our words do not passively present a thing to the view of another, but awaken him and work upon, and actively, and prevailingly call out any inclination to an evil, and that with [illegible] and overbearing importunity. Examples only offer the bait if the heart will nibble a…

James bids us turn our laughter to mourning (James 4:9), but they turn their mourning to laughter. Samson was brought forth to make the Philistines sport (Judges 16:26); the jovial sinner makes the devil sport. It is a saying of Theophylact: It is one of the worst sights to see…

How many do but assume the duties of religion! Obedience without the heart is hypocrisy. How can you say I love you, when your heart is not with me (Judges 16:15)? Obedience must be extensive — it must reach to all God's commandments (1 Kings 9:4; Luke 1:6).

One day a Christian is quick and lively in prayer, another day like the disciples — heavy and sleeping (Luke 22:45). At one time a Christian is like David when he danced before the ark with all his might (2 Samuel 6:14); at another time like Samson when his hair was shaved and h…

While the Christian commits a sin he hates it; whereas the other loves it while he forbears it. Secondly, when true grace is under the foot of a temptation, yet then it will stir up in the heart a vehement desire of revenge; like a prisoner in his enemies hand, who is thinking a…

So take these three darts, the Word of God, Prayer, Mortification, and strike through the heart of thy lusts that they die. As Samson dealt with the Philistines, they brought him low, they put out his eyes, and he never left till he was revenged on them, and brought them low, Ju…