Yves Gashugi 
He spent the night with a prostitute, and he was a shepherd, and wherever he went, his eyes were fixed on women (Samson).
Introduction
I often hear people describe Samson, the strong man, as someone with incredibly large arms and a broad chest. In short, they imagine him as a man who had undergone intense bodybuilding, lifting heavy weights that made his muscles grow to the point of amazement for anyone who saw him. However, I am certain that this is not how he appeared, as his strength did not come from physical exercise, but rather from the Spirit of God that came upon him (Judges 13:25; 14:6; 14:19; 15:14). This is an important lesson that in God’s work, where physical strength is required, God provides it not based on the size of our body, but through His Spirit (Trust in God).
Let me not dwell on those who engage in physical exercise, but rather focus on the essential points in this story. Samson was the twelfth judge of Israel (Before kings were established in Israel, God appointed judges to deliver His people from distress and to lead them according to His will). Upon hearing this, I am confident we can agree that Samson was a servant of God dedicated to His work, as confirmed by the angel of the Lord (Judges 13:7).
He Spent the Night with a Prostitute in a Lodge
Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute and went in to spend the night with her. The people of Gaza were told, “Samson has come here.” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate, keeping quiet all night, thinking, “At dawn, we will kill him.” But Samson lay there until midnight (Judges 16:1-3).
In his book How the Mighty Fall, James C. Collins, often called Jim, says that falls can be prevented, anticipated before they happen, and even corrected. The Bible also confirms this, long before Jim wrote it: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7), and “the Spirit will tell you what is yet to come” (John 16:13).
In everyday life, when someone tells you that a person is a servant of God, you might immediately assume there are certain things they would never do, especially before expecting to receive teaching from them. These thoughts align with the Bible’s instruction that we should live by the Word of God, rather than merely reading or reciting it (James 1:22). Are you living a life that reflects the Word of God, or merely reading and speaking it? This was not the case for Samson, who, upon arriving in the city of Gaza, saw a prostitute, entered her house, and spent the night with her. What a disaster!
Many preachers (pastors, evangelists, prophets, and devout believers) often point fingers at Samson in their teachings. Yet, the tactics of Satan used in those times have not ceased, as some servants of God have also fallen into the trap of sleeping with prostitutes and even deceiving those they lead (The Issue God Has with Preachers).
He Found Another Woman
Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah (Judges 16:4). The first woman Samson encountered in Timnah was part of God’s plan, but we must remember that the method God used the first time is not always the same one He continues to use. I believe Samson thought that by loving Delilah, things would work out again, but God had not spoken this time. It was purely his own will.
It is astonishing how a servant of God could be captivated by women wherever he went. Let us recall that marriage is also a calling from God, and this calling is fulfilled through discernment (for men) as they find favor in a woman. However, it is disastrous if you look where God has not approved because your eyes will always find women.
Conclusion and Lesson
I fear that many believers will continue to fall into this trap of visiting prostitutes and allowing their eyes to be captivated by women and men because they have not sought God’s counsel. If this happens, I am certain that this spirit will spread through the Church for generations. But do not give your strength to women (or men), nor your ways to that which destroys kings (Proverbs 31:3). Instead, teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments (Psalm 119:66). Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to Your word (Psalm 119:37).
