Proverbs Lesson 13: The Woman of Proverbs 31

Delilah

The First Cut is the Deepest

A woman representing the Philistines, enemies of Samson’s Hebrew race, inveigles and betrays him for money paid by the enemy. Learning that his strength is in his hair, she has ti shaved off. He awakens to find his strength gone. 

Judges 16:4-22

What lessons can we learn from Delilah?

Silver and gold aren’t very good company.

What Delilah gained in goods she surely lost in relationships. The same thing can happen to us when we pursue a materialistic life style and leave behind dear friends in our frenzy of accumulation. Money separates people more often than it joins them. 

Someone read: Proverbs 22:1

Weaknesses need to be strengthened, not exposed. 

On purpose or by mistake, the people we’re closest to eventually reveal their vulnerable spots and weaknesses. We need to fight the urge to use that knowledge against them as a weapon for public embarrassment, even in jest.  Does that person have an unusual mannerism, a phobia, a quirky private habit, a deep-seated concern? Zip those lips. Keeping someone else’s limitation a secret between the two of you will knit you closer together.  

Someone read: 2 Corinthians 12:10 and Proverbs 14:1

Thoughts Worth Considering

1. What weaknesses other than his attraction to the wrong sort of woman do you find in Samson? Do you see any of those same weak spots in your own life ?

2.What weakness did Delilah have? Did they ultimately serve her well or poorly?

3.Why was Samson so easily deceived? Was that Delilah’s fault or his? Are there blind spots in your own life where you can be swayed more easily? At work? With your children? With certain friends? 

4. What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from the dark, disastrous story of Samson and Delilah?