Interview with Old Testament Figures – Delilah: She could perfectly star in a film titled, “The Giant Slayer,” or any movie with a heroine that did the impossible. Our interviewee for this edition is introduced to the world in Judges Chapter 16 as Delilah, the woman who caused the downfall of Samson, Hebrew warrior who terrorised the Philistines. Some people may take offence that we are engaging with a woman who is synonymous with treachery and seduction.
We reemphasise that the interviews are not intended to judge or condemn any of the Bible characters. If Almighty God allowed the story of Samson and Delilah to be included in the Holy Bible, He wants us to learn something from the saga. Therefore, we urge our readers to approach this interview with an open mind, believing that it could be beneficial to their walk with the LORD.
Shepherd Heart: Welcome to our interview Delilah
Delilah: Thank you for having me. I am truly delighted to have an opportunity to tell my own side of the story.
Shepherd Heart: Kindly give our readers a pen portrait of your person.
Delilah: I was a Philistine woman from the valley of Sorek when Samson engaged in guerrilla warfare against my people. We met during one of his forays into my community and fell in love. Some people in your generation have tried to cast me in the mould of a devil by insinuating that only Samson was emotionally involved in the relationship, and that I did not love him.
That was further from the truth. When we started the relationship, I was not particularly interested in the source of his enormous power. I treated him like I would any other man. The only reason I asked for the source of his power was in response to the request I received from leaders of my people.
Shepherd Heart: If you were indeed emotionally invested in the relationship as he was, why could you not protect him when his life was at stake?
Delilah: If you read the chapter of the book of Judges where the story is recorded, you will realise that I did not jump into executing the task until the Philistines leaders threaten to harm my family and me. I did everything under pressure.
Shepherd Heart: I still find it difficult to believe that your love for him could not have survived the truth – your telling him about the plot, rather than going along with the wishes of your leaders. What do you think would have happened if you had alerted Samson to the threat to his life?
Delilah: I am sorry. That option did not occur to me at all. Of course, that would have meant my family and I relocating to Israel to escape from any retribution from the Philistine lords. I did not even contemplate that at all.
Shepherd Heart: Please, be rest assured that the interview is not to condemn or vilify you. We are simply exploring other options that could have saved your relationship with Samson and his life. So, how did you react to the news of his capture by your people?
Delilah: I was devastated, especially given the fact that I was the major contributor to that sad episode in my life. Contrary to how your generation portrays me in your Samson and Delilah movies, I was not ecstatic about his capture and subsequent humiliation that led to his death.
Shepherd Heart: With the benefits of hindsight, what would you have done differently to protect your lover?
Delilah: I confess that I did not even see a way out of the situation as it was. If Samson was an ordinary person, I would have mooted the idea of both of us eloping to a safe location. That would not have worked with Samson because his powers were for specific purpose – protecting ancient Israelites against their enemies, especially my people, the Philistines. I honestly do not believe that there would have been any favourable outcome from my intervention.
Shepherd Heart: The major reason we conduct these interviews is to enable our readers learn from experiences of Old Testament figures like you. Are there lessons they can learn from yours?
Delilah: Of course, there is no mistake in life that cannot be redeemed by Almighty God if we give Him the pen of our lives to rewrite our stories. I want your readers to know that the love of God covers a multitude of our sins if we surrender our lives to Him through His Son Jesus Christ.
Shepherd Heart: Wow! I am surprised that you know God’s redemption plan through His Son. How did you get to understand the Gospel of salvation in Christ?
Delilah: Jesus’ foremost apostle, Peter said in 1 Peter 4:6, “For this reason the Gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” Similarly, Ephesians 4:8-9 explain: “This is why is says, ‘When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.’ What does ‘He ascended’ mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth?” God’s mercy transcends time and space and Jesus indeed came to save the lost.
Shepherd Heart: Billions of people on earth have not accepted the Gospel. Some of them even deny the existence of God, while others have chosen their own paths to salvation. What message do you have for such folks?
Delilah: Right from the beginning of time, God set His sights on humans as object of His love and affection. That was the motivation for satan causing Adam and Eve to rebel against their Creator. He was envious of that special relationship, especially the joy Adam and Eve brought to the heart of God during their communion at the Garden before the fall.
Genesis 3:8 tells us that Almighty God was in the habit of visiting the couple during the cool of the day to interact with them. Even after the fall, God did not severe this relationship with humans totally, though the ravages of death started manifesting with the murder of Abel by Cain and subsequent deaths recorded due to old age and sicknesses.
In all of these, God’s mercy was evident, especially with the emergence of the Israeli nation, through which the Messiah came. Those who refuse to see the hand of God in creation and humanity as a whole are under the influence of satan. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says that the minds of such people have been blinded by the devil. No persuasive argument can open their eyes to the truth. The antidote is prayer of intercession. That is what the church needs to do more than anything at this point – intercede earnestly for the salvation of lost souls.
Shepherd Heart: We agree with you totally that our recourse to arguments with unbelievers does not promote the ministry of Christ. Intercession is one of the primary function of the church and we must pursue this with zeal, given the intensity of evil across the world. Thank you very much for your contributions. We appreciate the time spent with you.
Delilah: I enjoyed the chat tremendously. Thanks once again for giving me an opportunity to be a blessing to the body of Christ.