Flirting with Destruction Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: "Flirting with Destruction" ------------- Date: 10/08/1998 Keywords: "flirting" "betrayal" "power" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. The story of Samson (Judges 13-16) depicts the tragedy that can result from giving in to lust. Let us see what we can learn from his experience. Passage: Judges 16:6-16 * 6 So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me where your great strength is and how you may be bound to afflict you." 7 Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh cords that have not been dried, then I will become weak and be like any other man." 8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh cords that had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 9 Now she had men lying in wait in an inner room. And she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he snapped the cords as a string of tow snaps when it touches fire. So his strength was not discovered. 10 Then Delilah said to Samson, "Behold, you have deceived me and told me lies; now please tell me how you may be bound." 11 He said to her, "If they bind me tightly with new ropes which have not been used, then I will become weak and be like any other man." 12 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" For the men were lying in wait in the inner room. But he snapped the ropes from his arms like a thread. 13 Then Delilah said to Samson, "Up to now you have deceived me and told me lies; tell me how you may be bound." And he said to her, "If you weave the seven locks of my hair with the web [and fasten it with a pin, then I will become weak and be like any other man." 14 So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his hair and wove them into the web]. And she fastened it with the pin and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he awoke from his sleep and pulled out the pin of the loom and the web. 15 Then she said to him, "How can you say, "I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have deceived me these three times and have not told me where your great strength is." 16 It came about when she pressed him daily with her words and urged him, that his soul was annoyed to death. Questions 1. How long do you think it took before Samson figured out what Delilah was doing?   2. Why do you think he continued to put up with Delilah's brazen betrayal?   3. In what ways does the charm of Internet pornography entice you to engage in risky behavior?   4. Has your giving in to the power of Internet pornography (or any other sin) brought you to the point where death no longer scares you - or may even appear to be preferable to life?   Practical help It was obvious from the way Delilah phrased her first question that she was trying to betray Samson. But even if he did not figure it out then, he surely knew what was going on by the third time she asked. Yet, his sinful lust for her led him to repeatedly expose himself to attack by his adversaries.   Once we are addicted to our lusts, we will pursue them at any risk. Just like the laboratory rat which will ignore the food lever in order to push the cocaine lever as many times as possible -- we will risk our families, careers, bank accounts, and health to pursue the objects of our lust. If you continue to pursue Internet pornography, you are running down a road that will wear you down. YOU will be "annoyed unto death." DO NOT trap yourself in this way. (Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. - II Timothy 2:22) For Tomorrow We will see the consequences Samson suffered for his sin. Write down some of the consequences of pursuing Internet pornography. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 1998 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."