Seven Braids
Thursday, November 20
Judges 16:19 (NIV)
“After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him.”
Devotion
One should consider the entire context of this book, rather than focusing on the single verse itself, to understand the context. In this book of the Bible, Samson falls in love with Delilah in exchange for a sum of money so that she can pass along the secret of Samson’s strength to the Philistines’ enemies. She agrees to seduce him. Being a lover’s game, Samson repeatedly lies about his secret and eventually tells her the truth. Shaving his head would make him weak. As he sleeps, she has his head shaved and then gives him over to the Philistines, who rip his eyes out and turn him into a slave.
Delilah now knows Samson has finally revealed the true source of his supernatural strength (Judges 16:5–6, 15–17). If his head is shaved, he will be as weak as any other man. She has already alerted her Philistine patrons, who are eager to seize their feared enemy.
Delilah then lulls Samson to sleep, apparently with his head resting on her lap—a scene that echoes the story of Jael, who similarly coaxed a powerful enemy into sleep before killing him (Judges 4:17–21). Once Samson is fully unconscious, Delilah calls in someone to shave his hair. Scripture does not explain why Samson didn’t wake up during this, but he may have been drugged or drunk. Some interpreters propose that God kept him asleep to fulfill His plan. At the same time, Delilah’s own scheming nature suggests she would have taken intentional measures to keep him unaware until the task was complete.
Christians have encountered what Samson went through with Delilah, but in a metaphorical sense. For example, one doesn’t just get their eyes gouged out after a woman has seduced them for whatever reason. Delilah had evil intentions of taking away Samson’s power. When he awoke, that is when the Lord’s strength had departed him, which is what most Christians feel today. When something terrible happens, something is taken away, and we feel powerless. But the tragedy is not that we lose something — it’s that we often don’t realize God’s strength has lifted because we’ve placed our trust in the wrong hands. Yet even then, Samson’s story reminds us that weakness is not the end. When we turn back to God, He is able to restore strength, purpose, and vision. What feels like the end of our power can actually become the beginning of His.
Today's Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I ask forgiveness for the times I openly disobeyed You and consequentially walked outside of Your presence and protection. I turn from following my own ways and return to You. Restore to me the joy of my salvation, for You are my hope, my joy, and my strength. I know now that to think otherwise is foolish. Hear my cry, O Lord, for I pledge my life to You once again. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
Like Samson, King David was not a perfect man. He made mistakes in his life—some very serious—and yet God called him the “apple of His eye.” Why was that? As a shepherd boy, David spent a lot of time alone with God, getting to know Him. He came to understand His great love. When David committed adultery, he repented and ran to God, not away from Him. David relied on His mercy. Now, this is not a license to sin, but when in our lives we miss it, know that God’s nature is merciful. He is more interested in your restoration if you will return to Him.
Resources
- The beginning of every new year is the perfect time to heal, grow, and find community—sign up for our Spring semester of Restoration Groups and take your next step toward wholeness.