Judges 16:1-12
Samson is a man of great contrasts. Physically he is very strong; morally he is a weakling, prone to giving in to all his whims. Outwardly he was separated to the LORD; his long hair showed this. But inwardly his heart was divided. The proof of this is that he loves an enemy of his people. We should ask ourselves if what we show in our outward lives, corresponds to the state of our hearts. Bodily exercise is not useless, but the things that are of value to the Lord are not successes in sport, which only develop pride in ourselves, but secret victories over our lusts. By not having her hair cut short a Christian girl shows her obedience outwardly. Yet this obedience must be just as much evident in her heart.
We should also rejoice to find in our reading a picture of Him who has "broken the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in sunder" (Psalms 107:16). Samson uprooting the gates of Gaza and carrying them away on his powerful shoulders makes us think of Christ. He has broken the bonds of death and thus delivered "them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:15). Now He is risen from the dead in power and has "the keys of hell and of death" (Revelation 1:18).