Judges 16

Few stories in Scripture feel as tragic—and frankly, as frustrating—as the saga of Samson and Delilah. Judges 16 reads like a slow-motion train wreck. With every verse, Samson inches closer to disaster, yet he keeps going—blinded (ironically, before it happens) by pride, lust, and what we might today call FOMO.

Samson had everything: strength, status, and a divine calling. But it wasn’t enough. He wanted what he didn’t have—Delilah’s affection, admiration, and attention. And like a man addicted to affirmation, he risked everything to gain it. He flirted with danger, not just once, but repeatedly. Delilah’s motives couldn’t be clearer, yet Samson kept returning. Why? Because the fear of missing out—on intimacy, pleasure, connection, or maybe just control—was greater than his fear of the consequences.

What’s even more alarming is Samson’s arrogance. Each time Delilah asks for the secret to his strength and then uses his answer to try and trap him, you’d think he’d catch on. But pride can blind us to danger when we think we’re untouchable. Samson believed he could keep playing with fire and never get burned.

Eventually, though, the fire consumes him. His strength is gone, his eyes are gouged out, his freedom is stripped, and his calling is compromised. What began as a small compromise ended in total collapse.

So, what can we learn from Samson’s downfall?

1. Don’t flirt with danger. If something (or someone) keeps drawing you away from God, don’t toy with it. Run.
2. Pride precedes the fall. Thinking you’re too strong to fail is the surest path to doing that.
3. Beware of FOMO. The fear of missing out can cause you to overlook red flags, ignore godly wisdom, and step out of God’s protection.
4. Guard your heart. Not everything beautiful is beneficial. Delilah wasn’t the problem—Samson’s lack of discernment was.
5. God can still redeem. Though Samson’s story ends in tragedy, his final act—calling on God one last time—reminds us that God’s grace can still meet us even in failure.

Don’t let FOMO about earthly pleasures rob you of God’s call on your life. Choose obedience over impulse, humility over pride, and God’s approval over fleeting affection.

Pastor Brad