The Proof of Love

“And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? Thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.”  Judges 16:15

The story of Samson and Delilah is one of the most popular stories of scripture. In this passage Delilah is upset because Samson has lied to her three times. She asks a valid question though her motives are anything but virtuous. “How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me?” Now for Samson’s sake I wish he wouldn’t have told her the truth, nevertheless he did and there is a great lesson for us all.

In order for love to be reciprocated there must be love initiated! We love him because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). Samson wanted Delilah to love him. There is no doubt he loved her, “And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah” (Judges 16:4). Samson would have to give up his greatest treasure to prove it. Why? Because, “For where your treasure is there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Delilah was questioning where his heart was because he had not given her his treasure. Samson had no greater treasure than the secret of his power from God. He had withheld that and gave her a counterfeit, therefore she had him cornered with a logical question, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? She was saying, How do I know you don’t think of me as just a piece of property and she had a point! He had lied to her to get sexual gratification but now he wanted her to love him because he really loved her!

Lying breaks trust and trust is the foundation of any good relationship, especially those we claim to love. The fact is, your love will always be in question if you’ve been caught lying! Love is a commitment but to persuade someone of your love takes honesty even when it could cost you. Boy did it cost Samson!

Love has a cost and it can make us very vulnerable. Samson would prove his love to Delilah by paying the price for it. He would share a truth that would eventually cost him his strength and his sight. He would clearly show her he love her by giving her his heart. This is why many people are afraid to love because of what it could cost them if rejected. What a blessing it is when our spouse sees that they have our heart and it is reciprocated by their love to us.

Samson’s biggest error was the person he placed his love in because he got no return! “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick…” Proverbs 13:12