Week Nine - The Vamp

Beside the Well

    As securely as Ruth is an example of the one-in-a-thousand good women, Delilah stands as the diametrical opposite.
    I’ve seen these women, haven’t you?  Those who seem bent on using their feminine wiles to destroy men, to create gain for themselves, or to have power?
    We see them in movies, on political stages, and in our communities.  It creates such shame in my heart when I see them at work.  I am most alarmed, however, when I see men goggling along behind them either enamored by their looks or too afraid to oppose them.
    Let’s look for just a moment at their ploys.  Like Delilah, they use looks to allure.  They appeal to a man’s need for appreciation bolstering his self-image.  Then, with tearful pleading and persistent nagging, they get their agenda completed.  They are deceitful and vexing but, just as in the case of Samson and Delilah, they seem to have a captivation that keeps their true motivations hidden until it is too late.
    Not only can we read of Delilah’s example, but another interesting study is the Lord’s description of the daughters of Israel in Isaiah 3: 16-26.  Here the Bible goes into detail painting a picture of brazen women who use their feminine wiles and fashion to justify their haughty, prideful lifestyle. 
    Then, if you take time to read the description of the daughter of the King in Psalm 45:9-17, you will see another picture of feminine beauty.  But this woman, who is “all glorious within,” is praised and blessed forever.
    Do you see two differences?  The heart attitudes are different.  One is full of self and pride, the other is one of honor and joy.  The outcomes are different.  The daughters of Israel had a great time dressing up and showing off, but because their agenda was one of rebellion, it came crashing down under God’s judgment.  The daughter of the King also dresses beautifully, but her agenda is one of honoring her father and considering others around her.  Like Ruth, she receives the promise of generational longevity.
    When we read the story of Delilah, I think we see that her heart attitude is one of pride and self-centeredness.  She has a hidden agenda and uses her wiles to destroy Samson. Most likely, she, too, perished that day in the fall of the coliseum.
    I think Delilah’s story warns us about using deceit to accomplish our goals.  I don’t want to be the type of woman who uses all sorts of tricks to get my way.  I want to be honest and upright.  I want to be a person who can be trusted and not one with a hidden agenda.  I want my example to be a shining light for those coming behind me.
    So, that means keeping a check on my goals.  I look to see that they are not self-seeking or about gaining power or recognition.  I listen to hear the Spirit’s warning signals and re-direct my expectations to come in line with God’s word. I want to be honoring to the Lord and uplifting toward others in my family and relationships.
               Which type of woman do you want to be?  A Delilah or a Ruth?  What type of woman do you want your daughter to be?