What happensPermalink
Samson falls in love with Delilah, who betrays him to the Philistines, who capture him and gouge out his eyes. At a sacrificial feast to Dagon, they call Samson to entertain them, but he calls on God for miraculous strength one last time and tears down the temple around them, killing 3,000 of them.
Why it mattersPermalink
Samson fails to learn from his wife’s betrayal (and Delilah’s repeated betrayals) and follows his heart instead of his God. It leads to his death, but because God had a purpose for him (and perhaps because he regained some faith at the end), he hands the Philistines a huge defeat.
Key versePermalink
Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.”