參孫（Samson、是聖經士師記中的一位猶太人士師，生於前11世紀的以色列，瑪挪亞的兒子。參孫以藉著上帝所賜極大的力氣，徒手擊殺雄獅並隻身與以色列的外敵非利士人爭戰周旋而著名。參孫蒙上帝賜的力氣，本當可以有更大的作為，可惜他個性頑強，不能接受旁人的提醒及勸勉尤其是在婚姻的事上，不尊重以色列人的律法和父母的勸戒，隨自己的喜好，娶非利士女子為妻。他更隨意放縱肉體的情慾，與妓女和壞女子大利拉（Delilah，不知儆醒，以為自己可以一面享受肉慾，一面保有力量，最後不能抵擋女色的誘惑和纒累，洩露了超人力氣的來源和秘密，給敵人有可乘之機，被非利士人挖其雙眼並被囚於監獄中推磨，受盡羞辱。

參孫因頭髮被剪，結果力量全失，被敵人關在監裡推磨；雖然心中懊悔，卻也無計可施。後來，他的頭髮又長了出來。一次，非利士人在向他們的神祇大袞（Dagon）獻大祭時，想利用此時機，再次羞辱參孫，於是就把參孫從牢裡帶出來，要在他們偶像廟裏戲弄和戲耍他^[7]。此時參孫向上帝悔改，求上帝再次賜力量；他就抱住廟中兩根主要支柱，身體盡力往前傾，結果柱子及房子就倒塌，壓死了在廟中的敵人，自己也犧牲了。

The story of Samson and Delilah reminds us just how important it is to guard our hearts and follow God's way! The summary from Scripture starts with Samson's birth was announced by an angel during a dark time for the Israelites. Israel was under the rule and oppression of the Philistines. Samson was born a Nazirite and was set apart with supernatural strength from God to do His work in the nation of Israel. Samson became great in his own eyes and began to pursue women outside of God's plan for his life. During his wedding sermon to a Philistine women, Samson was so humiliated by her and the wedding guests that he sought revenge by killing 1,000 Philistine men.

Samson then fell in love with a beautiful Philistine woman named Delilah. The rulers in Philistine came to Delilah and offered her money if she found out what made Samson so strong. Delilah went home and made a great meal for Samson and asked him what made him so strong. Samson responded that if he was tied up with seven new bow strings that had not been dried, he would lose his strength. Delilah went and told the rulers who instructed her to tie up Samson in his sleep. To Delilah's surprise, Samson had tricked her and was able to break free. Samson again told that he would lose her strength if tied up with bow strings but that they had to be new and never used. Delilah again tried to trap Samson while he slept but he was able to break free. Delilah was very hurt by Samson and questioned his love for her since he could not share his secret to his strength.

 The next day Delilah asked Samson continually about his strength and bugged him so much that he finally told her the secret to his strength - that he was given his strength at birth by God and that if his hair was cut he would lose his strength. That evening as Samson slept, Delilah cut his hair and called in the Philistines. The Philistine men were able to capture Samson. They barged in, gouged his eyes out and took him to prison in Gaza. 

The Philistines brought Samson out before a great crowd of rulers and thousands of people gathered in the temple to celebrate his capture. Samson's hair had begun to grow back and as he leaned against the pillars of the temple, he prayed to God for strength once more to defeat the Philistines. Samson used all of his might and pushed down the temple, killing himself and thousands of Philistines and rulers. 

God forgave Samson and still accomplished great things through Samson. It was through Samson's destruction of the temple and his death that the Israelites were freed from Philistine rule. Read more about the Bible story of Samson and Delilah in the Scripture below and use the articles and videos to understand the meaning behind this teachable event in the Bible.