In Judges 16:1-3 Samson travels 45 miles south to Gaza the southernmost city of Philistia all for the sole purpose of self indulgence. Saint’s pay attention here, Samson didn’t fail because the temptation was to strong or inescapable, he failed because he toyed with it, seeking it out until he paid the price. He burst the fetters of his foes but not the cords of his lusts, burned the crops of his enemies but failed to extinguish the flames kindled by his own lust.
We don’t know when this reckless rendezvous occurred but it appears to be some time near the end of his 20 years as judge. Samson had to know that going to Gaza (one of the 5 major cities in Philistia) would put him into a very dangerous situation as he was feared and hated, a wanted man. What this tells us is that Samson deliberately exposed himself to the enemy and that his self-confidence was the spiritual weakness to go along with his moral weakness. The sad reality is that Samson’s confidence was without any regard to the empowerment that he had received from the Lord. He simply acquainted his invincibility to his ability instead of the Lord’s.
Samson believed that God was not concerned with broken promises moral failings and the proof was he was still being used! Oh watch out saints when you think that you are “strong” and “powerful” as you may be able to carry off the gates of the city but you will be captured within the gates of your own folly.