After Samson riles up the Philistines on multiple occasions, they bribe his girlfriend Delilah a lot of money (the People's Bible estimates the value at 15 years worth of wages) to get from him the secret of his strength. So she begins to ask him. Playing with her, he makes up some things--"tie me with seven fresh bowstrings" and "weave my hair into the fabric on the loom." But you have to wonder what he thought when he would wake up to find these things done to him as well as a gang of Philistines surrounding him! The People's Bible says, "We must conclude that Samson was fully aware of what Delilah was trying to do. He was playing with her, but under one fatal illusion. He had convinced himself of his own invulnerability."
God had given Samson his gift of amazing strength, but Samson started to forget this and instead believe it was all him. The devil will try to use our gifts against us as well: "I earned all I have." But this kind of self-focus will end up as our downfall, as it did for Samson.
Of course, when Samson repented and prayed to God, God had mercy and granted his request (
16:28-30). When we fall under our temptations, we can turn to God; unlike his people, God does not forget just us.
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