Scripture Union Daily Guide – 23 July 2025: Today’s Devotional Reading and Reflection
Are you looking for the Scripture Union Daily Guide – 23 July 2025? Discover today’s devotional reading, Bible passage, and reflection to strengthen your spiritual journey. This Daily Guide provides clear, scripture-based insight and life applications to help you grow in faith, understand God’s Word, and live a Christ-centered life. Whether for personal devotion or group study, today’s message is a timely word for your walk with God.
TOPIC: The Cost of Evil Relationships
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Opening Prayer
Sanctify my life dear Lord as I study your word in Jesus name.
Bible Reading
Judges 16:1-21
1 Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.
2 And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
3 And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.
4 And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
6 And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
7 And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
9 Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
10 And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.
11 And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
12 Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.
13 And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.
14 And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.
15 And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
16 And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
17 That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.
18 And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.
19 And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.
20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.
21 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.
Questions for Meditation
► Q2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
► Q5: Is there any warning for me to heed?
Samson, the Nazarite is now neck deep in sexual immorality such that he could comfortably visit a prostitute (Judges 16:1)! Sexual sin can be addictive; so, we must run away from every sexually tempting circumstance. Notice that even though Samson’s life was not right, as long as he did not violate the conditions for being a Nazarite, God did not withdraw the power from him (Judges 16:3-14). Painfully, Samson took God for granted. We must be careful never to continue in sin after we have known the truth (Romans 6:1-4).
Judges 16:15-16 is a great warning against unequal yoke. Christians who marry or go into business partnership with unbelievers almost always get wearied by the ungodly inclinations and practices of the ungodly partner; and often compromise. Three consecutive times, Delilah demonstrated her love of money and lack of love for Samson with passion. But here she demanded a proof of Samson’s love!
If only Samson could discern how desperate the woman was to steal his consecration, destroy his relationship with God and eventually destroy him physically, he would have saved himself from the agony and regret that followed! What’s more? Sin deprives us of God’s presence and drains our spiritual power (Judges 16:20-21).
Insight
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
Help me, O Lord, to guard my heart with all diligence, and never compromise my faith and consecration in exchange for anything!
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Micah 4-5; Psalms 68.
One Year Bible Reading Plan – Hard Copy version: Isaiah 31-34
Scripture Union is an international, interdenominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization’s stated aim is to use the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God. (Scripture Union Daily Guide July 23 2025)
