1 Corinthians 10:6-7(NLT)
6 These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, 7 or worship idols as some of them did…
Story of Samson
Judges 13:1 (NIV)
The Birth of Samson
13 Again, the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord(or did what was right in their own eyes), so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.
The people of God stopped living like the people of God.
The Cycle
SIN — Bondage — — Deliverance — Blessing (Repeat)
Into The Hands of The Philistines
They would conquer others by .
But God rescued them before they were thoroughly .
Judges 13:5 (NIV)
5 You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
Mission: Free God’s People from His Enemies
What is a Nazirite Vow?
- Do not cut your hair.
- Avoid WIne or any fruit from the vine.
- Don’t touch a dead carcass of any kind.
Samson’s was because of pride.
There are two sides to the pride coin…
- – Thinking too highly of yourself.
- – Feeling like you are not enough and having to prove it.
So why would a man with such physical strength not feel like he is enough?
-
He to listen to other people.
Judges 14 (Amplified Bible)
14 Samson went down to Timnah and at Timnah he saw a woman, one of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 So he went back and told his father and his mother, “I saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines; now get her for me as a wife.” 3 But his father and mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised (pagan) Philistines?” And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, because she looks pleasing to me.” 4 His father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord, and that He was seeking an occasion [to take action] against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.
When he was made aware of his blindspot, he became…
She is right in my eyes!
Who pointed out the blind spot?
Judges 14:7
7 When Samson arrived in Timnah, he talked with the woman and was very pleased with her.
Limerence – Not seeing things clearly during the early stages of infatuation.
Intrusive thinking — Infatuated by another person
2. He
Judges 14:6
But he didn’t tell his father or mother about it.
Do you see the pattern?
Compromise and Cover
Judges 14:12-14
12 “Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can give me the answer within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. 13 If you can’t tell me the answer, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.”
“Tell us your riddle,” they said. “Let’s hear it.”
14 He replied,
“Out of the eater, something to eat;
out of the strong, something sweet.”
3. He is offended.
Judges 14:19
19 Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of everything and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he returned to his father’s home.
Offense leads to .
God is still working despite Samson’s ; God is still doing what he wants to do to His people.
20 Years Later… Nothing Has Changed
Judges 16:1 (NIV)
16 One day, Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.
Same story, different person…
Judges 16:15-16 (NIV)
15 Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.” 16 With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.
Samson’s physical strength made him his strength in every other area of his life.
Judges 16:19 (NIV)
19 …And his strength left him.
Judges 16:20 (NIV)
20 Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”
He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.
He didn’t know it!
Questions to think about…
- Do I listen to the counsel of others?
- Do I compromise on small things?
- Am I easily offended?
- Am I aware of my weaknesses?
We need to stop our mistakes and our strength!
Judges 16:28-30 (NIV)
28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, 30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.
He finally asks God for , but he makes it about his eyes.
Time and time again, he made the wrong decisions. He was set apart from the womb to restore Israel to holiness, but ultimately his unfaithfulness to his calling led to his destruction and death. Samson was defiled by his sin, exemplifying a life of wasted resources. He failed to save the day. Yet despite Samson’s best efforts to mess up his life, God still used him – and He’ll still use us.
Chip Henderson – Samson: A LIFE WASTED
Judges 17:6 (NLT)
6 In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.
What could happen if you surrender your life to God?
2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NLT) In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.