When Light Is Conquered By Darkness - Part 2 Of 4 Series

Now brethren, let’s continue our theme last meeting: "When Light is Conquerred by Darkness." Today, we will tackle our next topic: The reasons why light is overtaken by darkness.

II. THE REASONS WHY LIGHT IS OVERTAKEN BY DARKNESS

A. WE ARE MISFOCUSED (Judges 14:1-7; 16:1-4

“Then Samson went down to Timnah and SAW A WOMAN IN TIMNAH, one of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her former a wife.” Later in v. 7 we read “So Samson went down and talked in the woman, and SHE WAS RIGHT IN SAMSON EYES.” What was wrong with SEEING A WOMAN?

1. Take note of the response of Samson’s parents in Judges 14:3. Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among our people, that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” The hesitancy of his parents were understandable (see Gen 26:35; 27:46; 28:1); also Ex 34:11, 16; Dt 7:1,3). “The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing” (Ecc 1:8).

2. Take note of the consequence. The woman of Timnas was given to his bestman (Jud 11:20), which enraged Samson, and led him to catch 300 foxes and used them to burn the standing grains, along with the vinerdas and groves of the Philistines. They in turn burned the woman and her father (Judges 15:1-7).

Maybe, there is nothing wrong with seeing tempting situations but when you look again, or you turn around and come back again, our eyes will lead us to want inside and then do something which we would regret later on, James wrote –

But each one is TEMPTED when he is CARRIED AWAY and ENTICED by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished it brings forth death. (James 1:14-15).

But Samson did not learn from this, in Judges 16:1, we read again, “Now Samson went to Gaza, and SAW A HARLOT THERE, and he went in to her” (16:1), This will not be the last in Judges 16:4, he would see and fall in love again to a Philistine. Warning, unless WE REPENT, that is radically change our perspective and turn around from our wrong lifestyle we remain entrapped in the domain of darkness.

B. WE TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR GRANTED (Judges 14:8-9).

Samson knew that he was a special person, with special endowment from God. He also knew the responsibilities that went with them (Judges 13:2-25; cf. 16:17).

However, in 14:8-9, on his way back he looked at the carcass of the lion that he killed, and behold there was a swarm of bees and honey were in the body of the lion. You know what he did? “He scraped the honey into his hand and went on, eating as he went… he gave some to his father and mother, and they ate it; but he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey out of the body of the lion.” What was wrong with it?

God generally forbade Israel to eat of unclean things. The angel of the Lord specifically forbade both the mother not to eat unclean thing (Judges 13:4,7,14). Samson did not just violate God’s law, he even made his parents sin without them knowing.

A story is told that a huge tree was not put down by severe rains and storms, but to surprise or many, one sunny day it just fell. When they examined the inside, it was destroyed slowly by small insects eating the trunk. Small sins may appear harmless, but it is they that can blind the eyes! Don’t think that because of God did not do anything it is alright our God is simply patient, wanting us to get rid of it ourselves, than He dong it to our pain.

C. WE ARE PLAYING WITH ENEMIES (Judges 14:8-18; 15:1-8; 16:1-15)

Samson knew that he was special (Judges 13:2-24) and he knew he was strong (Judges 13:25; 14:6). However, instead of using them to serve the Lord and His people, he used them to play with the Philistines. He did it several times –

1. During the wedding he propounded a riddle and gave the people 7 days to solve, if they did, he would give them 30 changes of clothes, but if they lost, they would give Samson 30 changes of clothes. He even used his sin as the context of the riddle. What were the results? The wedding, which should have been festive became TENSED and TREATHENING (14:15), instead of the bride rejoicing, she was weeping (14:16), you know how long? Seven days (14:16-18). Of course the Spirit of the Lord helped Samson fulfill his obligation (14:19).

But looked at the further consequences, after Samson went to his house, the father gave the bride to the bestman as a wife. This enraged Samson, and he burned the standing grain, vineyards and groves of the Philistines, who in turned burned the girl and her father. After which Samson took revenge and struck the Philistines ruthlessly with great slaughter (15:6-8).