Here Comes The Judge - Samson The Son Of Promise

Sermon. Here Comes The Judge – Samson, the Son of Promise

Judges 16:18-30

Introduction: Samson was a Hebrew with an unusual gift of strength who must respond properly to the call of God on his life in order to lead his people out of enslavement. The Bible list three great Nazarites: Moses, Samson and John the Baptist. Samson stands at the head, a child born in response to prayer. His parents to received two visits from the angel of Lord, giving them special instructions about caring for the child. His twenty-year Judgeship is told in this short section of Scripture. How does such a great one end in such a tragic place? Although his life is filled with one exciting adventure after another, this son of promise had a fatal attraction to the Philistine world. We must be careful about what claims our attention and dominates out thought life. If you get too close to the world, the world will dine you, wine you, blind you, bind you and grind you up.

His youthful ambition led into a tragic marriage; his acts of revenge thrust him into direct conflict with the Philistine army. Little did we know that God use Samson ambition for His purpose. Samson’s parents raised him to be a Nazarite, a godly child who was never to drink wine, touch dead things, nor cut his hair. He was devoted to God. The Spirit of God began to move on Samson as a youth. It was evident to everyone that the Lord had blessed. Where God gives His blessing, He gives graces for usefulness.

Jg 13:24 -25 So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to move upon him at in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.”

Samson was a self-trained soldier of power. He was a mighty man who always worked alone. God prophesied that Samson who began to deliver Israel. During his life, he never rallied an army, or developed a team. Neither did he understand that a man, no matter how strong, influence will be limited fighting alone. Samson was on a collision course, his relationship with a Philistine Delilah would to his defeat and surrender to the Philistine Army. His only hope was that God would turn his imprisonment and blindness into final victory.

Look at the setting, it was a party to end all parties. The main entertainment was Samson. They called out a blind hulk of a man and forced him to do tricks in front of the drunken crowd. This was not just any old slave; this was their former enemy. Samson’s condition is deplorable. Why did Samson his power? How could such a great man end up like this? First, Samson spent too much time in enemy territory. He was attracted to their women, culture, and music. Then, he kept too many secrets from people who loved and shared too many secrets with that hated him. Final, he spent too much time in the wrong bed and slept in the wrong lap too often. There he told his secrets, lost his hair and became weak and powerless. But don’t give up on Samson out. Jg 16:22 Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.

The text speaks loudly about the power of our choices. Each one of us make choices every day. Some are major and other are minor. Each choice has the potential to bring us closer to God and our destiny or lead us further away from God. Even though Samson began to deliver Israel, we see wasted potential. Samson could have strengthened the nation so much more. His decisions robbed him blind. Yet, God used Samson to accomplish His purpose in the final act of his life. Samson thought he could ignore wise council, release his rage, forget his vows and indulge his passion with suffering any consequences. Samson is an old Testament millennial guidepost! We need to learn these lessons well:

1.You can’t ignore your heritage with consequences. Samson came from a praying family and was an answer to prayer. He had taken a special vow to be pure and serve God but did not seem to appreciate the significance of this. Today, many also ignore their heritage—some even despising it! Pr 1:8 “My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;”

2. You can’t release your rage without consequences. Samson had a temper that was frequently out of control. He seemed to enjoy giving full vent to his anger. Samson was strong enough to be reckless. In spite of his victories, his anger led him to many sins. Pr 16:32 “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” Pr 19:19 “A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.”