I. EXORDIUM:
Do you have long life?
Yes. 120 years.
Genesis 6:3 (Amplified Bible)
Then the Lord said, My Spirit shall not forever dwell and strive with man, for he also is flesh; but his days shall yet be 120 years.
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
Believers/unbelievers
III. OBJECTIVES:
To show that life could be longer if we believe and live by faith GOD's WORDS found in Genesis 6:3 and we could judge for the LORD here on earth and lot, lot longer than the life of wicked unbelievers.
IV. TEXT:
Judges 16:31 (Amplified Bible)
Then his kinsmen and all the tribal family of his father came down, took his body, and brought it up; and they buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burial place of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel [that is, had defended the Israelites] twenty years.
V. THESIS:
Praise, worship, glorify, adore, bless, honor, acknowledge and thank You very much LORD JESUS for You have given me length of days and length of life years span, and inside of me, You've given me tranquility that is inward, outward, and continuing shalom shalom from old age until the time I meet You face to face.
Proverbs 3:2 (Amplified Bible)
For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you.
VI. TITLE:
Death of Samson
VII. EXPLICATION:
A. Author: unknown, tradition attributes authorship to Samuel
B. Date written: 1086 - 1035 B.C.
C. Purpose: To review Israel's history following the conquest and prior to the Monarchy.
D. To whom written: Israel
E. Main theme: History of Israel during the time of the fifteen judges.
F. Keyword: apostasy
G. Key verse: Judges 17:6 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.
VIII. MAIN BODY:
Judges 16:31 (Amplified Bible)
Then his kinsmen and all the tribal family of his father came down, took his body, and brought it up; and they buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burial place of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel [that is, had defended the Israelites] twenty years.
Judges 16:31 (King James Version)
Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.
A. Samson's family took him up and buried him in his father's burying place.
"Then his kinsmen and all the tribal family of his father came down, took his body, and brought it up; and they buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burial place of Manoah his father."
Judges 17:6 (Amplified Bible)
In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.
Hebrews 11:32 (Amplified Bible)
And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,
Samson was listed on the hall of faith, those people who triumphed life's adversities through faith. Samson's name means "sunlight" a ray of sun that gives nourishment and strength to it's people but gives dangerous rays to it's enemies. That's what Samson's calling is all about, to annihilate the Philistines.
Judges 14:4 (Amplified Bible)
His father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord, and that He sought an occasion for assailing the Philistines. At that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
The LORD wanted to set up Samson an opportunity to annihilate the Philistine which is over Israel at that time. Though Samson was side tracked because of girls that are clouding his mind.
Several occassions in Samson's life that GOD wanted him to destroy the Philistines but was not able to because of Samson not being focused on his assignment here on earth. He could have ruled Israel for 80 years or more if early in life he was able to determine his mission and purpose here on earth.
ILLUSTRATION: I was talking to a young man about 16 years of age, and I led him to the LORD but when sinner's prayer came, the time of accepting the LORD, I told him about a lot of verses in the bible prior to this, he resisted and told me that he was so young to know the LORD but he wanted first to enjoy his life here on earth. So I let him be. So I moved on to the next soul and was able to talk with a married man, but when acceptance prayer came in, I received the same response but different situation, he's married and he will go to abroad to make his family life a lot richer so he's busy he can't commit himself to the LORD. So I moved on to the next soul, I share the gospel to an old man, there's resistance at first but when I persuaded the old man to accept JESUS, I received the same response but different situation again, that he's an old man he can no longer serve the LORD to it's fullest what's required of him. So I moved on to the next soul, and shared the gospel to a dying man, but this time the man was so half dead that he can't even speak. Pity the LORD, who will now accept Him and work for Him??!! It's a dying world out there and all I can talk to these types of people, different situations and times in their life, they can't accept the LORD and commit their lives to Him. Pity the LORD, will the LORD find faith when He comes back again to rule and reign??!!
Luke 18:8 (Amplified Bible)
I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth?
Situations will come and go in our lives depending on our age, and responsibilities but the LORD needed to be accepted NOW for Him to rule and reign in our hearts whatever situation we're all in.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (Amplified Bible)
For He says, In the time of favor (of an assured welcome) I have listened to and heeded your call, and I have helped you on the day of deliverance (the day of salvation). Behold, now is truly the time for a gracious welcome and acceptance [of you from God]; behold, now is the day of salvation!
B. Samson judged Israel for 20 years.
"He had judged Israel [that is, had defended the Israelites] twenty years."
What a short life span, Samson has.
We find that longevity or the ability to live longer here on earth are gifts from the LORD, an after result of Wisdom (JESUS) in our lives.
Proverbs 4:10 (Amplified Bible)
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many.
Proverbs 10:27 (Amplified Bible)
The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord prolongs one’s days, but the years of the wicked shall be made short.
The LORD JESUS our Maintainer does not sleep and He will make sure that we will longer lives to serve and please Him here on earth.
Psalms 121:4 (Amplified Bible)
Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
We are kept safe and divinely protected from everything that will steal our life.
John 10:10 (Amplified Bible)
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
ILLUSTRATION: I was talking to a young woman about 27 years of age and she told me she's stressed with a lot in life, and she never wore anything that is not branded. I smiled at her, and replied, "what would stressed you if you own everything branded, aren't you happy?" While she looked down on me, for I could not afford to buy these expensive branded shoe, I wore like a brandless shoe that I kept using for like 10 years now. When it breaks, I just go down to a shoe repair shop and have it repaired, the repairer will ask me, why do I need to repair it if I can afford to buy a new one? My reply is I have a gift of maintaining for a long time what GOD has entrusted to me. Her shoes cost about 4 figures while my shoes only cost like minimum of 3 figures and quite hesitant to pay for it, and a whole lot of other five figures to honor the LORD and also provide for my family, and provide for the ministry and furtherance of the gospel. HALLELUJAH!!
Isaiah 5:27 (Amplified Bible)
None is weary or stumbles among them, none slumbers or sleeps; nor is the girdle of their loins loosed or the latchet (thong) of their shoes broken;
Deuteronomy 29:5 (Amplified Bible)
I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn out upon you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet.
Luke 16:9 (Amplified Bible)
And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), so that when it fails, they [those you have favored] may receive and welcome you into the everlasting habitations (dwellings).
Luke 16:11 (Amplified Bible)
Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches?
The young woman in my illustration drank up vape like it's plain juice, bought expensive foods now and then, like every 3 hours and very uncontrolled in everything she thought to herself real riches is what she has now, but we know better, these money here on earth are no true riches but deceptive. It's only needed here on earth.
IX. CONCLUSION:
Praise, worship, glorify, adore, bless, honor, acknowledge and thank You very much LORD JESUS for You have given me length of days and length of life years span, and inside of me, You've given me tranquility that is inward, outward, and continuing shalom shalom from old age until the time I meet You face to face.
