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.”
3. You can’t forget your vows without consequences. Samson broke his vow to stay pure, to keep ceremonially clean and to never cut his hair. Nu 30:2 “If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.” Ec 5:4, 5”When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”
4. You can’t indulge your passions without consequences. Samson’s passion caused him to marry the wrong person. His passion led him to prostitutes. His passion led him to a position vulnerability, and final betrayal by Delilah. We must beware of the danger of uncontrolled passion.
Sexual desires are powerful. Many people have found that failure to control sexual urges leads to physical, emotional and spiritual problems. Pr 6:26-28 “For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?”
5. Finally, you can’t overestimate the Grace and Mercy of God. Samson remembered the graciousness of God. He knew that God could still use him. Samson believed God could use whatever time he had left, and he was right. Yes, Samson believed God could use him no matter how he had failed before, and he was right. From pit of despair, Samson prayed! In that simple prayer he asked God to strengthen him one more time.
Jg 16:28 -30 “And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. (29) And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.(30) And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. have the last laugh on his enemies.
Avoid the mistakes of Samson and learn from his example. Samson learned everything the hard way. Learn to wise choices, and never forget, if you do fail, that God is a God of mercy and grace. Enjoy his grace when you need it and remember He is just a prayer a way!
