Topic: Sunday Sermon Series – Living By Faith
Title: The Failures and Faith of Samson (Part 1)
Text: Hebrews 11:32-34; Judges 13.
Proposition: Samson is listed as a man of faith in Hebrews 11. The bible records both his incredible feats and failures. We can learn many valuable lessons from studying the biblical record of his life!
Introduction: In Hebrews 11 the names of “people of faith” are listed for our learning.
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. -KJV
Samson is one of several individuals listed in the chapter:
Hebrews 11:32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. -NIV
He was enabled by God to accomplish some of the mighty exploits that verses 33 and 34 refer to. He shut the mouth of a lion, and was endowed by God with a physical strength unparalleled in human history, yet THE UNFORTUNATE TRUTH ABOUT SAMSON WAS THAT HE LOST THE BATTLE WITHIN!
That is why, I’ve entitled today’s message:
The Flaw’s and Faith of Samson! (Part 1)
Though he could conquer 1.000 Philistine’s he could not win the war wagging within his own soul!
1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; -KJV
This is a battle that we must win!
Proverbs 25:28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls. – NJKV
Well anyway, my proposition to you from the life of Samson is this:
A study of the “Flaws and Faith of Samson” will remind us of the importance of that!
Let’s consider first of all…
I. The Age of Samson.
A) Age – the distinct period of history in which he lived -it might explain somethings!
1. Time of the Judges. - The Book of Judges is known as “the Dark Ages” of the nation of Israel.
a) A time defined this way:
Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Charles Spurgeon –“Which means that every man did what evil he liked.”
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
Albert Barnes –“It is the way of the fool, the way of self-indulgence and self-will.”
B) Application?
1. Unfortunately, it sounds like the age we are living in today!
2. Who defines what is right?
Hosea 14:9 Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them._NIV
Ezekiel 18:29 "But the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right? -NASB
Psalms 25:8 The LORD is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. 9 He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.- NLT
C) “Age” of the Judges?
1. Cyclical:
a) Departure – From the Lord
Judges 13:1a Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
b). Discipline – Given over to enemies
Judges 13:1b so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.
c). Despair – They cry out to the Lord?
i. Not in this case, perhaps they had become accustomed to their bondage?
d) Deliverance – God raises up a judge or deliverer!
Enter the…
II. The Annunciation of Samson!
There are ninety-six verses in the Book of Judges concerning the life of Samson, twenty-four of those verses deal with his birth.
A) Reason?
1. To show that his life had a divine plan and purpose!
a) By the way, so does yours!
B) Resemblance?
1. Striking similarities with the annunciation of other notable births
a) Abraham and Sarai - Isaac
b) Zachariah and Elizabeth - John
c) Joseph and Mary - Jesus
Judges 13:2 A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth.
2. Sound familiar?
a) Abraham and Sarah
b) Zachariah and Elizabeth
Gordon MacDonald - “The barren womb is often a starting place in the purpose of God. He calls life out of death and uses the things that “are not” to confound the things that are “(I Corinthians 1:26-31).
Judges 13: 3 The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son.
c) Abraham and Sarah - Isaac
Genesis 18:1 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby.
Genesis 18:9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said.
10a Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”
d) Zachariah and Elizabeth – John the Baptist
Luke 1:5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
Luke 1:11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
e) Jesus!
Luke 1:27b Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
Luke 1:34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin? 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
C) Reflect?
1. The importance of the child!
2. Samson is on the “Mount Rushmore” of Divine Annunciations!
a) Jesus
b) John
c) Isaac
III. The Appointment of Samson?
A) Rearing?
1. He gives mom rules regarding the rearing of the child.
Judges 13:4 Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean.
B) Reason?
1. Practical?
Judges 13:5a You will become pregnant and have a son…
a) Research has shown that poor health choices, drugs, drinking and smoking can have a profound effect on your unborn child!
2. Purpose?
Judges 13:5b whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb.
1. Not to be confused with a Nazarene!
a) Jesus was a Nazarene, born in the city of Nazareth.
Matthew 2: 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene
b) Samson was a Nazarite, someone consecrated to God, who was to obstain from certain things.
C) Regulations?
Numbers 6: 6 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite, 3 they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. 4 As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.
D) Reflect?
1. Grapes = the pleasures of this world.
a) Abstinence
Ecclesiastes 10:19a A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry;
Numbers 6: 5 “‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long.
2. No razor = His hair length was to be an outward symbol that he belong to God.
b) Appearance
Numbers 6:6 “‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the Lord, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body. 7 Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head.
3. Dead body ?
c) Avoidance – No unclean thing.
d) Affiliation – They were not to pollute themselves even if a parent, or sibling died, they could not go near.
i. Symbolized that God came first!
Numbers 6:8 Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to the Lord.
E) Role? (Of Samson?)
Judges 13:5b He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
1. Judge – ?????? -shaphat
a) Executes judgment
Alan Redpath - “There’s some task which the God of all the universe, the great Creator, your redeemer in Jesus Christ has for you to do, and which will remain undone and incomplete until by faith and obedience you step in the will of God.”
F) Rule: Separation?
a) Separation is always twofold, it is both positive (you are separated to someone or something).
b) Separation has a negative aspect (you are separated from someone’s or something).
Phillips Brooks -“IT DOES NOT TAKE GREAT MEN TO DO GREAT THINGS; IT ONLY TAKES CONSECRATED MEN.”
IV. The Awesomeness of the announcement of Samson!
Judges 13:6a Then the woman went to her husband and told him, “A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome.
AMP- Someone to be greatly and reverently feared
Judges 13:6b I didn’t ask him where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name.
Peter Pett- This is her confession of her own failure. She had been so awestruck that she had not asked where He came from.
A) Reason?
1. Awesome message!
2. Awesome messenger!
B) Reiterates:
Judges 13:7 But he said to me, ‘You will become pregnant and have a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.’”
We will see…
V. The Appeal regarding the announcement of Samson.
A) Parental prayer!
1. Father
Judges 13:8a Then Manoah prayed to the Lord: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again…
B) Purpose?
1. He understood his role!
1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.”
Ephesians 5:22b For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church,
C) Prayer?
Judges 13:8b to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.”
Notes on Judges - G. Bush - He may have thought it possible, too, that his wife’s joy for the promise should have made her forget some part of the charge which the angel connected with it. On this point he would be fully informed; he dreads the possibility of a mistake.
Bruce Hurst -One can’t help but be impressed with the devotion of this husband and wife to each other and to the Lord. The time of the Judges was one of apostasy and anarchy, but there were still Jewish homes that were dedicated to the Lord and that believed in prayer and through whom God was still working.
VI. The Answer to the prayer regarding Samson!
Judges 13:9a God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again
A) The Answer was - Immediate!
B) The Answer was – Consistent!
Judges 13:9b to the woman while she was out in the field; but her husband Manoah was not with her.
1. He came to the woman again!
Malachi 3:6a “For I, the Lord, do not change
Judges 13:10 The woman hurried to tell her husband, “He’s here! The man who appeared to me the other day!”
Judges 13:11a Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, “Are you the man who talked to my wife?”
C) The Answer was – Courteous!
Judges 13:11b “I am,” he said.
a) Why courteous?
i. Manoah was still standing, after he said “I am!”
ii. This “Angel” will prove to be a “Christophany” as we will see!
John 18:4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” 5a “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said.
John 18:6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Judges 13:12 So Manoah asked him, “When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule that governs the boy’s life and work?”
D) The Answer was – CLEAR!
Judges 13:13 The angel of the Lord answered, “Your wife must do all that I have told her. 14 She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, nor drink any wine or other fermented drink nor eat anything unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her.”
VII. The Appreciation shown for the announcement of Samson
Judges 13:15 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you.”
John Gill- It was a token of gratitude for the trouble he had been at in bringing these messages to them, taking him to be a man, a prophet of the Lord.
VIII. The Acceptance expressed regarding the offer.
Robert Hawker- Every step in this delightful narration, becomes more, and more interesting!
Judges 13:16a The angel of the Lord replied, “Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food.
A) Reason?
1. I will not eat it, because I don’t need it – a spiritual being doesn’t need food!
Judges 13:16b But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the Lord.” (Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the Lord.)
Judges 13:17 Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?”
John Wesley- So that I can make an honorable mention of you, or by show respect to you, by bringing you a present, which they usually gave to prophets.
Peter Pett – He wanted to be able to give due credit to the prophet once his prophecy came to fulfilment, or even send him some present to express his gratitude.
B) Response?
1. AMAZING?
Judges 13:18 He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.”
Judges 13:18 And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?- ESV
a) Wonderful - -???????? -pil·e'
i. Incomprehensible, extraordinary?
b) Please note – other times in the bible when an angel appears they are not reluctant to drop names!
Luke 1:19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.
Daniel 10: 12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes,(angels) came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.
c) This time the name is width-held because it is not time to reveal!
i. Names are meant to reflect character and mission!
2. Who is this person whose said, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?- ESV
Isaiah 9: 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
a) Jesus Christ Himself – in a preincarnate form!
i. At his incarnation he was to be named, for it was to reflect his character and mission!
Luke 1:31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High
Matthew 1:20b Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
iii. Jesus -??s??? -iesous
a) "Jehovah is salvation!
