“Samson Prays”
Judges 16:28
Hard lessons to learn when we disobey the Lord.
Samson is one of the last Judges that God used, yet he was not always walking the right path.
At his death Samson had judged Israel for 20 years.
I was told while in the Navy that you can have 1000 at-a-boys yet if you have one oops, that is what you will be remembered for.
That is true in life!
Samson will give to us several lessons that can help us in prayer and in life.
I. Samson’s Parents Judges 13:
It should be noted that “the Angel of The Lord” spoke to Manoah’s wife first Judges 13:1-5
Judges 13:8 Manoah prayed and asked for directions…
Being a Nazarite is first mentioned here so they needed to know what that was and what to do.
The word denotes generally one who is separated from others and consecrated to God.
The vow of a Nazarite involved these three things,
1. Abstinence from wine and strong drink,
2. Refraining from cutting the hair off the head during the whole period of the continuance of the vow, and
3. The avoidance of contact with the dead.
In the case of Samson his vow would be a life-long vow.
Manoah asked two things:
1. Vs. 15 “…let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.”
(He replied that he would not eat)
In Vs. 16 “And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD.”
We do NOT pray to angels!
2. Vs. 17 “…What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?”
18 “And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?”
Notice the two different people:
Manoah - was asking questions and looks like he was filled with doubts. Gloom and despair
Manaoh’s wife – Filled with joy and walked with confidence that the LORD would do all He said He would do. Cheer and Hope.
I would suggest that these two personalities are still with us today.
Judges 13:22-23
Always looking for the lighting to strike
Or
Always looking for the sun to shine.
II. Samson’s Birth Judges 13:24-25
Samson= “like the sun”
24 “And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. 25And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.”
III. Samson’s Hard Lessons Judges 14:1-3
We understand what Paul was saying in 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
One might wonder where Paul would have learned this from???
Hard Lesson 1: Love at first sight can be dangerous.
A personality is not exhibited in the outward appearance; but is found in the heart.
Yet the Lord allowed this for His Glory. Judges 14:4
Judges 14:15
A wife was used to deceive Samson.
Judges 14:19-20 “And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house. 20 But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.”
When Samson burned their fields the men of the city burned Samson’s wife and her family. Judges 15:6
Hard Lesson 2: Going where He should not have gone.
Judges 16:1 “Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.”
Once again we hear from Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”
This can be one of the hardest lessons we learn because there is so much around us.
I am so grateful for God’s GRACE and His forgiveness when we fall.
Hard Lesson 3. When we do not learn from our failures we are destined to repeat them.
Judges 16:4-5 “And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.”
This time this lesson would cost Samson everything..
I think the hardest lesson of all is found in vs. 20 b. “And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.”
Judges 16:21 “But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.”
IV. God’s Grace Judges 16:21-22
In observation; we see that even though Samson was disobedient, it is the Lord who returned with GRACE.
Anybody need GRACE these days? I know I do!
V. Samson’s Prayer
Judges 16:28 “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.”
Remember me - remember thy lovingkindness, formerly expressed to me, the gracious promises made unto me, and the help and assistance I have had from thee:
Strengthen me - become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm,
His last request: Vs. 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.
Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines –
Conclusion:
A sad commentary for a man who was called before he was born to be a servant of the Most High!
Lessons?
1. One may be called but we are still in this world of temptations.
2. I am so grateful for forgiveness that God gives.
3. In life and death we are still a testimony for God!
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Do you know Jesus?
Have you fallen, like Samson?
Psalms 25:11 “For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.”
Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
“Amazing Grace” is a Christian hymn published in 1779 with words written in 1772 by John Newton.
With the message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of sins committed and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God, “Amazing Grace” is one of the most recognizable songs in the English-speaking world.
Surly Samson had an Amazing Grace experience, when God heard and answered his prayer.
Many a person have felt the humiliation, like Peter, when they had fallen and yet there is always a new morning when Jesus will come along side and offer forgiveness and restoration.
Jesus asked, “Do you love me? Feed my sheep”
