THE TEMPLE OF DOOM
Judges 16:18-30
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. Two men who lived in a small village got into a terrible dispute that they could not resolve. So they decided to talk to the town sage. The first man went to the sage’s home and told his version of what happened. When he finished, the sage said, "You’re absolutely right."
2. The next night, the second man called on the sage and told his side of the story. The sage responded, "You’re absolutely right."
3. Afterward, the sage’s wife scolded her husband. "Those men told you two different stories and you told them they were absolutely right. That’s impossible—they can’t both be absolutely right." The sage turned to his wife and said, "You’re absolutely right."
4. LESSON: Some people really like to avoid a conflict. It’s not always possible.
B. TEMPLES OF DOOM
1. THE MOVIE. Set in 1935, professor, archaeologist, and legendary hero Indiana Jones was back in action in his second adventure, Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom. After fleeing from Chinese gangsters, Indy and his sidekicks crash-land their plane in India and enter a small distressed village. There a village elder tells them of the theft of three stones of magic power and the disappearance of the village’s children – all taken to a gigantic mountaintop palace. Under the palace Indy finds a vast underground system of caverns that lead to an ancient terrorist cult long thought dead, whose center is The Temple of Doom! A great showdown ensues where Indy and his friends are involved in a shootout, a runaway mine car, the collapse of an underground dam, and at a rope bridge that threatens to kill Indy, his friends, and the cult. Indy ultimately rescues the lost children, wins the girl, and conquers the Temple of Doom.
2. THE REAL TEMPLE OF DOOM IN THE BIBLE. There’s a Temple of Doom in the Bible that’s not the creation of Hollywood or myth, but history. This actual story, unlike the movie, is tragic because it tells of both victory and defeat.
3. And this Biblical Temple of Doom has reference to our own lives as it represents the bitter struggle between the flesh and the spirit. The death of the carnal “self” in Samson & us means the genesis of the spiritual, self-sacrificing life that is pleasing to God. Let’s look at the Book of Judges and be reminded of the story.
C. TEXT
18 When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines….20He [Samson] awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him. 21 Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison. 22 But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved. 23 Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god…saying, "Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands." 25 While they were in high spirits, they shouted, "Bring out Samson to entertain us." So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. When they stood him among the pillars, 26 Samson said to the servant who held his hand, "Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them." 27 Now the temple was crowded…all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women….28 Then Samson prayed to the LORD, "O Sovereign LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes." 29 Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars….Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, 30 Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.
D. TITLE & THESIS:
WE REFER TO THIS PLACE AS “THE TEMPLE OF DOOM” BECAUSE IT’S WHERE…
I. WHERE DOOM CAME ON SAMSON
A. SAMSON STARTED OFF GOOD
1. Samson was a CHILD OF PROMISE; promised from God in answer to prayers prayed by the Israelites for deliverance from the Philistines, who had oppressed them 30 years.
2. Samson was a MIRACLE CHILD, because his parents were way past child-bearing age, and his mother was barren.
3. Samson was CONSECRATED AS A NAZARITE, by special covenant and was announced as a Israel’s Deliverer before he was born.
4. Even in his youth THE SPIRIT BEGAN TO STIR HIM (13:25). He was not strong naturally; his strength was a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
5. On at least four occasions, HE AFFLICTED THE ENEMIES OF GOD, the Philistines. [He killed 30 (14:19); burned fields w 300 foxes(15:5); slayed 1,000(15:14); carried off the gates of Gaza(16:3)]. His “calling” was to deliver Israel from the Philistines.
B. SAMSON CHOSE THE LIFE OF SIN
1. In spite of the fact that he was born to godly parents, set apart from birth as a Nazarite, and specially gifted by the Spirit, he never conquered his tendency toward lust; it conquered him.
2. "Samson was a He-man, with a She-weakness." His first recorded words were, "I saw a woman...." Samson was attracted to the opposite sex strictly on the basis of appearance; "get her for me, she looks good to me."
C. THE DOOM OF SAMSON BEGINS
1. Because Samson did "what was right in his own eyes" and followed the lust of his eyes, the Philistines gouged out his eyes. He visited a prostitute in Gaza and became a prisoner in Gaza.
2. The price of sin is always binding, blinding, and grinding. His sin boomeranged back on him. Galatians 6:7 says “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” In the agricultural world there can be a long time between sowing and reaping, but there is never a time of NO REAPING if there has been sowing.
3. When Samson started playing with sin, he never thought he would end up with his eyes gouged out. When we puffed on our first cigarette, we never dreamed of the bondage it would bring. Same with the alcoholic – her first beer seemed so innocent, but as Proverbs says, “In the end it will bite like a snake…”
4. Remember, it costs to serve the Lord! When the guys try to get you to snort coke, say “NO!” Girls, when some boy tells you that you have to sacrifice your virtue to prove you love him, slap his face and say “NO!” If you play with fire you’ll get burned; sin too.
5. Samson was cold and didn’t care; he was complacent; he tolerated sin – he was like a lot of church people today who may find themselves in their own Temple of Doom!
II. WHERE DOOM CAME ON THE PHILISTINES
A. SAMSON TURNED BACK TO GOD
1. Verse 22 says "The hair of his head began growing again." This is hope for the backslider! Samson had felt God would never use him again; that God had written him off, but we’re never beyond the possibility of God's forgiveness. Very little opportunity was left for Samson to do something for God, but God doesn’t need much to do a lot!
2. God didn't restore his eyesight. We often have to bear the results of our sins. You can be forgiven, but the results will not be undone. Interestingly, it doesn’t say Samson was aware his hair was growing. Many times in our lives, God is moving and we don’t even realize it!
3. Samson's strength began to grow with his hair, but it wasn't the product of a moment. It took time to redevelop fellowship with God. Old habits had to be altered; his heart had to be purified. Two times Samson prayed; the first was after the battle of Jawbone Hill, the second was between the two pillars.
4. When Samson stood between the pillars, he used three different names for God, that demonstrated his dependence upon God and not of himself. “My Lord, Yahweh, God.” He prayed this prayer in the presence of his enemies.
5. What he asked for, if given, would cost him his own life; to trade Death for victory. This is the only time we read of Samson praying BEFORE he used his strength. This time he asked. Something had changed in Samson. While in the prison, his heart had returned to God.
B. DOOM UPON THE PHILISTINES
1. The Temple of Dagon became the Temple of Doom for the Philistines. Verse 27 says, “Now the temple was crowded…all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women…” The Philistines were idolaters and cruel oppressors of God’s people. Their judgment had come.
2. Samson’s anointing and calling were now renewed. Lesson: “It’s never too late to get in the fight for the Kingdom of God!” Samson pushed with all his might and killed more Philistines in his death than he had in his life. He went out in style, with a grand slam! If he’d had his sight, they would never have let him near those pillars, but God used even his weakness for His glory!
III. THE REAL TEMPLE OF DOOM
A. THE PLACE & DELIVERER
1. Samson’s Temple of Doom was only a type and shadow of the greater Temple of Doom, where the destinies of all the people who ever lived were decided. In that Temple, another like Samson laid down His life, and by that pulled down the roof on all the hosts of Hell. Who is this great Deliverer? The Lord Jesus Christ!
2. This Jesus was accompanied by a supernatural birth far superior to Samson’s, Jesus being “God manifest in the flesh,” born of a Virgin. Jesus’ life was attended by feats of strength unequalled by Samson: Samson only had physical strength, while Jesus had spiritual strength!
3. Jesus exercised power over the winds and waves; He could multiply food to feed thousands; He opened blind eyes and deaf ears and healed EVERY sickness and disease known to man.
4. This Jesus led a sinless life, and as God, forgave other people their sins. He had power over the spiritual world, commanding evil spirits to come out and they obeyed Him. The devil might be strong, but Jesus was the “Stronger-One” than he (Lk. 11:21-22).
5. Jesus overcame the greatest temptation in History, was beaten worse than anyone (Isa. 52:14-15) and died on the Cross, taking on Himself the weight of all the sins ever committed. Samson’s name means “Little Sun,” but Jesus is called “the Sun of Righteousness” shining in all His brilliance!
B. THE ETERNAL TEMPLE OF DOOM
1. When Jesus died, Death came to claim its greatest prize -- the Son of God. Peter twice stated that Jesus went to Hell; [“He [David] seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption” (Ps. 16:8-11; Acts 2:27). “Because You will not leave my soul in hell, neither will You suffer Your Holy One to see corruption” Acts 2:31. See also 1 Peter 3:19-20.]
2. Why did Jesus submit to death? To defeat it! Heb. 2:14 says; “he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil…” But Acts 2:24 says, “…it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”
3. How could He stay dead:
a. Who is the Source and Generator of all life?
b. Who’s name is the "Author of Life"(Acts 3:15)?
c. Who said, "I AM the Resurrection and the Life, he who believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (Jn. 11:25)?
d. Who is declared in Hebrews 7:16 to have "the power of an indestructible life"?
4. THE CHAMPION “PREVAILED.” At that moment God exerted His mighty strength (Eph. 1:20) in Christ and Jesus became a Quickening (life-giving) Spirit. Unlimited power and light infused him. Like David defeating Goliath, Christ was filled with infinite power and broke the chains of death and overthrew the power of hell, mortally wounding the Prince of Darkness. DON’T YOU KNOW THE DEVIL GOT A SURPRISE! 1 Cor. 15:54 says, "Death is swallowed up of Life…"
5. The Apostle John testified in the Book of Revelation 1:17-18, “…he [Jesus] placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Glory to God! Samson overthrew his thousands, but Jesus His millions!
C. THE COMPLETENESS OF CHRIST’S VICTORY
1. One of the worst humiliations Samson ever gave the Philistines was when he carried away the Gates of Gaza. It was a common benediction in the Old Testament, "May your descendants possess the Gates of their enemies" (Genesis 22:17; 24:60). In the Near East, victorious Princes frequently, literally carried away the Gates of conquered cities, leaving them open to any who would plunder them.
2. Samson carried the Gates from the chief city of the enemy to the chief city of the conqueror (in that region). What Samson did in the physical, the Lord Jesus did in the spiritual. Ancient church commentators spoke of the Gates of Gaza as a type of the Gates of hell destroyed by Christ. That's why Jesus declared, "I will build my Church and the Gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Jesus ripped the gates of Hell off their hinges and carried them away, so that we could plunder hell any time God deemed it necessary; Jesus said, “I beheld Satan fall as lightning from heaven and behold, I give you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the Enemy and nothing shall by any means harm you” Lk. 10:19. Glory to God!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. WHEN GOD IS IGNORED. The Jewish rabbis had an interesting tradition concerning the withdrawal of God's glory from the Temple. There was a time when the Shekinah, the holy flame and the cloud, having waited for His people to return to their God, departed from the Holy of Holies and moved over to the Mount of Olives, where it waited for three days to see if they would repent. Afterward it departed completely. When such a thing had happened, all the outer observances no longer had any meaning. A poet has written this about it; "How dark the shrine when the Light has gone! How cold the altar when the flame is quenched. How desolate and alone is my soul, when God is but a name!" Daniel Heitmeyer.
2. HOW TO GET FIRE. Dr. John Robertson tells of a Scotch Village where, years ago, all the hearth fires had gone out. This was before the days of matches. The only way to rekindle the fires was to find some hearth where the fire was yet aglow. The search was fruitless until at last they found the flaming hearth away on a Hill. One by one, they came to this hearth and lighted their peat, put it carefully in a pan, shielding it from the wind, and the fires were set in burning again throughout the community. It is a revival we all need and want. God has plenty of fire on the Hill of God. Climb up into His presence through the path of surrender.
B. ALTAR CALL
1. Have you, like Samson, lost your vision? Has your spiritual strength been cut away from you? Do you feel weak? God’s here to restore you!
2. Are you tired of letting the devil trouble you and your family? Are you ready to get back in the battle for the Kingdom of God and make the enemy pay for what he’s done?
3. Do you feel unworthy for God to use you? Do you feel like you need forgiveness for a sinful lifestyle? God still forgives if we repent.
4. LET YOUR HOPE BE RENEWED! YOUR HAIR IS GROWING AGAIN! WHAT YOU COULDN’T DO BEFORE IN YOURSELF, YOU CAN DO IN GOD’S STRENGTH NOW!
5. LET GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT GIVE YOU A NEW INFUSION OF POWER TODAY! IT’S TIME FOR THE CHURCH TO RISE UP AND BEAT BACK THE ENEMY!
