OPEN: My wife and I have always enjoyed doing jig saw puzzles. We’ll put them out on a folding table and work on it for days, enjoying the experience as we successfully put in piece after piece. I recently ran across another person’s experience with a jig saw puzzle. She wrote: "After toiling over a 1000 piece puzzle, I was unable to finish it because there was one piece missing. I returned the box to the store and explained why.
The clerk was obviously not a puzzle aficionado. As she refunded my money, she asked pleasantly, ’How far did you get before you realized that there was a piece missing?’"
APPLY: When do you realize a piece is missing from a jig saw puzzle? (when the puzzle’s almost done). You’ve spent all that time working on the puzzle, but it isn’t until “too late” that you notice that a piece is gone.
Samson was a man who had lost something as well. And he didn’t notice it was missing until it was too late. His strength had been taken from him and he faced bondage and blindness because it was now gone.
How did Samson lose his strength? How was this part of his life that was so special to him taken from him? (pause)
I. Delilah asks Samson an interesting question: What’s the source of your strength?
Actually her question wasn’t an attempt to discover the source of his strength, but to find out where his weakness lay.
"So Delilah said to Samson, ’Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.’" (Judges 16:6)
In her backhanded way this girl was asking Samson "what would makes you weak?"
She’s asking Samson, "where’s the Kryptonite? Where’s the magic stone, the poisonous element that can bring you to your knees? What the source of your weakness, Samson?"
What was it that caused Samson’s weakness? Was it when he lost his hair? Well, yeah, partly.
REREAD: vs. 15-19
Samson’s hair was the symbol of a very special vow… a Nazirite vow. His hair was the sign of his visible commitment to God. As soon as it was cut he was done. It was over. He was weak as weak as a child. BUT his loss of his hair was only part of what made him weak and robbed him of his strength.
II. Think about this: Was Samson’s hair really the source of his strength?
I mean did God really need for Samson to have a full head of hair to give him strength? If Samson had been bald… would it have made any real difference to God? No.
We’re told in Judges 16:20 "He 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."
You see Samson wasn’t weak because his hair had been cut. He was weak because "the LORD had left him."
His strength came from God. His weakness came from losing touch with God. So, you could say Samson didn’t become weak because he’d lost his hair… he lost his strength because of “something else.”
III. So, if Samson’s hair wasn’t really the source of his weakness – what was?
Was it his sexual immorality? Well… yeah, that was part of it.
As Chapter 16 opens, we find Samson going into a prostitute. Should a man of God be visiting the house of prostitute? (get a strong response on this).
That’s right, a man of God has no business going to visit a prostitute. But that’s what Samson did.
And just a few verses later, he’s in bedroom of another woman. A Philistine temptress called Delilah
ILLUS: One commentator noted: “Samson was captivated by Delilah’s beauty and by lust."
Day by day he lost control - until finally, he lost all of his strength. He realized too late that he could not set himself free. He realized too late, that the one vital piece of his life was missing.
And that’s what the Bible tells us will happen when it comes to sexual sin. We lose part of ourselves when we engage in such immorality.
Solomon writes his sons: "My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.
For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.
Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say. Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel, lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man’s house. At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent." (Prov. 5:1-11)
Sexual sin doesn’t just wipe out giants like Samson… it can destroy our strength as well. Whether it’s watching R rated videos or looking sexy magazines or suggestive TV programs, exposing ourselves to internet pornography OR just – checking the girls out.
ILLUS: I visited the mall the other day (this elicited much laughter. They seemed to guess where I was going on this one). In the mall there were many young ladies dressed very provocatively, and I have to admit I had to control myself so I didn’t look them over myself. But there was a young man there who watched a particularly attractive girl go by and he went like this (I acted this out elaborately). He was checking her out.
Job said: "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl." (Job 31:1)
That man in the mall was looking "lustfully" on that woman. But Christians ought not to.
Many men dally with their own Delilah’s. And they face the risk of losing their spiritual strength. Often times, men convince themselves that these things don’t hurt them… they can handle it… they’re just being guys. But they are wrong.
Paul wrote: "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body." (1 Corinthians 6:18)
Now, what does that mean? It means that when we sin sexually it’s like having cancer. Sexual sin eats away at the very essence of our being, the moral fiber of our lives. On outside we might look healthy, but inside we’re diseased and weakened - easy targets for Satan, and primed for destruction.
How serious is sexual sin for us? With all other sins, the Bible tells us how to substitute a Godly trait for the sin, but not so with sex. Every time the Bible talks about sexual temptation Scriptures tell us to:
> flee
> keep your path far from it
> don’t go near its door
> don’t look back
> don’t desire its “beauty” with your eyes
Why? BECAUSE, there’s no other way to deal with sexual temptation.
ILLUS: I read once of an older gentleman who was asked by a younger man - if his age kept him from being tempted sexually. The old man replied that the only time he’d feel safe from temptation was when he was 6 foot under.
So, was Samson’s weakness caused by his sexual sins? Yeah… but not entirely. Notice in Judges 16:1-3. (read it)
Samson had gone into a Prostitute – he had sinned sexually - but he could still tear out a city gate and carry it about 40 miles away. He sinned sexually, but he still had his strength.
It’s also worth noting that when Samson performed this great feat of strength it DOES NOT SAY that the Spirit of the Lord had come upon him. Every other time Samson displayed his might, the Bible tells us "the Spirit of the LORD came upon him," but not this time. God’s Spirit could not partake in Samson’s sin at Gaza.
Still, he had strength even after he had gone into the prostitute. Obviously, Samson’s ultimate weakness was in something else.
IV. So, if Samson’s weakness didn’t lie entirely in hair, or in his sexual sin... where did it lie?
What was it that destroyed the strongest man in history? What was his kryptonite?
(pause)
It was in his pride.
It was Samson’s pride in his physical power to whip just about anyone that challenged him…
It was his pride in his position as a leader in Hebrew society
It was his pride in his abilities and prowess that led him to believe he could get away with whatever he wanted to do.
It was his pride
· that led him to believe it was alright to visit a prostitute
· that led him to believe he could maintain an
unGodly relationship with a Philistine woman named Delilah
· that kept him in Delilah’s bedroom night after night even as she was plotting to betray him
You see, Samson’s physical strength became the source of his weakness. His power became the source of his pride. He’d never lost a fight. No one could defeat him. He was a man of power and prestige.
Other men of power and prestige have suffered the same problem:
Nixon said: "If the president does it, it can’t be illegal."
Clinton’s preacher declared: "Sexual immorality doesn’t automatically render a leader immoral"
A California congressman named Condit told Connie Chung: "Sure I make mistakes, but essentially I’m a moral man"
Samson figured:
(like Nixon) If I do it – it can’t be illegal
(like Clinton) Sexual immorality doesn’t automatically render a leader immoral
(like Condit) Sure I make mistakes, but essentially I’m a moral man
It was his pride, based on his belief in his own strength, that brought him down. It was his pride that told him: “I can get away with it!!!"
Proverbs 16:18 tells us: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
God warns us: “Let him who thinks he stands (strong) take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12).
V. It’s our pride, that can lead us look to ourselves when we need strength.
It’s our pride that makes us lean on our own understanding when faced with temptation
It’s our pride that can make us look anywhere but to God when we have to make decisions.
And it’s that pride that can lead us into bondage and pain in our lives. Just as Samson’s pride led him into bondage and pain
God’s ways, and God’s wisdom don’t always look sensible to those in this world that are proud.
ILLUS: A preacher once wrote about an incident in his life: “I’d received a notice from my 13 year old son’s school announcing a meeting to preview the new course in sexuality. Parents could examine the curriculum and take part in an actual lesson presented exactly as it would be given to the students. When I arrived at school, I thumbed through page after page of instructions in the prevention of pregnancy or disease.
I found abstinence mentioned only in passing. When the teacher arrived with the school nurse, she asked if there were any questions. I asked why abstinence did not play a noticeable part in the material.
What happened next was shocking. There was a great deal of laughter, and someone suggested that if I thought abstinence had any merit, I should go back to burying my head in the sand.
The teacher explained to me the job of the school was to teach “facts,” and the home was responsible for moral teaching. I sat in embarrassed silence for the next 20 minutes as the course was explained. The other parents seemed to give their unqualified support for the materials.
“Donuts, at the back,” announced the teacher during the break. “I’d like you to put on the name tags we have prepared – they’re right by the donuts – and mingle with the other parents.”
Everyone moved to back of the room. As I watched them putting on their name tags and shaking hands, I sat deep in thought. I was ashamed that I had not been able to convince them to include a serious discussion of abstinence in materials. I uttered a silent prayer for guidance.
My thoughts were interrupted by the teacher’s hand on my shoulder. “Won’t you go and join the others, Mr. Layton?”
The nurse smiled and sweetly said: “The donuts are good.”
“Thank you, no,” I replied.
“Well, then, how about a name tag? I’m sure the others would like to meet you.”
“Somehow I doubt that,” I replied.
“Won’t you please join them?” she coaxed.
Then I heard a still, small voice whisper, “Don’t go.” The instruction was unmistakable. “Don’t go!”
“I’ll just wait here,” I said.
When the class was called back to order, the teacher looked around the long table and thanked everyone for putting on name tags. “Now we’re going to give you the same lesson we’ll be giving your children. Everyone please peel off your name tags.”
I watched in silence as the name tags came off. “Now, then, on the back of one of the tags, I drew a tiny flower. Who has it, please?"
The gentleman across from me held it up. “Here it is!”
“All right,” she said. “The flower represents disease. Do you recall who you shook hands with?”
He pointed to a couple of people.
“Very good,” she replied. “The handshake in this case represents intimacy. So the two people you had contact with now have the disease.”
There was laughter and joking among the parents. The teacher continued, “And whom did the two of you shake hands with?”
The point was well taken… and she explained how this lesson would show students how quickly disease is spread.
“Since we all shook hands, we all have the disease.”
It was then (the preacher wrote) that I heard the still, small voice again. “Speak now,” it said “but be humble.”
He said: “I apologize for any upset I might have caused earlier, and I want to congratulate the teacher on an excellent lesson that I’m sure will impress the youth with the terrible consequences of sexual promiscuity. However, I have only one small point I wish to make. Not all of us were infected…. One of us (pause) abstained.”
CLOSE:
The story of Samson was a story of a man who (out of pride and arrogance) chose not to abstain.
And in the end, Samson suffered for his pride.
What’s interesting about Samson’s story is – that in spite of his colossal failure. In spite of his walking away from God in his life. In spite of his sexual immorality.
When he repented, God restored his strength.
And in his final moments, the Bible tells us: “…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." (Judges 16:30)
As it says in 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
I want to close with this story of a hero of our day who suffered much as Samson had in his. Years ago there was a man named Earvin Johnson. We know him as Magic Johnson. He was one of the greatest basketball stars of his day and yet in 1991 the world was shocked by the disclosure that "Magic" had HIV.
It was a terrible moment for this sports legend. Other players wouldn’t take the court with him. A doctor made news when he treated Johnson for a cut "without using gloves." The situation was making a circus sideshow out of his disease and detracting from the game. Magic Johnson hung up his shoes and walked away from the game that had made him a star.
In an interview on Face To Face With Connie Chung he said: “I lived the bachelor’s life & I’m paying for it….” But then he went on to say: “I agree with those who say my life-style was morally wrong, I’m not trying to deny it. I’m trying to battle for my life and the only thing I can ask for is forgiveness... It was my fault. Morally, I was wrong sleeping with a lot of women. I wish it hadn’t happened, but it did. All I can do is ask God’s forgiveness and leave it in His hands. All I can do is pray a lot.”
Just like Samson in his day, Johnson suffered bondage and pain because of his sinfulness, and just like Samson, he repented.
What has God done with Magic Johnson? Eleven years later, Magic is not only still alive, he’s 42 yrs. old, married and has two kids. Every day he works out from 7am till 1 pm, lifting weights, running sprints, playing basketball scrimmages with others in the gym.
Johnson runs a financial empire worth $500 million But he does something special with his fortune: he invests in inner city businesses, trying to help other black families attain the success that he now enjoys.
Reflecting on his disease he said he was sad that the circumstances by which he got it will be part of his legacy… but he believes he was chosen to get the disease because "God needed someone, and he picked me."
SERMONS IN THIS SERIES:
Visitor From A Strange Planet = Judges 13:1-13:25
The Man From Smallville = Judges 14:1-15:2
The Superman and his Kryptonite = Judges 16:1-16:31
