Samson: Deliverer In Need Of Deliverance Series

Samson -- Deliverer in Need of Deliverance

Judges 13

8/30/09

INTRODUCTION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snufwP5SO-Y&NR=1

He-Man is a heroic fictional character in the Masters of the Universe franchise. He is the alter ego of Prince Adam and also the twin brother of She-Ra. He-Man and his friends defend Eternia and the secrets of Castle Grayskull from the evil forces of Skeletor.

It is my belief that for many children when they hear the stories of Samson in the Bible he appears to be the Christian version of He-man, the strong, valiant, hero, who delivers the Tribes of Israel from the Philistines.

Perhaps we have false portrayed him this way, because his life seems to be such an enigma. There are many fallen heroes encountered from Genesis to Revelation, but none looms greater than Samson.

He was ’a He-man with a she-weakness’ --

Powerful and feared by men, Samson was weak and controlled by women.

He could thousands of men, let betray his greatest secrets to women.

He was empowered by the Spirit of God, yet he yielded his body to the appetites of the flesh.

Samson is a Picture of a Deliverer in Need of Deliverance.

He is a picture of someone who accomplishes much in the kingdom yet personally fails.

IN GOD’S DELIVERANCE STORY, OUR HERITAGE AND OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS NEVER EXCUSE PERSONAL COMPROMISE.

I. Cultural Back Ground

The Philistines were great in military

strength of their day. They controlled the secrets of smelting iron.

Bronze was previously used to make tools because its melting point is lower than that of iron. The Iron Age began with the development of higher temperature smelting techniques. During the Iron Age, the best tools and weapons were made from steel, an alloy consisting of iron with a carbon content between 0.02% and 1.7% by weight. Steel weapons and tools were nearly the same weight as those of bronze, but stronger. However, steel was difficult to produce with the methods available. Therefore, many Iron Age tools were fashioned of wrought iron.

They subdue Israel with different weapons.

* Trade

* Intermarriage

* Business and Pleasure

If the Israelites wanted an axe or a plough, they had to go to the Philistines to get it, they had to go to their oppressors.

1 Samuel 13.

If they wanted to marry the sons or the daughters of the Philistines, the Philistines had no objection to them doing it, indeed they encouraged it because in it they saw that they were getting a stranglehold over God’s people.

II. We can fail in God’s deliverance story despite a promising start:

Judg 13

A. Child of Promise

Judg 13:2-7

2 A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was sterile and remained childless. 3 The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, "You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son. 4 Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, 5 because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines."

6 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. I didn’t ask him where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name. 7 But he said to me, ’You will conceive and give birth to 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 birth until the day of his death.’"

NIV

This news would have reminded Samson’s parents of the story of the Isaac the Patriarch. They understood that as a child of promise, he had incredible purpose and potential in what God would do in the Land.

B. Incredible parents:

Understanding the significance that they will bear a child of promise, Manoah and his wife become ideal parents for their son. Listen to what they were like as parents.

1. prayed for him

8 Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: "O Lord, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born."

2. they sought divine guidance for their child.

8 Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: "O Lord, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born."