Samson: Enigmatical Lesson 7 Series

A. INTRODUCTION

1. Why does God allow persecution? To draw us to Himself. “The children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistine forty years” (13:1).

2. Forty years is wasted time.

a. Not for God’s preparation.

b. Everything outside God’s will is lost time.

3. Judges teaches us the cycle of sin.

1. Israel sinned

5. Israel had peace

2. Defeated by enemies

4. Delivered by Judge

3. Israel cried to the Lord

B. THE BIRTH OF SAMSON

1. A weak unlikely tribe “of the Danites” (13:2)

2. A Nazarite from birth (13:7), i.e., separated to God.

a. Can’t cut hair.

b. Can’t touch a dead body.

c. Can’t drink wine (fruit of the vine).

3. God’s call. “He shall begin to deliver Israel . . . Philistines” (13:5).

4. Samson’s weakness, the flesh, i.e., woman problem.

C. FIRST WOMAN – ENGAGED FOR MARRIAGE, JUDGES 13

1. Chose by sight. “She pleases me well” (14:3, 7).

2. God prohibited marrying heathen, separation.

3. Disobeyed parents.

4. Breaks two symbols.

a. Touches dead body. “Carcass of the lion” (14:8).

b. “Samson gave a feast there” (14:10). Word for drinking feast.

5. Burned wheat and vineyards (15:1-8). Out of sexual revenge.

6. Lost her. “The Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire” (15:6).

7. Pray for your protection from unperceived dangers.

“The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him” (14:6, 19; 15:4)

• Killed lion with bare hands

• Killed 30 men for clothes

• Killed lords, hip, and thigh (15:8)

• Killed 1000 with jawbone

• Destroyed temple and 3000

D. SECOND WOMAN, 16:1-3

1. Three sins:

a. The harlot was a Philistine – separation (16:1).

b. Adultery.

c. Stupidity, open self to danger.

2. An ambush planned (16:2-3).

3. Broke gates and post, carried them to Hebron.

4. Pray for protection against your stupidity.

E. THIRD WOMAN – DELIAH 16:4-21

1. Fleshly attraction. “Loved a woman” (14:4).

2. Delilah and lords knew Samson’s weakness. “And the lords . . . said to her, entice him” (14:5). Enemy knows your weaknesses.

3. Why? Her love of money and his love of sex.

4. First, bind me with green vines; second, bind me with new rope; third, bind my hair in loom.

5. Law of gradualism, slowly getting to his secret, slowly breaking down.

a. Resistance.

b. Self imposed road blocks.

c. Fear of danger.

6. Some are tantalized by sexual dangers.

7. Dangerous game these lovers play. She topped Samson’s deception with her own.

8. God loves symbols; strength was not in hair, but in God. Hair was a symbol of strength.

9. Are you breaking God’s symbols?

a. God’s house, i.e., attendance.

b. Tithe.

c. Baptism.

d. The Lord’s Table.

10. Samson was spiritually blinded before physical blindness. “Put out his eyes” (16:21).

Sin binds (v. 7, 11, 13)

Sin blinds (v. 21)

Sin grinds (v. 21)

F. SAMSON: THE ENIGMA

1. He lost God’s presence. “He wist not that the Lord was departed from him” (16:20).

2. He allowed the world to glory in the fall of God’s man. “When the people saw him (Samson) they praised their god” (v. 24).

3. He allowed world to make fun of fallen hero. “Call for Samson . . . he may make us sport” (v. 25).

4. His worst sin: self indulgent pleasure that violated God’s work.

5. His worst pain: self inflicted punishment that glorified the enemy.

6. His worst weakness: self deceptive ignorance that leads away from his calling.

7. His greatest strength: not his physical power, but his faith in God in an age of national doubt and apostasy. “What more shall I say? Time would fail me to tell of . . . Samson . . . having obtained a good report through faith” (Heb. 11:32, 39).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.