Title: The Dichotomy Of A Drifting Samson (Saint)! - Part 2 Series

Text: Hebrews 11:32-34; Judges 14

Title: The Dichotomy of a Drifting Samson (Saint)! - Part 2

Proposition: Although Samson was predestined to be a deliverer of Israel, his life decisions caused him to drift away from the determined purpose and plan of God, into personal destruction. We will be doing a dichotomy = a step by step examination of how a saint drifts away from God!

G) Preventative?

I read something that was very helpful….I would like to share with you.

Forerunner Commentary - Worldliness has been described as the love of beauty without a corresponding love of righteousness. This comes right out of the “original sin” story that is told in Genesis 3:6.

Forerunner Commentary -Eve saw that the fruit was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and something to be desired. These references concern the appeal of beauty. Unfortunately, as the record clearly shows, Adam and Eve did not love righteousness.

Forerunner Commentary - The love of beauty and the pulls of temptation are inextricably entwined. People do not ordinarily desire ugly things. We have been made by Almighty God to love beauty … the problem is that we do not have a corresponding love of righteousness.

Forerunner Commentary - Like Adam and Eve, we may break the laws of God in order to have what we consider beautiful. Sometimes people commit vicious evils to have what they find appealing and beautiful at the time.

Forerunner Commentary - The result of having a love of beauty without a corresponding love of righteousness? Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, the most beautiful spot on earth… This is a seriously simple, and powerful lesson!

Ok, now that we will look at something amazing….

III. Samuel’s Commentary!

On what we read thus far, it is captured in one verse! What does Samuel have to do with it?

A) Samuel?

1. Most scholars agree that Samuel is the author of the book of Judges.

2. He gives a one verse commentary (verse 4) on what we have read thus far.

3. This is the reason why it is in parenthesis, it is an insertion.

Judges 14:4 (His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.)

a) Point?

b) Perspective!

i. God’s Sovereignty!

Bruce Hurst -We clearly see the mystery of God's sovereign purpose being worked out even in the midst of man's waywardness. Human freedom, including our poor sinful choices does not undermine or derail the sovereign workings of God.

Bruce Hurst -This is not implying that God condoned Samson's rebellion. He is saying that God was going to overrule in this situation for a good purpose. God never condoned the sins of this young man.

Warren Wiersbe - "When God isn’t permitted to rule in our lives, He overrules and works out His will in spite of our decisions. Of course, we’re the losers for rebelling against Him.

c) Proof?

i. Scriptural:

Ephesians 1:11b who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will -KJV

Romans 8:28 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose -NIV

i. Yes, but Samson wasn’t showing much love for God?

Romans 8:28 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose. -ASV

ii. God’s plan and purpose for Samson’s life, whether he loved Him or not, was to confront the Philistines!

iii. God was going to fulfill that purpose thru his life even by sovereignly weaving together the mishaps and missteps of Samson to accomplish his will!

Romans 9: 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”-NIV

Adrian Rogers - In the chemistry of God, He takes things that, in and of themselves, are bad, and He puts them together, much as a chemist might take chemicals that, in and of themselves, may be deleterious and mixes them to make a medicine that brings healing.

Adrian Rogers – Take table salt as an example. It is made up of both sodium and chloride. By itself, sodium is a deadly poison, and so is chloride. Put them together, and you have table salt. Salt flavors food, and a certain amount of salt is necessary for health and life. We cannot live without some salt in our systems.

Adrian Rogers - God can take things that are bad and put them in the crucible of His wisdom and love. He works all things together for good, and He gives us the glorious, wonderful promise that He will do so.