Personalities in God's Amazing Plan (3)

Samson

Background

Climate

Judges 13:1 “1 Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.”

A picture of the conditions:

Post the death of Joshua. Periods of the Judges

The Lord Builds Family in Marginal Climates

Judges 2:11-18 “11 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; 12 and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. 13 They forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 14 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. 15 Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed. 16 Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with ot…”

-The group God used to bring havoc on the people of Israel were the Philistines. 40 years.

-we see a macro and a micro snapshot. Think about a camera with a wide angle lens and then a shot with a closeup.

When we see that in the Bible, the reason it is so important is God is the God of the Universe, but he is also the God of you specifically. He is a tune to the affairs of your life.

V. 2-certain Man, from Zorah, named Manoah, of the family of the Danites. Wife barren, no children.

v. 3-an angel-bear a son

vv.4-5 Nazarite vow

Individuals who took a vow of consecration to God.

The Nazirite Vow in the Old Testament

The Hebrew term for “Nazirite” comes from the Hebrew word meaning “to separate” (נזר, nzr). Numbers 6 presents the distinguishing features of the vow as:

• abstaining from anything related to grapes and/or alcohol

• refraining from cutting one’s hair

• avoiding dead people (even family members)

Deuteronomy thru Ruth The Nazirite and the Promise (13:2–7)

The Nazirite’s holiness is connected to long hair (Numbers 6:5). A man or a woman who takes a Nazirite vow represents the whole nation to God as a bride, one set apart and devoted to her husband. The long hair is a crown, and at the end of the time of the vow, the Nazirite cuts his long hair and offers it up as a sacrifice to God, much as we will take our crowns and cast them before the Lord in heaven

The text goes on to detail the steps for being released from the vow: After bringing multiple prescribed offerings, the Nazirite would shave his or her head at the entrance to the tent of meeting and burn the hair. The priest would then offer the waive offering, and the Nazirite would be released from his or her vow.

Two well-known Old Testament characters were likely Nazirites:

Samson is specifically called a Nazirite (Judg 13:7)

v. 8 Manoah praying-carrying parents

V. 9 God listens to our prayers. If you desire more or want more that serves Him, He will provide.

God desires good parents.

V. 12-God can help you determine a rule of life & work

V. 14 Family must get behind a movement of God in the family. Families must get behind the rearing and influence.

God Works His Will In Reckless Circumstances

Deuteronomy thru Ruth Getting Your Offerings Straight (13:15–16)

There is a clear contrast in this scene to Gideon in Judges 6. Gideon’s offering (a peace offering of sorts) was accepted. But God refuses Manoah’s (and thus, Israel’s) offer of a meal.

Communion, the peace-meal with God, could not occur because in Manoah’s day, the people had not cried out to the Lord; there was no peace with God and mankind (13:1). First, an olah—a whole burnt offering, an ascension offering—must be made. The writer parenthetically tells us that Manoah is not confused regarding the order of offerings (as we might be). Rather, it is only because he does not yet know that this is the angel of the Lord that he wrongly offers to sit and eat in peace with this man.

vv. 15-16 God will accept our reaching out before the ideal. We first reach out and then He brings the ideal.

V.18-God’s name is Wonderful

VV. 19-22 God’s Presence will be made known

VV. 23-25 The boy was born named Samson, he grew and the spirit of God grew with in him.

Chapter 14

Samson desires a Philistine Wife

Location :Timnah-daughter of the Philistines

I believe on of the big themes of Samson in Judges is the fact that things are not always as they appear.

Judges 14:2 “2 So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.””

When the parents are not for the marriage, usually that should tell us something.

1 Samuel 16:7 “7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.””

Judges 14:3 v “3 Then his father and mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.””

Listen, parents usually have our best interest at heart. Listen to your parents.

Judges 14:4 “4 But his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord—that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.”

V. 4 When we do not understand why someone made the decision they made, there are times we must love and trust that God is in control and he knows what he is doing.

Theme of the story of Samson. And the story is bipolar at both ends. Something can be very strong and vicious and appear so sweet.

Judges 14:5-9 “5 So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Now to his surprise, a young lion came roaring against him. 6 And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. 7 Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. 8 After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion. 9 He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion.”

vv. 12-19

Deception, Lies & Divided Loyalties is Dangerous Ground

God is using Samson as His puppet to accomplish His will for Israel ultimately.

“eye for an Eye, tooth for a tooth-OT period”

When we play that game it can always for the immediate parties-lose-lose.

Judges 14:20 “20 And Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.”

Is there a downhill spiral in choices? Certainly. Was there collateral damage? Certainly. Can God still accomplish His will along the journey?

Why do you think this is important? We do not lose hope. We do not quit. Folks,its not over until its over.

Psalms 55:12-13 “12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him. 13 But it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance.”

We think the world is what brings down our walk in God. Usually they are not close enough to have the same affect as one in your ranks. Satan hits where it hurts.

That is why you so desperately need an inner circle. And a person deso not need to be in that inner circle that can’t be trusted.

Vengence, Vindictiveness, and the Velocity of the Demise

Judges 15:1-6 “1 After a while, in the time of wheat harvest, it happened that Samson visited his wife with a young goat. And he said, “Let me go in to my wife, into her room.” But her father would not permit him to go in. 2 Her father said, “I really thought that you thoroughly hated her; therefore I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister better than she? Please, take her instead.” 3 And Samson said to them, “This time I shall be blameless regarding the Philistines if I harm them!” 4 Then Samson went and caught three hundred foxes; and he took torches, turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails. 5 When he had set the torches on fire, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain, as well as the vineyards and olive groves. 6 Then the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” And they answered, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his compa…” Judges 15:7 “7 Samson said to them, “Since you would do a thing like this, I will surely take revenge on you, and after that I will cease.””

God’s Refreshment in times of Riotous Living

Judges 15:18-20 “18 Then he became very thirsty; so he cried out to the Lord and said, “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of Your servant; and now shall I die of thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?” 19 So God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out, and he drank; and his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore he called its name En Hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day. 20 And he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines.”

John 19:28 “28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!””

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—”

Judges 16 NKJV

1 Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her. 2 When the Gazites were told, “Samson has come here!” they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. They were quiet all night, saying, “In the morning, when it is daylight, we will kill him.” 3 And Samson lay low till midnight; then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. 4 Afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and every one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.” 6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and with what you may be bound to afflict you.” 7 And Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings, not yet dried, then I shall become weak, and be like any other man.” 8 So the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings, not yet dried, and she bound him with them. 9 Now men were lying in wait, staying with her in the room. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he broke the bowstrings as a strand of yarn breaks when it touches fire. So the secret of his strength was not known. 10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Look, you have mocked me and told me lies. Now, please tell me what you may be bound with.” 11 So he said to her, “If they bind me securely with new ropes that have never been used, then I shall become weak, and be like any other man.” 12 Therefore Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them, and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And men were lying in wait, staying in the room. But he broke them off his arms like a thread. 13 Delilah said to Samson, “Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me what you may be bound with.” And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head into the web of the loom”— 14 So she wove it tightly with the batten of the loom, and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep, and pulled out the batten and the web from the loom. 15 Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies.” 16 And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death, 17 that he told her all his heart, and said to her, “No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.” 18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart.” So the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hand. 19 Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. 21 Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison. 22 However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven. 23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice. And they said: “Our god has delivered into our hands Samson our enemy!” 24 When the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said: “Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy, The destroyer of our land, And the one who multiplied our dead.” 25 So it happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, “Call for Samson, that he may perform for us.” So they called for Samson from the prison, and he performed for them. And they stationed him between the pillars. 26 Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them.” 27 Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there—about three thousand men and women on the roof watching while Samson performed. 28 Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, “O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!” 29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. 30 Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life. 31 And his brothers and all his father’s household came down and took him, and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. He had judged Israel twenty years.

Dysfunction Becomes Distorted in Due Time

V. 16

There is the word pestering, pressing again. The story of Samson’s life.

vv. 16-17 the dangers of the inner sanctum or relationship when things are not right. You enter a point of no return.

V. 20-wayward living, lies, and deception will cause God to stray.

V. 22 provides the hope of the roots buried deep in one’s life. We discuss a remnant for us to associate with. But there is a remnant of God deep within that is not snuffed out.

VV. 28-30

It wasn’t his least time, but the feast time. He killed more than all before.