Samson

Judges 13-16

Good morning my friends!

I am so glad to see you here today, welcome. I hope you’ve had a great week!!

Have you noticed the rebirth of nature that is happening around us? Some of the trees are putting on leaves. Some of the flowering trees are blooming and they look so wonderful. And of course, we cannot forget the red dubs, right?

Spring is here and we are enjoying so much.

And today is the Lord’s day! You have gathered with each other, and what a joy it is to be together. I am incredibly thankful to see you here. You are important and I am glad you are here.

Today, we are just two weeks from Easter… Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, The victorious entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, the place he rides in as a King, as the anointed one of God and in just 5 days, He will be led out of the city to be crucified.

So I want to encourage to pray, pray for the Lord to lead your heart as you consider His love for you.

And we will have a baptism next week, Maybe like 4 or 5. I am super excited for this...

But today we are going back to the Old Testament, to the Book of Judges.

So Judges chapters 13-16 as we look at the life of Samson. Samson is the man who had the greatest opportunities, He won many victories but He also failed miserably as well.

And I think Samson is a great person for us to examine, like so many others in the Bible, their actions, well remind us of ourselves at times. And in these people we find many great lessons to learn as we live in front of the Lord our God.

So lets begin with this first thought today..

1. A Special Child....

I want to start out by saying that every child is special, they truly are the gift from God.

There is a Southern Gospel singer that some of you may recognize by the name of Mark Lowery. Mark always testified that he was all over the place, like the worst ADHD of a child. And Mark’s dad, you to say, I know God is going to do something special with your life as you grow up, but until then take this pill.

And we all get a little laugh out of that, but children are special. I see the children here and I feel like I am so blessed to see these come into the world and grow up.

In our text today, we come to a time in the nation of Israel which is about the 11 century B.C. Samson’s life is about 50 years before the first King of Israel, Saul here in the OT.

Israel after the death of Joshua, they struggle deeply with living correctly in front of the Lord. They fall into sin, especially idolatry, worshipping false gods...

And God would punish the people, he allowed other nations to inflict judgment on them, especially the Philistines which were West of Israel. The Philistines are an important people, they are a heavily sea going people but they also master Iron working for tools and weapons. One of the areas they inhabit is the area we still call Gaza today. For 40 years, the Philistines would inflict pain upon Israel.

And if you read the Book of Judges, you see the people God raised up to help deliver them after their times of sin and failure when they would cry out to the Lord in repentance.

Samson is one of those people. Now lets move forward, that is a bit of background...

And here in our opening text is a couple, who were in the tribe of Danites, living in a community called Zorah, and while we are not told the wife’s name, the father is named Manoah.

Lets look at verses 1-5 Judges 13:1-5

Judges 13:1–5 ESV

1 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. 2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. 3 And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, 5 for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

So there is Manoah, and his wife, who was considered barren up until this time. This couple was without a child. And during those days the Lord sent his messenger, an angel to Manoah and his wife.

And the message is so important… There are three parts to this message:

A.) First, it is the news of a gift. The angel appears to them. You have been barren, unable to bear a child, but all that is getting ready to change… you will conceive and have a son..

Wow, those words were like hitting the lottery, you will have a son. Sons were considered the most wonderful of gifts… not that girls were bad, but sons provided an heir, one who could lead the family and do for them as the parents entered their old age..

B.) Secondly, there is a warning here with this news. You are going to have a son!

But be careful, you should not drink any wine or any strong drink, and make sure you eat nothing that is unclean, referring to the Levitical dietary requirements.

And finally, Thirdly....

C.) He will be a Nazarite to the Lord. The angel tells Manoah’s wife that she will bear a son, and there would never be a razor placed upon his head, He would be a Nazarite to God from birth.

Now this last point reveals us to what type of man, Samson was to be as he grew and became a man. The Scriptures tells us he was to be a Nazarite from his mothers womb.

What does it mean to be a Nazarite?

Now in book of Numbers, chapter 6, we find the Nazarite vow explained, but essentially a Nazarite was a voluntary vow.

It was for a certain period of time, and it stipulated that during that time a person could not have anything from the vine, no wine, no grapes, nothing. They were not supposed to have any contact with the dead, even if it was a close family member, and finally they were to not allow their hair to be cut during that time.

But Samson’s vow was different, - His Nazarite vow was not voluntary, God had placed this vow on him, and it would be for his entire life, only at death would it cease to be. He was not to cut his hair, he was not to have anything strong to drink and he was not supposed to associate with any dead thing.

So indeed, Samson was a special child, He was a life set apart by God.

Would you agree with me that this was a high calling upon his life? Yes, it is… now some might argue, why would God place that vow on his life, without him having anything to say about it?

Listen my friends, we are only in this world because of the will of God, we are the product, the substance of his creation. We are not here by accident. And I would take it a step further, you belong to the Lord, even more so if you are in Christ, “....You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor 6:19-20.

Now as we move forward, I would ask you to consider the Mighty Man Samson was before the Lord as he was a judge over Israel.

2. A Mighty Man....

As Samson grew in physically, The Lord began to use him, and the spirit of the Lord came upon Him. And without a doubt, the Lord did use Samson to punish the Philistines. We know this from the text of Scripture.

But it wasn’t always good for Samson, and while he experienced victory, he had many public and private failures.

And that reminds us that we are human, but we must walk carefully before the Lord.

Now lets move to chapter 14. Verses 1-4

Judges 14:1–4 ESV

1 Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 Then he came up and told his father and mother, “I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife.” 3 But his father and mother said to him, “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.” 4 His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.

Ok, look at what we see here, the Scriptures tell us that Samson, as a young man went down to the city of Timnah.

Timnah was a city of the Philistines that was situated in the land of Canaan. If you had to look at, it is almost due west of Jerusalem today.

And there in a foreign land, a land outside of of the boundaries of Israel. Samson saw a beautiful young lady and he wants her for his wife.

Now marriages were really different then in comparison to today, marriage was arranged for the most part, a transaction between the parents and then you would be joined together...

Now we understand the situation here, every young man wants a beautiful wife..

But, when Samson comes and tells his father, and requests this young lady for his wife, his father, Manoah places an immediate objection to his news. Lets look at the text of Judges 14:3

Judges 14:3 ESV

3 But his father and mother said to him, “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.”

His father’s objection is understandable, and it is biblical... Son, can you not find a woman among our own families or from among all the people of Israel?

Can you hear it.… Do you really need to take a wife from those people… that attitude seems to be well, not very kind.

Listen, his father realizes he has found a pretty bride, one who has caught Samson’s attention. But it isn’t right…

Why? Why shouldn’t he take a bride from the Philistines?

The Bible told them not too. The book of Deuteronomy tells us that they (the children of Israel) were not to intermarry with the people living in the other countries around Israel. Deut 7:3 “… .3 You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons,...”

Samson has found a bride, people might say “oh be happy for them! Shouldn’t they get married…? And the answer is no.. Why? God forbade it.

God has ultimately forbid the Israelites from intermarrying with other people because of the influence a wife/husband and his/her past worship of false gods and other deities would have on His people…

It would lead them into idolatry, the worship of false gods. God knew the failure it would bring upon the nation. And God was trying to spare them of that trouble.”

Manoah, Samson’s father doesn’t want to do it, but Samson demands it. Listen … Samson was willing to sin, He was willing to be with a unrighteous people to satisfy his own desire...His words are simple, “...get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.” the end of verse 3.

And that is a failure my friends, to be God’s person but yet you would rather chase after your own lust and desire. He put himself above the law, above his father’s wishes, above God ...

Q. Are we ever guilty of putting our self above God and his wishes?

Now verse 4 is interesting. Judges 14:4

Judges 14:4 ESV

4 His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.

Exactly what does this mean?

Well, the simple way to explain it is like this; God was using Samson, even in his sinful behavior and lust, even in His failures to strike back against the Philistines, to carry out his future plans.

Its sad, for many of the Israelites, they are just willing to coexist with the Philistines, we see that because Samson’s parents gave into His wishes. And Samson, in His lust will prepare to take her as his bride, But God was at work still.

Now there is a lesson for us my friends right here,

Stop thinking you can coexist in this world. You are to be different. We live in this world but we are not of this world any longer.

Listen to Jesus in the Gospel of John

John 17:14–17 ESV

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

We are not of this world, we are born again, lifted into His presence and are called to be different. Stop walking back to those slums of sin where we once lived prior to Jesus. Be different, be like Jesus.

Samson was supposed to reflect the one who called him, the mighty God of Israel..

Remember, he was to be a Nazarite all the days of his life.

Now during these days, Samson will never celebrate a wedding with that young lady, and she will be given to another, as you can read in the rest of chapter 14 and part of 15.

In response to this young lady being given to another, Samson will catch 300 foxes and tie them tail to tail with torches between each tail and sent them through the Philistine fields burning their crops, destroying a great source of their food.

Now, the Philistines will come against Judah because of Samson’s destruction of their crops and finally, Samson will strike down 1000 Philistines with the jaw bone of a Donkey.

Without a doubt, he is a mighty man, stronger than any man the world as seen up to that point.

But his life isn’t one marked by faithfulness to God as you can see as you read the text.

Now just one last point today...

3. Moral Failures and One Last Victory.

As we wrap up Samson’s life, we come to the portion, most people know pretty well.

His time with a lady who wickedly tricked, and eventually led him to the greatest downfall of life.

In Judges chapter 16, we find one the most infamous lady of the Bible, Delilah. She is one of two ladies in the Bible whose names are so infamous that people today do not name their girls after her, Delilah and or Jezebel..

Am I right…

Now chapter 16, verse 4 tells us that Samson loved Delilah. But there was a problem, she never loved him. In fact she coordinated her efforts with the Lord’s or Rulers of the Philistines to bring him down for a rich sum, the price was 1100 pieces of silver. Essentially, her loyalty went to the highest bidder.

It’s interesting what a little or a lot of silver will do, 1100 for Samson, but it was only 33 for Judas to betray Jesus. The love and lust of money will cause people to do many strange and evil things.

Now back to our story, for Delilah, she pressed Samson time and time again trying to find out where the source of his strength lay. And Samson tried to downplay it, and gave her several false points. If he were tied up with fresh bowstrings, if new ropes that had never been used were to tie him up. If his hair were braised into 7 locks and pinned tightly to his head. And of course none of this worked

But look at verse 16 Judges 16:16-17

Judges 16:16–17 ESV

16 And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death. 17 And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”

Day after day she pressed him, until she wore him down and he gave up and told her the secret to where his strength lay.

And my friends, understand, Delilah is only part of the problem, Samson’s character was weak, He didn’t value the office and place where God had called him too.

So as Samson slept, she shaved his head, cutting off the locks of hair he had wore since birth and the Lord’s presence left him.

Wow, how sad my friends,.… In this terrible event, we find another spiritual life lesson.

Do not expect the Lord’s blessing and patience when you choose to live like you want too. He will not do it, he will leave you to your own desire.

For Samson, Delilah tormented him, the Philistines gouged out his eyes and placed him into shackles and left him to turn the heavy stones that ground their grain in the mill.

Samson, has fallen… the Philistines have won a great victory, capturing and defeating the hero of Israel. It’s heart breaking.

And the same is true for us, it is heart breaking when we give into sin and experience defeat. We have lost much and we have given the kingdom of darkness a victory.

Now, moving on.. But the Scriptures tell us in verse 22 that the hair on his head began to grow....

Now the Philistines in their pride and arrogance, threw a great party in the days following Samson’s defeat. They praised their false gods and celebrated greatly.

And in their drunkeness, in their praise of their god, they called for Samson to be brought out of the prison to entertain them, to see this once great man, who killed their people and defeated them, but now was broken and blind.

And Samson was placed there against the pillars of the building that supported their party and Samson asked a boy to place him where he would feel those pillars and lean upon them and rest.

And there, he called upon the Lord, asking the Lord to strengthen him one last time that he might avenge the loss of his sight. Judges 16:28.

And with his might, He pressed against the pillars and said “let me die with the Philistines” v30, and he brought the house down and those who perished that day were more than he had killed across his life time..

Wow… Samson calls out to the Lord in faith, but his motives aren’t for God’s glory but for vengeance, that His sight ( his two eyes) might be avenged…

And the last words we have are that his brothers and family came and took his body and buried him with those who had gone before him.

Samson, he was a great man, victorious in so many ways, yet failed in so many others.

It reminds us of 3 things my friends,

God has a purpose for your life, And He has called you, And He has known you even before the foundation of the world.

We must live righteously before God. We must seek Him and his Kingdom first.

Finally, His ways will allow us to have the best life possible. One that is fulfilled and glorifies God.

This morning we hit the high points of Samson’s life. It was a life that was established by God, for His purposes ...

You are part of the purposes of God.… He has loved you, called you and desires to use you.

This morning is there an area of your life that is lived for you, that you have pushed God out of?

This morning is God calling you to change?

This morning is God calling you to follow where he is leading .

You know, we stand ready to help you, pray for you or to welcome you into our fellowship..

Come today.