Samson a Man Controlled by His Passions

Introduction

Review: We know Samson as the strongest man in the world. His birth was foretold. He was to be a life-long what to God? A nazarite.

What did that mean? He was to be consecrated and devoted wholly to the LORD. How? He was to abstain from all fruits of the vine: no grape juice, no wine, no grapes, etc. He was not to eat any unclean thing. That means he was not to eat unclean animal or animal that died of itself or of anything that came into contact with such. Lastly, he was not to cut his hair. In the OT times this was the requirement for the Nazarite vow.

Under the New Testament ratified with the blood of Christ we don’t practice Nazarite vows today. However, if you trust Christ as your Savior, it is our reasonable service to consecrate our lives to the Lord and His work. We perform this reasonable service of gratitude to God when we live according to His commandments revealed in the Bible. And also by walking in the Holy Spirit. Every believer in Jesus is sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. When we surrender ourselves to obey God’s Word God’s Spirit helps us walk in obedience.

D. Samson although at times filled with the Spirit was often controlled by sinful passions. (Judges 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14)

P. As Believers are passions are to be under the control of the Holy Spirit.

T. This morning we are going to see the passions that made Samson tick. U want you to be challenged to avoid being controlled by our sinful passions and instead be controlled by the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul commands us. Galatians 5:16 “16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

1. Controlled by the sight of his eyes.

Judges 14:1–7 “1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. 3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. 4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. 5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. Judges 14:6–7 “6 And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. 7 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.”

Explain

Samson went down to Timnah

Timnah was a Philistine city. Although part of the tribe of Judah’s inheritance it was under heathen control. The city is defined as a portion, or you will withhold.

Samson goes to a city that was overrun by the Philistines. Yes, it had been Judah’s portion, but not now. (2 Chronicles 28:18)

It was a place of the ungodly. It shouldn’t of been a place where Samson was going to look around. Likewise we get ourselves in trouble when we hang out in the wrong places.

Proverbs 7:6–8 “6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, 7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, A young man void of understanding, 8 Passing through the street near her corner; And he went the way to her house,”

It is interesting the first time Samson went down to the Philistines was voluntary.

The last time in Judges 16:21 was involuntary as his eyes are plucked out by his enemies and he is forced to do the work of a donkey grinding wheat.

Judges 16:21 “21 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.”

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

Samson saw a woman.

This is Samson being controlled by sinful lust.

Samson thought he could handle a Philistine woman.

My friend, many people are deceived thinking they can quit what they know is sin anytime they want. When in reality they are chained and in bondage to their sin.

Only confessing and and forsaking the sin can bring true freedom. John 8:31–32 “31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

1 John 2:16 tells us of three sins that are in the world that we must avoid: the lust of our flesh, the lust of our eyes, and the pride of life.

Here we find Samson is controlled by the lust of his eyes. How do you know? He demands his Dad and Mom get her now.

Judges 14:2 “2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.”

Judges 14:3 “3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.”

He won’t take his parents “no” or counsel for an answer.

Samson is reliant on his sight for advice.

That’s dangerous when we take only beauty to determine who our wife should be.

The phrase “she pleaseth me well” could be literally interpreted” She is good in my eyes. Do you remember what the theme verse of the Book of Judges? Judges 21:25 “25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

Was it God’s best for his people to intermarry with the heathen? NO!

Deuteronomy 7:3 “3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.”

Joshua 23:12–13 “12 Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: 13 Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you.”

The Philistines were a people that the Israelites were to have exterminated as God commanded. They had had the testimony of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob worshipping the true God and never turned to God. (Josh 13:1-3; Judges 3:3)

He ignores his parents advice and wishes.

Ephesians 6:2–3 “2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

Proverbs 13:1 “1 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: But a scorner heareth not rebuke.”

Proverbs 1:8–9 “8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother: 9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.”

Young and old we do well to honor our parents no matter how old we may be.

Samson is filled lust, not love.

1 Corinthians 13:4 “4 Charity suffereth long,...,” What were Samson’s words? Get her for me now. Doesn’t sound like longsuffering to me.

In Contrast, Jacob worked seven years for Rachel and they seemed a few days to him because of his great love for her. Love can wait.

Young man, young woman if you can’t wait and keep emotional and sexual purity for your wife or husband to be until your wedding day, you have a lust problem.

Samson didn’t keep up his guard. It would be like a young Christian man trying to find himself a pretty wife at the bar or the beach. God doesn’t want us going to places that will cause us to stumble in our minds and possibly our bodies.

Matthew 5:28 “28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 906 Epigram on Courtship

To marry a woman for her beauty is like buying a house for its paint.

His parents concede to his demands.

It seems like they get to know this Philistine girls parents and arrange the marriage. Judges 14:5 “5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.”

In Judges 14:10 We find it is the time of the marriage feast. 10 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.”

His soul becomes lean. When you let your flesh lead, your soul becomes lean.

When you persist and persist for what you want even if it is not God’s best, BEWARE. God may give you what you want. But it won’t be good for you.

Psalm 106:15 “15 And he gave them their request; But sent leanness into their soul.”

Samson was not man known for great love of God, but more great strength, lust, and revenge.

Apply

If what you call love is unable to wait. You have lust.

1 Corinthians 13:7 “7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

God will will for you is that you possess your body set apart for him. 1 Thessalonians 4:3–4 “3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;”

God wants you to control your eyes and sexual passions.

Marriage is the only lawful and holy place to exercise those passions, but still they must be exercised unselfishly for the betterment of your spouse.

Eyes - a desire for what God has forbidden

1 John 2:15–16 “15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

For Samson he was not to marry a non-believer

For us as Christians we are not to marry outside the faith. 2 Corinthians 6:14 “14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”

The Law stated thou shalt not covet.

Do not desire that which God has not intended you to have.

Do you want and long for things that God doesn’t want you to have?

For Samson it was an unbelieving philistine woman that he found beautiful in his own eyes.

His desire trounced the need he had to honor God and his parents. What about your commitment to God. Are you controlled by the Spirit or Lust?

2. Controlled by Secrets

Judges 14:5-10 5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. 6 And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. 8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. 9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

Explain

God gives him strength to kill a lion that would have killed him.

Why did this happen?

Is God trying to tell me something?

Get back home!

Samson doesn’t tell his parents.

Young people don’t hide things from your parents.

Absalom and Jacob two examples of heart ache and tragedy because of deceit and secrets kept from parents.

Samson return later after the Lions must have rotted a while. The lion carcass has a hive of honey bees.

He eats of the honey and brings it to his parents and shares it with them. But does not tell him where he got it.

Do you have commitments you make to God. But have broken them and are unwilling to make it right.

This appears to be what is going with Samson. He disregards his vows and consecration to God.

This broke his vow not to touch any unclean thing. Leviticus 11:27 “27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.”

Apply

Keep your promises and commitments to God.

Matthew 5:37 “37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”

If you have broken a commitment to God, make it right. Confess your sin and ask God to help you keep that commitment faithfully.

Proverbs 28:13 “13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

T. Samson’s secrets and vows of being a Nazarite are probably something he is embarrassed to let his Philistine buddies know about. So he can live loosely without them teasing him.

3. Controlled by style of the day.

Judges 14:10 “10 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.”

Explain

Samson made a feast. Nothing wrong with making a feast. However, when I delved into the original language, most Bible commentators and dictionaries say this commonly associated with a drinking feast. This would have included drinking wine.

It wasn’t wrong for the common person to drink wine, but as Nazarite set apart to God it was sin Samson.

He was to keep himself from all aspects for his whole life. Yet, social pressures got to him. Because what his buddies say if he didn’t do the traditional bachelor drinking party during the marriage week?

Either Samson was controlled by his fear of man which brought a snare.

and, or he just didn’t care that he was to be set apart for God.

Argue

I will look weird if I don’t have alcohol at my wedding?

What will my friends think? If your friends will think evil of you for doing right, you should really not have those friends.

Proverbs 14:7 “7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, When thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.”

Illustrate

Apply

Christian, you are to set apart to God.

1 John 2:15 “15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

1 Peter 1:15–16 “15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Are their activities, speech, entertainment, websites that you participate in, on, or with that are unholy.

Christian separate from that which is unholy.

Samson had no business buddying up with the enemies of God. Instead living a holy life separate from these men, he joined them and became like them.

2 Corinthians 6:17–7:1 “17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Christian don’t be afraid of persecution for being obedient to God’s Word. The world calls God’s standard evil today. However, we must never back down to uphold God’s standards. God and his standards do not change. They don’t need improvised. Stick to the old paths even if their out of style.

4. Controlled by spite.

Judges 14:11–Judges 21 “11 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12 And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments: 13 But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it. 14 And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, And out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle. 15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so? Judges 14:16–Judges 21 “16 And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee? 17 And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people. 18 And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, Ye had not found out my riddle. 19 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house. 20 But…”

Explain

Samson puts forth a riddle he is sure they will not solve in the seven days.

Samson figures an easy prize for himself. A nice prize for his betting gains.

Samson’s philistine buddies at this party are rough customers. They speak to his wife and threaten to kill her and her father if she doesn’t tell them the answer to Samson’s riddle.

Scared for her life, Samson’s wife is a constant whiner and wears him out till he tells the answer of the riddle. Then she tells her people.

The Philistines tell Samson the riddle and he is infuriated. Notice the great respect for his wife: If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.

Young men, don’t call your girl friend a cow that will NOT endear you.

Samson has God’s Spirit come on him and he goes Ashkelon and kills thirty men of the philistines to give the agreed prize to these men.

Then he leaves his wife without telling and goes home to his parents. What a happy marriage.

His anger destroys those around him and relationships. Albeit, I’d argue bad relationships.

Argue

I’d argue Samson’s selfish greed and spite brought a lot of havoc. Proverbs 15:27 “27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; But he that hateth gifts shall live.”

He kills thirty Philistines.

He leaves his new bride and anger without explanation.

Men of God may we not fall into Samson’s Selfish greed and spite. 1 Timothy 3:3 “3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;” 1 Timothy 3:8 “8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;”

Apply

My boss always teased me at Maranatha, don’t marry a contankerous woman.

Women whining is the top thing that most husbands hate. So pray for your husbands.

What controls you. Proverbs 27:4 “4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; But who is able to stand before envy?”

Conclusion

Depart from iniquity and follow Christ. 2 Timothy 2:19 “19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Samson had the Holy Spirit’s help in the battle, and so do we. Let us not take his Spirit for granted and live by our fleshly passions. Let us be wholehearted in our service to our Lord.

Don’t make excuses for yourself, brothers and sisters. We have the Spirit, the Promises of God, and the revealed will of God in the Scriptures. Don’t make light of God’s ways in your service for God. Take heed to yourselves. Don’t compromise on truth. 1 Corinthians 16:13–14 “13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 14 Let all your things be done with charity.”

Lord, I pray we would be a generation of mighty soldiers of Jesus Christ. Who love you and find it reasonable to obey you rather than our fleshly passions.