Sermon Tone Analysis
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INTRO:
Recap sermon theme: life with fewer regrets…the incomplete life of Samson.
Samson was mastered by his desire.
Samson was consumed with self.
Let’s take a look…who/what was Samson supposed to be? God had, literally, created Samson, called Samson, to be a “judge” in Israel - explain the judges.
He was supposed to lead to Israel militarily, lead them spiritually - the root issue for Israel was idolatry.
He was supposed to be Israel’s deliverer.
But, here, specifically in chapter 15, we see a man completely focused on and consumed with SELF.
One of Samson’s greatest downfalls was pride.
Self-Vindication
Remember in the last chapter, Samson gets married - but he hasn’t yet “consummated” the marriage.
Watch what happens here.
The father “gives” Samson’s wife away.
So, what does Samson do?
He burns down all the crops in Timnah.
He’s driven by anger and revenge.
The Philistines in Timnah retaliate and burn Samson’s wife and her father alive.
Look again at
I will be avenged on you.
Look, we don’t know how many Philistines Samson killed, here, but it was more than likely a pretty hefty amount.
He never went small on anything he did.
Samson was a “go big or go home” kind of guy.
But, this incident is VERY revealing about Samson.
Why?
This is not about avenging his wife - an innocent life.
You know what makes a captivating love story/movie?
“I’m going to avenge the death of my wife.”
Have you ever seen Braveheart?
Oh my word.
What an awesome movie.
Remember, his wife is killed and the rest of the movie is about William Wallace leading the people of Scotland to resist the powers, fight for their political freedom but ultimately avenge the death of his wife.
Not Samson…He says, “I” will be avenged!
You took something that was MINE…you cost ME something so now all of you will pay!
Just as much as it’s not about avenging his wife but himself, Samson is also not concerned at all about defending or delivering Israel.
NOT ONCE do we ever see Samson going to fight the Philistines or avenging Israel due to the fact that the Philistines were absolutely cruel and inhumane enemies.
It’s ALL selfish!
Selfish ambition/vindication.
Samson was not concerned with the things that broke God’s heart.
What’s the trap WE fall into?
Are we broken over the things that break God’s heart or the things that inconvenience or are beneficial (or not) to us, personally?
What about when someone sins against you?
Are you more concerned with REVENGE or RECONCILIATION?
Are you more concerned with the fact that there is sin there?
That there is division that might cause disunity and fellowship or are you more concerned with being justified/vindicated? Is it selfish ambition?
Listen to a couple of passages:
James 3:13-
Philippians 2:
Self-Preservation
(vs.
9-17)
If you’ll go back and look at the accounts of the 11 previous judges, they led the armies of Israel to fight against their enemies.
Let me stress this point - they led the people to fight for their freedom - WILLIAM WALLACE STYLE.
Again, in Samson’s life and leadership, it was NEVER about the people of Israel or the things of God - IT WAS ALL ABOUT HIM.
Take a look at this.
All Samson cared about was himself.
His vengeance.
His anger.
He’s hiding in this cave and take a look at how many men came to get him - 3,000 men of Judah.
3,000!!!
This guy has an army 10 TIMES THE SIZE OF GIDEON’S!!!
He could have said, “Guys, look, this is our time.
This is our opportunity!”
They could have had a Braveheart moment!
They could have wiped out the entire Philistine army!
This is the only time we see an army gather under Samson…and it wasn’t for the purpose of fighting WITH him, it was to hand him over!
Samson was one man and killed 1,000…the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him - YES, God used him but if 1 killed 1,000, think about what 3,000 could have done!
But it didn’t happen.
Why?
Not only was Samson full of selfish ambition…he was self-seeking…set on self-preservation…not the preservation of God’s people.
Matthew
Self-Glorification
(vs.
18-20)
Why did Samson have victory?
Because of vs. 14…the Spirit of the Lord.
GOD gave him the victory!
Samson’s loosing of the bonds is ENTIRELY from YHWH! God strengthened Samson and provided for him…then look what happens.
In the OT, when God intervened and did something awesome on someone’s behalf…in their life…what did they typically do?
They built an altar/monument to worship Him and glorify Him!
They would name that place to reflect what He had done for them!
They would oftentimes ascribe names to God, right?
Jehovah Jireh - God provides/Jehovah Nissi - the Lord is my banner/Jehovah Rapha - the Lord heals…But what does Samson do?
He names the spring after himself!
When we view ourselves as self-sufficient then we are going to be self-glorifying.
SALVATION
SAMSON WASN’T SURRENDERED/DEPENDENT UPON THE SPIRIT
Galatians 6:
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