Judges 16
Introduction
1. Let’s turn to Judges 16:1.
2. Golf immortal Arnold Palmer recalls a lesson about overconfidence: It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament,
· I had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. I felt I was in pretty good shape.
· As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He motioned me over, stuck out his hand and said, Congratulations.” I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus.
· On my next two shots, I hit the ball into a sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green. I missed a putt and lost the 1961 Masters too Gary Player.
· A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident. Proverbs 14:16
3. God will do whatever is necessary to help us finish our journey in faith.
4. We are finishing our study of the life of Samson in journey through Judges.
a. In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25).
b. I mentioned two weeks ago that we were beginning a 3 part study of the life of Samson.
c. We started with the commencement of Samson’s ministry – the God is at work even when it cannot be seen.
d. Last week, we saw the continuation of Samson’s ministry as he begins to deliver the nation from the Philistines.
e. Tonight, we will look at the conclusion of Samson’s ministry in apparent failure.
5. Tonight, I would like us to see that God will do whatever is necessary to help us finish our journey in faith.
I. God deals with Samson as he deliberately plays with sin.
A. Samson continues his downward spiral by consorting with a prostitute in Gaza.
B. Samson is betrayed by Delilah to the Philistines.
1. Samson meets a woman named Delilah (devoted), probably a Temple Prostitute.
2. Samson plays a deadly game with Delilah concerning his strength.
3. Samson’s arrogance and ignorance brought his destruction
a. Samson’s enters a relationship with a 3rd Philistine woman.
b. He toys with her concerning the reason for his strength.
c. He finally relents and tells her the secret of his strength.
d. He gets up to free himself as other times not realizing that he is different.
e. God has left him and he didn’t even realize it! (Judges 16:20).
· The Samson Syndrome: The essence of the Samson syndrome lies right here: the presumption that one can indulge the flesh and at the same time know the Spirit's fullness
C. Samson finishes his life in victory over the Philistines.
1. Samson life became one of blinding, binding, and grinding for the Philistines.
2. Samson obviously repented and prayed for God to intervene in his life.
3. Samson actually becomes a beautiful picture of the person of Christ – a type.
a. Supernatural announcement and birth.
b. He was a Nazarite filled with the Spirit.
c. He had a gentile bride like the Church.
d. He accomplished more in his death than through his life.
II. God will do whatever is necessary to help us finish our journey in faith.
A. Playing with sin has disastrous consequences.
1. Samson kept playing with Delilah getting closer and closer to the truth of his strength.
2. Playing with sin has disastrous consequences.
a. Sin has a way of breaking down our defenses with deceitfulness (Romans 7:13).
· Samson was slowly weakened by sin.
· When we get comfortable with sin, we end up doing what we never thought we would.
· Donut Shop analogy – In the store, at the counter, holding a dozen donuts.
· Sin will take us to a place we never thought we would go, keep us there longer than we thought we would stay, and cost us more than we ever thought we would have to pay. (Hebrews 11:24)
b. Sin always has consequences (Galatians 6:7-8).
B. God will do whatever is necessary to help us finish our journey in faith.
1. God will many times remove the very thing that is causing our problem.
a. God took Samson’s eyes and his strength.
· Samson’s eyes were the thing that got him in trouble.
· Samson’s strength gave him the self confidence
· Samson’s thought that he could get away with sin.
b. God will many times remove the very thing that is causing our problem.
· What is it that is keeping you from a deeper relationship with Christ?
· Will you give it up? Are you willing to sacrifice a deeper relationship with Christ to partially enjoy something else?
· God may take away the very thing that is keeping you from a deeper walk.
2. When Christ restores our witness and walk, it will most likely be at a lower level.
a. Samson’s hair began to grow, but he was still blind.
b. God may give back our walk, but we will be experiencing a lower level of service, much like King David following Bathsheba.
3. God will do whatever is necessary to help us finish our journey in faith.
a. I love the fact that God will not leave me to myself, but that he will intervene to keep me where I need to be.
· On Sundays, we have learned that God will give us what we need to keep us grounded.
· With Paul, it was some thorn in the flesh; Peter had his pride abased (Luke 22:31-34).
· With us, it will be whatever is necessary.
b. I love the fact that God will see me through (Philippians 1:6)
Conclusion
1. God deals with Samson as he deliberately plays with sin.
2. God will do whatever is necessary to help us finish our journey in faith.