Lost in the Valley
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
Samson was lost in the valley. He does not see his doom but he is deep in the darkness and about to see his light extinguished. He is in love with who does not love him back. Samson’s life looks like it is filled with thrill seeking adventure flirting with danger in the enemy’s territory.
This story if filled with tests.
This story if filled with tests.
We see Samson tested in his professed love for Delilah.
Delilah is also Samson’s opponent.
Delilah makes an alliance with the lords of the Philistines.
We see Samson test his strength in his response to Delilah testing his love.
Lastly, we see Yahweh tested.
The Philistines credit Dagon in their victory.
Philistines do not acknowledge Yahweh.
First test, Samson in the low valley.
First test, Samson in the low valley.
4 Some time later Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the valley of Sorek.
Samson is in the valley.
He is in a low point of his life.
He is staying in enemies territory
Samson falls in love with Delilah.
Samson falls in love with Delilah.
She is the first woman we get to know the name in this account of Samson.
She is Samson’s test and his opponent.
Samson’s exploits are known and this leads to Delilah being approached by an interested party that does not like Samson.
Samson’s test begins with Delilah
Samson’s test begins with Delilah
Delilah now uses Samson’s professed love against him.
6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me what makes you so strong and what it would take to tie you up securely.”
Samson should be suspicious of this questioning.
His betrothed wife nagged him and it later cost Samson.
Now the woman he love is asking him repeated questions to know how to subdue him
Delilah repeatedly asks Samson 4 times.
Each time Delilah asks she has men lying in wait in an inner room.
The first three times Samson gamed her on what would make him weak like any other man.
Each time Samson would wake up from the first three test
And he snapped the cords.
He pulled the pin out of his hair that was weaved into seven locks into a web.
Each time Samson escaped the first three test and the thrill of danger and excitement was his as his strength was still with him.
Samson’s tested his strength
Samson’s tested his strength
Samson has played with fire and seems to be okay not getting burnt so far. He should have been a little skeptical of Delilahs’ persistence in asking for how he can be subdued.
The fourth ask not favorable for Samson
The fourth ask not favorable for Samson
Samson tells all his heart to Delilah
17 Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.” 18 Delilah realized he had finally told her the truth, so she sent for the Philistine rulers. “Come back one more time,” she said, “for he has finally told me his secret.” So the Philistine rulers returned with the money in their hands. 19 Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap, and then she called in a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair. In this way she began to bring him down, and his strength left him. 20 Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him. 21 So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison.
Play with fire you will get burned. Samson find this out.
They capture him and take his eyes.
They take him to Gaza and place him in bronze chains and forced him to grind the grain in the prison.
Samson is Down and Defeated
Samson is Down and Defeated
Samson has now reached rocked bottom and has lost all.
His strength.
His eyes (Samson did what pleased his eyes)
His freedom
Samson has been defeating his enemies with his strength in the past but this time without him knowing God has left him.
20 Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.
This sets the stage for the ultimate test of Yahweh, Adonai, the Lord vs Dogan.
23 The Philistine rulers held a great festival, offering sacrifices and praising their god, Dagon. They said, “Our god has given us victory over our enemy Samson!”
The story gives a narration of how Samson’s hair begins to grow back after it was shaved off, but the Philistines did not care.
They look to humiliate Samson and celebrate their deity Dagon.
25 Half drunk by now, the people demanded, “Bring out Samson so he can amuse us!” So he was brought from the prison to amuse them, and they had him stand between the pillars supporting the roof.
God’s mercy and power in our time of need
God’s mercy and power in our time of need
Samson now is looking to the true source of his power to strike back agains the Philistines.
28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.”
God answers his prayer ...
30 he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime.
God sees us in our lowest moments and can lift us up.
God sees us in our lowest moments and can lift us up.
Samson was low and did not seek God until he lost all that he had.
Let us not wait too long to turn back to the Lord.
God’s grace never runs out, and let us turn and run toward God!