Positioned on Purpose
His future (13:4–5): The child will be raised as a Nazirite; he is to be dedicated to the Lord and must abstain from alcohol and any forbidden food. He will rescue Israel from the Philistines, who have been oppressing Israel for40 years.
The betrayal (16:6–19)
1. The fiction concerning his great strength (16:6–15): On three occasions Samson lies to Delilah about the source of his power.
2. The facts concerning his great strength (16:16–19): Finally, after much nagging by Delilah, Samson confesses that he is a Nazirite and that if his hair is ever cut, he will lose his strength. So Delilah lulls him to sleep in her lap and calls for someone to shave his hair off.
The derision by the Philistines (16:23–28)
1. The ridicule of Samson (16:23–25): Samson is brought forth during a public celebration of the Philistine god Dagon.
2. The request by Samson (16:26–28): Samson asks the Lord for strength that he might punish the Philistines one final time for blinding him.
B. The destruction of the Philistines (16:29–31): Samson pushes on the two central pillars of the temple, bringing it crashing down. Samson kills more Philistines in this one act than in all his other deeds combined, but he dies also.
