The Life of Samson

INTRODUCTION

This morning we continue our series we’ve called Old School.

We are looking at the Old Testament, key stories within that, and pointing us to Jesus.

The first week we looked at Joshua and the Wall of Jericho.

Last week we looked at the life of Gideon a judge.

This week we are going to look at Samson.

Samson is the last judge we are going to read about in Judges.

Samson is unique that his Nazarite vow goes from his birth to his death.

Really quickly we’ll see the lack of care he has for that.

Qualifications for a Nazarite Vow comes from Numbers 6.

You are not allowed to have any alcohol.

You are not allowed to cut your hair.

You are not allowed near any dead bodies even family.

The point of this was to be set apart from the world and devoted to the Lord.

Samson will end up breaking all three of these vows.

The picture we see of Samson though is also a look at the nation and the heart of Israel.

Samson became a product of his culture.

If we are not careful today we can fall into the same trap.

As we look at Samson let’s see the 3 major struggles of his life but also ours.

And from that I want to point us to Jesus. The true and perfect redeemer.

THREE STRUGGLES

COMPROMISING

The biggest issue for Samson’s, in my opinion, is his compromise.

Samson is ok with marrying a Philistine women. (14:1-10)

This was forbidden for Israelites to do.

His parents to try to sway him, but they cave too.

He’s ok with touching a dead body. (14:8-9; 15:15)

Samson would kill a lion and use a jawbone to kill Philistines later on.

He would most likely have drank during his wedding feast.

We don’t know explicitly but scholars have drawn the conclusion.

If Samson would compromise before the feast why stop now?

After losing his wife he had a relationship with a prostitute DELILAH. (16:1)

Samson ignored the Nazarite vow and always had a reason for why.

We always believe our compromise has a good reason behind it.

We try to justify it in our that we God will “understand.”

Samson didn’t compromise on preferences but principles.

This is why Paul in Colossians 2 ask us to be “rooted in Christ.”

So that we cannot be led astray by “human philosophies and principles.”

Psalm 119 is clear God calls people to be people of integrity and hear his voice.

Just two ways we easily compromise:

We don’t read the word of God, and there is always a reason.

The word is a lamp to our feet.

The word is profitable for us.

We don’t move past our Sunday seats and there is always a reason.

Hebrews 13 was used a lot during the pandemic.

God calls his people to be out and to be bold.

COMPULSIVE

One of the most interesting parts of Samson is he rarely consults with God.

Only twice do we see that and it’s for Samson to get what he wants.

Water when thirsty. (15:18)

Revenge on the Philistines. (16:28)

If we’re honest do we do the same thing?

Do we only go to God when life has gotten that bad?

Do we only go to God when we’ve exhausted all options?

When he is going along the way he eats when he is hungry.

When tempted Jesus says we doesn’t live by bread alone but God!

When he is in need of battle he grabs the first thing that he sees.

I kept wondering why did Samson struggle so much.

I truly believe it’s because he lacked direction from the Lord in his decisions.

CONCEITED

Samson was acted as he was the center of the universe.

Samson’s married a Philistine was she was “right in my eyes.” (14:3)

The common theme in Judges is Israel doing this.

Judges ends in 21:25 with Israel doing “what was right in their own eyes.”

At the end of chapter 14 it says that Samson boiled with hot anger.

He was a hot head who was mad he lost a bet.

After getting married he gives the Philistines a riddle.

They can’t get it so they nag his wife who nags Samson.

Finally he tells her so she tells the Philistines.

Following this he heads to a city and kills 30 men than takes from them.

I mentioned the story in 15 about Samson killing with a donkey jawbone.

After this battle Samson literally says to God:

“You saved me from this battle but now I’m going to die of thirst?”

Who else did this? Israel after leaving Egypt.

They said it was better for them in Egypt because at least they had food.

They didn’t believe God would provide so it was about them.

Samson is not alone in these struggles because so does Israel.

In his final act, the climax of his story, when he pulls down the walls,

He looks to God in faith, but ultimately it’s still for his vengeance.

How often do we act in this same manner? That it’s all about us?

John 3:30 reminds us for Jesus to increase that we must decrease.

As believers we are called to live a life of humility.

C.S. Lewis Quote:

“Humility is not thinking less of myself. Humility is thinking of myself less.”

APPLICATION

So what can we take from the life of Samson?

There are a lot but here is what I believe the Lord has for us.

Samson, and Israel, there spiritual appetite was non-existent.

They didn’t look to the Lord for guidance only a way out when they exhausted all other options.

It leads to us taking matters into our own hands.

Scott said a few weeks back:

When we solve spiritual issues with human solutions we find trouble.

When we don’t hunger and thirst for God we trust ourselves.

This is dangerous place to be though.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is death.

I believe we trust ourselves because we don’t believe God can work through us.

We believe it’s for someone else but not us.

The Bible calls David a man after God’s own heart?

Because of what he wrote in the Psalms.

Even as the deer pants for water, so my soul longs for you!

So how do we maintain our spiritual appetite?

Read the Word

Pray, Pray, Pray