Sermon Tone Analysis

Samson, When the Strong is Weak

Judges

The Book of Judges in the Old Testament was named after the prominent leaders raised by the Lord to deliver his people.

This takes place in history after Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness.

Joshua then led the Israelites into the Promised Land to concur it.

The twelve tribes are given land to concur and are given leaders.

These leaders are called Judges.

The purpose of the book of Judges is to explain: why the tribes did obey not take all the lands promised to them; to show how God was gracious and patient with Israel’s repeated acts of disobedience; to show the need for a Shepherd king instead of a tyrannical kingship; to explain the urgent need for a new momentum, so that Israel doesn’t fall to philistines and intertribal warfare.

There are 14 Judges in the Bible and you can find them in five different books.

Samson

Samson’s story is one for the History Books.

Not only does his life story show up in the book of Judges but it also appears in the book of Hebrews.

His story in Hebrews is in a section about the heroes of the faith!

His story starts before his birth.

An angel came down and told his parents, who could not have a baby, that they would be having a son.

He told them this, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.[1]

Nazirite

The vow of a Nazarite involved these three things, (1) abstinence from wine and strong drink, or any fruit from the vineyard, (2) refraining from cutting the hair off the head during the whole period of the continuance of the vow, and (3) the avoidance of contact with the dead.

Samson’s life was a repeated show of being “OP” by the spirit of the Lord.

I really encourage you all to take some time this week and read about Samson.

Just a quick warning, most of his story is rated TVMA.

Today we are going to be talking about an increadibly “OP” man with an dangerously weak will.

Today we are going to talk about three attitudes that can make even the most OP person weak.

1. Lust: I want it.

2. Entitlement: I deserve it.

3. Pride: I can handle it.

Lust: I want it!

What is lust?

When a man sees something that he desires, what does he say?

He lusts after it and he says:

I want it!

I got to have it!

I'm going to get it!

I want it!

Come on men, give me a little I want it!

Tell me how you say it!

Give it to me! One, two, three...I want it!

That's not bad!

You almost have got to get a little growl in there!

I'm a man, I want it!

And what will happen is, when we want something we slip into a pattern of lust, and we forgets about all logic.

It may be that we want a relationship, the rush, the fun, the sexual thrill.

It could be that we want the advancement in school or the money, or to conquer something.

It may be the the new car, the computer, or gaming system, whatever it is.

But when we want it, we'll forget about every step of logic and we'll pursue what we want with reckless abandon.

Let’s see what Samson does… Judges 14:1-2

14 Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines.

2 Then he came up and told his father and mother, “I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah.

Now get her for me as my wife[2]”

Samson goes to a town about 4 miles away from his home and he finds a woman that he thinks he must have!

This town is in the Philistine territory.

She is a Philistine, one of the people God sent Samson to deliver his people from.

Earlier in the Bible God commanded his people not to intermarry with the people that don’t worship me.

And at that moment, he looks at her and he forgets everything else and he says, 'I want it!

I don't care what my God says; I don't care what my Dad says.

I don't care what my Mom says, I don't care what's right and I don't care what's wise, because I'm a man and I've got my desires and I want it!'

Over and Over again we will see lust make the strong into weak.

Entitlement: I Deserve it

What is Entitlement?

Not only do we want it, but we believe that we deserve it.

Come on, give me a little love, everybody say it, I deserve it!

"I work hard, I deserve it!"

"I've been slaving away, I deserve it!"

"I put up with her, I deserve it!"

Whatever you know, "I deserve this!"

And we're going to watch as Samson gets this attitude.

So, Samson is walking to Timnah with his Mom and Dad and they get separated.

Samson is walking through a vineyard and a Lion Jumps out and attacks him.

Zoo Story

Well anyway, I just had to tell you that because he came across a lion and the Spirit of God came on him and he ripped this lion apart!

Now, that's cocky!

That's cool man; he ripped the big cat apart!

Okay now, sometime later, the Bible says, verse eight, we don't know how long, but sometime later, when he went back to marry this Philistine chick, what did he do?

The Bible says:

8 After some days he returned to take her.

And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.

9 He scraped it out into his hands and went on, eating as he went.[3]

1.

That's nasty, okay!

2. What was he not supposed to touch?

He wasn't supposed to touch dead things, things that were unclean.

And what did he do?

The same God that gave him the power to rip apart the lion he betrays, he betrays a vow to the God who blessed him.

For what?

For a handful of honey.

Who would be stupid enough to betray God for a handful of honey?

The answer is that we do it every single day.

Betray our God who blessed us for stupid, sinful things that only hurt us and those around us.

Lust, I want it.

Entitlement: I deserve it.

And then whenever it comes to temptation, there's the third attitude that makes strong men weak, and that is:

Pride: I can handle it.

What do we think?

We think, "Oh, I can handle it!

I'm strong, I can handle it!

I’m smart, I won’t get caught!

I know when to stop…

What were the three vows?

Help me out:

Don't cut your hair.

Don't touch dead things.