Lessons from the Life of Samson

1. Read: Judges 13:2-7

2. About the Text:

1) We read in these verses the announcement of the birth and purpose of Samson.

2) During the time of judges, God raised up men over Israel to bring them back out of the captivity that they went into due to their sin (Judges 2:16-19).

3) These judges led Israel to fight against the captors and bring them back to freedom.

4) Samson was one of these judges.

5) The text says that Samson was a Nazarite by birth and was to remain one all his life.

6) A Nazarite was a person who took a vow to be dedicated to the Lord (Num.6:2-21).

a. Nazarites were to avoid any form of wine.

b. Nazarites were to refrain from cutting their hair.

c. Nazarites were to avoid contact with the dead.

7) Samson was a special Nazarite because God chose him to be one all his life.

8) As a result of this, Samson had a special gift from God—extraordinary physical strength.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Read Judges 14:1-3

1) Samson took a wife of the Philistines.

2) His parents did not approve.

3) The law of Moses forbad marriage of Israelites to Philistines (Deut.7:3).

4) God, however, was able to use this situation for good (vs.4) (cf. Romans 8:28).

5) Ultimately, Samson’s wife and Father-in-law were murdered by the Philistines.

2. Samson allowed that which pleased him to make his choice for marriage. (Judges 14:7).

1) Before marrying, one should reflect upon what God desires, not what is pleasing to you. (Eph.5:15 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,”).

2) Marriage is a lifelong decision and when we marry, we are “stuck.” (Matthew 19:5, 6 “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

3) Col.3:5-10 “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”

1. Samson and Delilah (Judges 16:4-21).

1) Samson was taken with the beauty of a woman. The text says that he loved her.

2) The Philistines convinced her to get Samson to confess his source of strength.

3) Samson said.

a. Seven green twigs.

b. New ropes, never used for anything.

c. Weave his hair into a “web.”

d. Cut his hair.

4) Samson must have known that the Philistines were coming after him.

5) Why did he tell Delilah about his hair?

6) He must have thought that the Lord would be with him regardless what he said or did.

7) The text says that he even expected to overcome the Philistines (Judges 16:20).

2. No one is too high that they are above God.

1) Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

2) Obadiah 1:3, 4 “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.”

3) James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

1. Samson’s last days.

1) First the Philistines put out Samson’s eyes so that he could not see (16:21).

2) Then they put him into a mill to work as an animal (16:21).

3) The Philistines gave credit for Samson’s capture to their god Dagon.

4) So, they made a celebration to honor their god.

5) During this procession, they called for Samson to mock him.

6) It at this time that Samson called upon the Lord one last time (Judges 16:28).

7) The Lord gave Samson back his strength.

8) Samson then pushed apart two support pillars in Dagon’s temple.

9) This ended the celebration.

10) It was said that Samson slew more in his death than he did in his life (Judges 16:30).

2. Samson’s life was not entirely exemplary.

1) He married outside of Israel against the law of Moses.

2) He fraternized with harlots.

3) He was not above telling the occasional lie from time to time for his own purposes.

4) And he allowed the “pretty face” to control his life.

3. However, in the end, Samson gave himself over wholly to the Lord.

1) Samson underwent blindness and servitude to realize from Whom his strength came.

2) How many times do we fall into this situation?

3) Do we recognize from whom our true strength comes, everyday?

4) Samson repented of his evil attitudes in the end and God granted him a blessing.

5) And Samson’s name went down into faith’s hall of fame (Hebrews 11:32).

4. God is a merciful and forgiving God.

1) Psalm 37:23-26 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.”

2) Psalm 103:8-18

3) Luke 6:36 “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

4) Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”

1. Let us remember the life of Samson

1) It is important to marry wisely and not let our physical desires control our decisions.

2) Pride goes before destruction.

3) While we yet live, it is never too late to turn to God.

2. Invitation