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SAMSON VERSUS THE PHILISTINES

Judges 13:1-16:31

The phases of Samson’s life and ministry

FAMILY

FIRST WIFE

TWO WOMEN

13:1 Israel does evil.

Lord sells them into hands of Philistines.

14:1-4 A young woman in Timnath. Parents object to uncircumcised Philistines. Lord looking for occasion.

15:1-3 Samson takes a goat to wife. Father said he thought he hated her & gave her to friend. Would he like sister? Samson to get even!

16:1-3 Samson visits prostitute in Gaza. To kill him at dawn. He takes gate and bars to Hebron hill.

13:2-5 Angel of the Lord tells Manoah's wife

- boy, Nazirite

- No wine,

- unclean, razor,

- Deliver.

14:5-7 Samson & parents to Timnath. Kills lion as spirit empowers. Did not tell parents. Likes the woman.

15:4-5 Samson send 300 fox with firebrands to burn Philistine wheat, vineyards and olive groves.

16:4-5 Samson loves Delilah in Sorek. Philistines offer 5500 shekels to get strength secret.

13:6-7 Tells Manoah the news Did not ask Angel his name - birth, wine - Nazirite from birth to death.

14:8-9 Samson goes to marry. He gives honey from carcass to parents but they don't know where it's from.

15:6-8 Who did it? Samson, for wife given to another. They burn girl & dad Samson kills Philistines.

16:6-22 Delilah extracts secret. Hair cut & Lord left him. They blind him & he grinds in Gaza & hair grows.

13:8-23 Manoah prayed and returned. They offer goat and angel goes in flame. Die? No, accepted offer.

14:10-19 At feast Samson given 30 companions. Riddle - wife to be burnt. Kills 30 for clothes.

15:9-19 Judah gives Samson to Philistines. At Lehi he kills 1000 with a donkey's jawbone. He cries for water.

16:23-30 Great Dagon sacrifice. Samson performs. He cries to the Lord & destroys temple. He killed more in death.

13:24-25 Birth of Samson. Grew blessed and spirit stirs in Camp of Dan between Zorah & Eshtaol.

14:19b-20 Samson goes home angry.

Samson's wife is given to his best man.

15:20 Samson led Israel 20 years in the days of Philistines.

16:31 Brothers and father's family bury him between Zorah & Eshtaol. He had led Israel 20 years.

LESSONS: Samson, 13:1 - 16:31

1. Separated from birth as a Nazirite. Set apart especially for God. Samson (shimshown) - 'like the sun', reminding us of the song of Deborah and Barak, ...But may they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength (5:31 NIV).

2. Strongest of the Judges in personal physical strength. He killed a lion with his bare hands. He killed 30 men of Ashkelon. He tied 300 foxes tail to tail. He slaughtered the Philistines. He slew 1000 with the jawbone of a donkey. He broke the ropes that bound him with ease. He pulled down the temple of Dagon.

3. Lowest of the whole lot of the Judges morally and spiritually. He touched unclean carcasses, messed around with the Philistines instead of destroying them. He went after a woman of the uncircumcised Philistines, a prostitute and Delilah who tricked him.

4. He killed more in his death than in his life. He got in God's way. God had to remove him. His strength got in God's way. The Philistines were not God's biggest problem in those days. Samson was the biggest problem. He had to go.

5. Our gifting and strength can also get in God's way. Our old man must die. The old nature in us is our biggest problem.

6. Samson's strength became more important than his separation to God. He gloried in his strength - not in God.

7. The touchstone of his strength was his separation to God and God's will. Without his separation to God he lost his strength.

8. Samson's attitude was selfish, childish and vengeful. He said that he would do to the Philistines what they had done to him (15:7). He fought his own battles, not God's battles.

9. Mentioned in Hebrews for his faith (Hebrews 11:32). He believed in God but did not seem to be close to Him. It is recorded that he called on God but only in emergencies. God was his "ambulance". We may ask ourselves if we have a day by day fellowship with God or do we only "ring God's phone" when we are in trouble, or need help?

10. Another Nazirite had to take his place and fight the Philistines - Samuel. He was dedicated from birth. A hurt, praying, childless woman was promised a son. That was Hanna and she promised to the Lord in I Samuel 1:11, I will give him to the Lord all his days and no razor will ever be used on his head (NIV).

Samuel was a contrast to both Samson, and Eli and his sons, who were thieves and immoral priests.

Samuel had spiritual strength, not muscle strength. He had greater victories over the Philistines.

SPIRITUAL STRENGTH IS FAR BETTER THAN PHYSICAL STRENGTH!

12. At the same time Samson parallels Christ in some ways. Jesus like Samson demonstrated mighty power. Samson killed more in his death than in his life. Jesus also died and had a greater victory in his death than in his life. On the cross Jesus conquered more enemies than in his life. The great difference is that Samson died for his own sins and Jesus died for, not his own sins, but for our sins.

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