“You’re not just anyone. One day, you’re gonna have to make a choice. You have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be. Whoever that man is, good character or bad, is gonna change the world.”

Judges 13: 24-25 24 “The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him, 25 and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him…”

Judges 14 & 15 Samson: Israel’s “Action Hero”

Judges 14: 1-3 1 Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. 2 When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.” 3 …But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.”

Judges 17:6 & 21:25

Judges 14: 10-11 Like in our culture, it was customary for the bridegroom to provide supplies for the week-long “wedding feast” celebration. “Feasting” = Drinking

Numbers 6 “If a man or woman wants to make a special vow , a vow of separation to the Lord as a Nazirite…” 1.) No drinking of any alcohol 2.) No cutting of any hair on head 3.) No contact with any dead body

Judges 14: 12-20 A Riddle Gone Wrong

Samson’s Vendetta “This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them.” “Since you’ve acted like this, I won’t stop until I get my revenge on you.” He attacked them viciously and slaughtered many of them.

“Eye for Eye” Passages: Deut. 19: 19-21 Leviticus 24: 19-20 ------------------------------------------------ Scriptures about justice, not personal vengeance! God was teaching a young nation proportionality and resisting escalation in handling offenses.

Judges 15: 9-13 The Philistines send an army to retaliate against Samson’s acts of vengeance. The people of Judah do not rally to Samson’s side to fight the Philistines, but instead agree to turn him over to them.

Judges 15: 15-17

After God’s show of strength to Samson, He humbles him with thirst. Judges 15: 18-20 After God’s show of strength to Samson, He humbles him with thirst. No matter how strong or gifted we may feel that we are, each of us depends on God for everything and need Him above all else.

Matthew 5: 38-45

God had a divine purpose for Samson’s life, but he has spent the vast majority of his “story” thus far using the power and gifts God had given him for selfish reasons. Instead of a deliverer of Israel, he as just been a less-green version of the Hulk.