Judges 13:1-5; 16:19-21, 28-30.

(Judges 13:1) ‘Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.

(2) A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was sterile and remained childless.

(3) The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, “You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive a have a son.

(4) Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, (5) because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head,

because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” ’

His name means “little sun” He was the 13th and final judge Samson: His name means “little sun” He was the 13th and final judge His story spans from Judges 13:1 – 16:31

SAMSON’S CALLING AND GIFTING Miraculous conception & birth (13:2-4)

SAMSON’S CALLING AND GIFTING Miraculous conception & birth (13:2-4) Nazirite Vow (13:5; cf. Numbers 6:1-21)

Nazirite vow (Numbers 6:1-21) Must abstain from fermented drinks Must not shave or cut his hair. Must not touch a dead body.

SAMSON’S CALLING AND GIFTING Miraculous conception & birth (13:2-4) Nazirite Vow (13:5; cf. Numbers 6:1-21) Deliverer (13:5)

SAMSON’S CALLING AND GIFTING Miraculous conception & birth (13:2-4) Nazirite Vow (13:5; cf. Numbers 6:1-21) Deliverer (13:5) Extraordinary Strength (14:4, 19; 15:14-15)

2. SAMSON’S NEGLECT OF HIS GIFT… Careless with how he lived his life

2. SAMSON’S NEGLECT OF HIS GIFT… Careless with how he lived his life Sexually promiscuous

2. SAMSON’S NEGLECT OF HIS GIFT… Careless with how he lived his life Sexually promiscuous Frivolous with spiritual gift

2. SAMSON’S NEGLECT OF HIS GIFT… Careless with how he lived his life Sexually promiscuous Frivolous with spiritual gift Negligent of personal holiness

3. SAMSON’S CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLECTING HIS GIFT… Samson lost his STRENGTH (16:19) “…his strength left him.”

(16:20) “…he did not know the Lord had left him.” 3. SAMSON’S CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLECTING HIS GIFT… Samson lost his STRENGTH Samson lost his SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY (16:20) “…he did not know the Lord had left him.”

3. SAMSON’S CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLECTING HIS GIFT… Samson lost his STRENGTH Samson lost his SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY Samson lost his SIGHT

(Judges 16:21) “Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison.”

4. SAMSON’S RESTORATION OF GIFTING

(16:22) “But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.”

(16:28) “O Sovereign Lord, remember me (16:28) “O Sovereign Lord, remember me. O God, give me strength just once more…”

(16:30) “Thus he killed more when he died that while he lived.”

CONCLUSION: Be careful how you live Live a morally pure life Exercise the gift of God in your life Be diligent with personal holiness and consecration