What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Samson about STRENGTH? Spiritual Strength Comes Only from God Spiritual Strength Comes Only from God – The Lord chose Samson even before conception – 13:1-5 – The Lord chose Samson to be set apart to Him – 13:5 Samson was to be “a Nazirite to God” – 13:5 Samson was to be “a Nazirite to God” – 13:5 – The Hebrew term “nazir” means “one separated” Unlike other Nazirites, Samson’s vow: Unlike other Nazirites, Samson’s vow: – Was determined for him – 13:5; cf. Num. 6:1-8 – Would last from his birth to his death – 13:5, 7 – Required dietary restrictions on his mother – 13:4, 7 The hair was a major part of the Nazirite vow The hair was a major part of the Nazirite vow – Unshorn hair was a primary mark of a Nazirite’s vow

What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Samson about STRENGTH? Spiritual Strength Comes Only from God Spiritual Strength Comes Only from God – Before Samson’s birth, God had delivered Israel into hand of Philistines (using pagans to punish His people) – 13:1 – However, God already had a plan for delivering them He set apart Samson to “begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” – 13:5 (Deliverer=Judge) He set apart Samson to “begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” – 13:5 (Deliverer=Judge) Samson “judged Israel 20 years” (15:20) but Philistine yoke not thrown off until Samuel (1 Sam. 7:3-13) Samson “judged Israel 20 years” (15:20) but Philistine yoke not thrown off until Samuel (1 Sam. 7:3-13) – Despite some things we know about Samson, one thing that stands out is that he honored his Nazirite vow. It was the guiding principle of his faith. It was the guiding principle of his faith. God listed him as a hero of faith in Hebrews 11:32. God listed him as a hero of faith in Hebrews 11:32.

What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Samson about STRENGTH? The Lord worked with and through Samson The Lord worked with and through Samson – Key points: The Lord worked with and through Samson for His Divine purposes The Lord worked with and through Samson for His Divine purposes The Lord worked with and through Samson when Samson kept his vow The Lord worked with and through Samson when Samson kept his vow “The Lord blessed him” with physical strength (which came from the Lord) and “the Spirit of the Lord” began to move upon him – 13:24-25 “The Lord blessed him” with physical strength (which came from the Lord) and “the Spirit of the Lord” began to move upon him – 13:24-25 When the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, he did something great When the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, he did something great

What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Samson about STRENGTH? The Lord worked with and through Samson The Lord worked with and through Samson – Episode 1: The Lion When the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, Samson tore the lion apart with his bare hands – 14:6 When the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, Samson tore the lion apart with his bare hands – 14:6 Later, he touched the dead lion and ate honey from the carcass – 14:8-9 Later, he touched the dead lion and ate honey from the carcass – 14:8-9 At his wedding feast, Samson posed a riddle to the Philistines about the honey from the lion – 14:12-18 At his wedding feast, Samson posed a riddle to the Philistines about the honey from the lion – 14:12-18 Killing the lion and posing the riddle allowed him to begin to fulfill God’s purpose for him Killing the lion and posing the riddle allowed him to begin to fulfill God’s purpose for him

What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Samson about STRENGTH? The Lord worked with and through Samson The Lord worked with and through Samson – Episode 2: The Philistine Wife Samson saw a woman – 14:1 (lust of the eyes) Samson saw a woman – 14:1 (lust of the eyes) Samson desired a wife of pagan nation – 14:2-3 Samson desired a wife of pagan nation – 14:2-3 – More interested in pleasing self than God – 14:3, 7 Still, God would use this occasion for His purposes against Philistines – 14:4 Still, God would use this occasion for His purposes against Philistines – 14:4 – The pagan wife connived the riddle’s answer from Samson – 14:15-18 – Samson was obligated to fulfill the stakes – 14:18-19 – The Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he killed 30 Philistines – 14:19 (beginning to fulfill God’s purpose in delivering Israel)

What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Samson about STRENGTH? The Lord worked with and through Samson The Lord worked with and through Samson – Episode 3: The 300 Foxes His wife’s deception angered Samson and he left her – 14:19-20 His wife’s deception angered Samson and he left her – 14:19-20 Later, Samson sought to make peace with her but he was refused – 15:1-2 Later, Samson sought to make peace with her but he was refused – 15:1-2 In retaliation, Samson sent 300 fox-tail-tied-torches into grain fields of Philistines – 15:1-4 In retaliation, Samson sent 300 fox-tail-tied-torches into grain fields of Philistines – 15:1-4 As punishment for burning their food supply, the Philistines killed Samson’s wife and her father – 15:6 As punishment for burning their food supply, the Philistines killed Samson’s wife and her father – 15:6 Out of revenge for that, Samson attacked “up one side and down the other” with a “great slaughter” – 15:8 Out of revenge for that, Samson attacked “up one side and down the other” with a “great slaughter” – 15:8

What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Samson about STRENGTH? The Lord worked with and through Samson The Lord worked with and through Samson – Episode 4: The Jawbone of a Donkey The Philistines reacted again (against Samson’s “great slaughter”) by going to Judah and arresting Samson – 15:9-10 The Philistines reacted again (against Samson’s “great slaughter”) by going to Judah and arresting Samson – 15:9-10 – Samson’s actions had placed Judah in a precarious position with the Philistines – So, 3,000 men of Judah assisted in the Samson’s arrest – 15:11-13 – Samson allowed this to happen to perpetuate a bigger plan The Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson and he killed 1,000 men with the jawbone of a donkey – 15:14-17 The Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson and he killed 1,000 men with the jawbone of a donkey – 15:14-17

What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Samson about STRENGTH? The Lord worked with and through Samson The Lord worked with and through Samson – Episode 5: The Gates of Gaza The Lord was not done using Samson yet. The Lord was not done using Samson yet. – Samson’s lust caused him to sin again – 16:1 When the Gazites thought they had Samson trapped and were perched to kill him, his strength prevailed again – 16:2-3 When the Gazites thought they had Samson trapped and were perched to kill him, his strength prevailed again – 16:2-3 – Samson took the doors of the gate, the two gateposts, the bar and all – took hold of them, pulled them up and put them on his shoulders – 16:3 – Then, he carried to them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron (35-40 miles away).

What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Samson about STRENGTH? When Samson Broke His Vow with God, God Broke His Vow with Samson. When Samson Broke His Vow with God, God Broke His Vow with Samson. – Samson’s lust-filthy and pride-filled heart finally catches up with him! For years, he had been true to his Nazirite vow. For years, he had been true to his Nazirite vow. But, his own passions brought his doom. But, his own passions brought his doom.

What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Samson about STRENGTH? Samson Broke His Vow w/ God, God Broke His Vow w/ Samson Samson Broke His Vow w/ God, God Broke His Vow w/ Samson – Episode 6: He loves another foreign woman, Delilah – 16:4 – The lords of the Philistines bribe her with 5,500 pieces of silver to entice him – 16:5 “Please tell me where your great strength lies” – 16:6 “Please tell me where your great strength lies” – 16:6 – “Seven fresh bowstrings…I shall become weak” – 16:7 “Please tell me what you may be bound with” – 16:10 “Please tell me what you may be bound with” – 16:10 – “New ropes…I shall become weak” – 16:11 “Tell me what you may be bound with” – 16:13 “Tell me what you may be bound with” – 16:13 – “Weave the seven locks of my head” – 16:13 “Have not told me where your great strength lies” – 16:15 “Have not told me where your great strength lies” – 16:15 – “Pestered him daily…His soul vexed to death” – 16:16

What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Samson about STRENGTH? Samson Broke His Vow w/ God, God Broke His Vow w/ Samson Samson Broke His Vow w/ God, God Broke His Vow w/ Samson – Episode 6: He loves another foreign woman, Delilah – 16:4 – Samson “told her all his heart” – 16:17 The issue is not his hair as such, but the relationship with God that it represents. The issue is not his hair as such, but the relationship with God that it represents. His strength was not in his hair but in God! His strength was not in his hair but in God! – “His strength left him” – 16:19 “I will go out as before…!” – 16:20 “I will go out as before…!” – 16:20 “But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him” – 16:20 “But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him” – 16:20 – The Philistines finally had him Put out his eyes, bound with bronze shackles – 16:21 Put out his eyes, bound with bronze shackles – 16:21 Made him grind grain in the prison – 16:21 Made him grind grain in the prison – 16:21 Became a source of entertainment/sport – 16:25, 27 Became a source of entertainment/sport – 16:25, 27

What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Samson about STRENGTH? The Lord Could Still Use Samson The Lord Could Still Use Samson – “The hair of his head began to grow again” – 16:22 Reflects on the Philistine’s inattention Reflects on the Philistine’s inattention Implies that Samson’s strength could be returning Implies that Samson’s strength could be returning – The lords of the Philistines and a temple full of men and women gathered to celebrate – 16:23-27 The Philistines claimed their god, Dagon, had given them victory – 16:23-24 The Philistines claimed their god, Dagon, had given them victory – 16:23-24 They blasphemed the God of heaven! They blasphemed the God of heaven!

What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Samson about STRENGTH? The Lord Could Still Use Samson The Lord Could Still Use Samson – Episode 7: Samson (blind, mocked, humiliated and humbled) called to the Lord one last time – 16:28 “O Lord God, remember me, I pray!” “O Lord God, remember me, I pray!” “Strengthen me, I pray, just this once…” “Strengthen me, I pray, just this once…” “O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance…” “O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance…” “Let me die with the Philistines!” – 16:30 “Let me die with the Philistines!” – 16:30 – “The dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life” – 16:30 “He shall being to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” – 13:5 “He shall being to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” – 13:5 God “was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines” – 14:4 God “was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines” – 14:4

What living lessons can we learn from Samson about SPIRITUAL STRENGTH? Does not make a person perfect or remove all weaknesses. Does not make a person perfect or remove all weaknesses. Is knowing we have weaknesses and knowing what they are. Is knowing we have weaknesses and knowing what they are. Comes only from God and not from self or our own abilities. Comes only from God and not from self or our own abilities. Comes only when we are true to God. Comes only when we are true to God. Is given by God for the purpose of fulfilling His purpose. Is given by God for the purpose of fulfilling His purpose. Guards where our eyes and feet go. Guards where our eyes and feet go. Steers away from ungodly companions. Steers away from ungodly companions. Is not to be thought of for personal gain but for His gain. Is not to be thought of for personal gain but for His gain. Personal pride and arrogance will destroy spiritual strength. Personal pride and arrogance will destroy spiritual strength. One may think God is still abiding with him when in reality He left. One may think God is still abiding with him when in reality He left. Spiritual strength can grow back. Spiritual strength can grow back. Let God use you (again)! Let God use you (again)! After we repent, God can still use us! After we repent, God can still use us! Your greatest spiritual victory may still be ahead! Your greatest spiritual victory may still be ahead! By God’s grace and power we are what we are and do what we do. By God’s grace and power we are what we are and do what we do.