1. What’s God Doing Now?

2. Turn to Judges 13-16

3. The Setting
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.
Judges 13:1 (NIV)

4. Reference Numbers 6:1-21 regarding what it means to be a Nazirite
The Prophecy of Samson’s Birth
Judges 13:2-24
Reference Numbers 6:1-21 regarding what it means to be a Nazirite

5. What Can We Learn About God?
1. God has a _____.
plan

6. and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him
Samson’s “Ministry” Begins
and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him
Judges 13:25 (NIV)

7. His parents did not know that this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.
Judges 14:4 (NIV)

8. The Lion
Judges 14:6 & 8

9. Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of their belongings and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he went up to his father's house. And Samson's wife was given to the friend who had attended him at his wedding.
Judges 14:19, 20 (NIV)

10. Burning foxes and fields
Judges 15:3-6

11. What Can We Learn About God?
2. God is in _______.
control

12. Samson said to 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. Then he went down and stayed in a cave in the rock of Etam.
Judges 15:7-8 (NIV)

13. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.
Judges 15:15 (NIV)

14. Samson led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.
Judges 15:20 (NIV)

15. Philistines Unprotected
But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.
Judges 16:3 (NIV)

16. faithfulness 3. God’s ___________ is not based on our behavior.
What Can We Learn About God?
faithfulness
3. God’s ___________ is not based on our behavior.

17. Delilah
Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.
Judges 16:4 (NIV)

18. With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death.
Judges 16:16 (NIV)

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

20. Temple Destroyed
Judges 16:27-30

21. always remembers 4. God _____________ those who call on him.
What Can We Learn About God?
always remembers
4. God _____________ those who call on him.