What living lessons can 21 st -century Christians learn from Samson about STRENGTH? Spiritual...

What living lessons can 21st-century Christians learn

from Samson about STRENGTH?• 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– The Hebrew term “nazir” means “one separated”

• 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–Unshorn hair was a primary mark of a Nazirite’s vow


from Samson about STRENGTH?• 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)• 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.• God listed him as a hero of faith in Hebrews 11:32.


from Samson about STRENGTH?• 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 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• When the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, he did

something great


from Samson about STRENGTH?• 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• 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• Killing the lion and posing the riddle allowed him to

begin to fulfill God’s purpose for him


from Samson about STRENGTH?• The Lord worked with and through Samson

– Episode 2: The Philistine Wife• Samson saw a woman – 14:1 (lust of the eyes)• 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– 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)



– Episode 3: The 300 Foxes• 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• 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• Out of revenge for that, Samson attacked “up one side

and down the other” with a “great slaughter” – 15:8



– 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– 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



– Episode 5: The Gates of Gaza• 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– 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).


from Samson about STRENGTH?• 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.• But, his own passions brought his doom.


from Samson about STRENGTH?• 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

– “Seven fresh bowstrings…I shall become weak” – 16:7• “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

– “Weave the seven locks of my head” – 16:13• “Have not told me where your great strength lies” – 16:15

– “Pestered him daily…His soul vexed to death” – 16:16


from Samson about STRENGTH?• 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.

• His strength was not in his hair but in God!– “His strength left him” – 16:19

• “I will go out as before…!” – 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• Made him grind grain in the prison – 16:21• Became a source of entertainment/sport – 16:25, 27


from Samson about STRENGTH?• The Lord Could Still Use Samson– “The hair of his head began to grow again” – 16:22• Reflects on the Philistine’s inattention• 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• They blasphemed the God of heaven!


from Samson about STRENGTH?• 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!”• “Strengthen me, I pray, just this once…”• “O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance…”• “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• 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.• Is knowing we have weaknesses and knowing what they are.• Comes only from God and not from self or our own abilities.• Comes only when we are true to God.• Is given by God for the purpose of fulfilling His purpose.• Guards where our eyes and feet go.• Steers away from ungodly companions.• Is not to be thought of for personal gain but for His gain.• Personal pride and arrogance will destroy spiritual strength.• One may think God is still abiding with him when in reality He left.• Spiritual strength can grow back.• Let God use you (again)!• After we repent, God can still use us!• Your greatest spiritual victory may still be ahead!• By God’s grace and power we are what we are and do what we do.

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