Judges 15:1-20
Samson…The Consequences of Our Actions
Review: Samson…A life marked by wrong choices-place, wife, reason, direction, feast, companions, conquest
…Samson’s story is our story…Strong “at times” v.13:25…in the power of the Holy Spirit v.6, 19…pitifully weak in others. 1Cor 15:33 Prov 13:20 A walking contradiction…positive and negative types
God will use the life a believer…he will get glory by our life or death…
…we will not escape the consequences of our sin…nor will we thwart God’s will by our disobedience.
v.1-2 The consequences of our actions
Samson abandons his wife at the altar, if you will, then…
Samson shows up “awhile after” with a gift…pretends like nothing happened.
Samson’s wife-to-be given to another
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
The harvest in inevitable…the law of the harvest…what you sow…more than you sow.
v.3-6 The justification of our actions
Motives
God’s motive for raising up Samson to deliver Israel from their oppressors
Samson motive was revenge…For being cheated out of his wife…cheated out of the dowry.
Methods
Samson…burns the fields…300 foxes…PETA would not be pleased(Joshua 300 pitchers/lamps)
Harvest time… punishing blow… “pound of flesh”
Philistines…burn his wife and her family
Betrays her husband to avoid being burned…ends up being burned anyway!
Tit for tat…you burn me…I’ll burn you
O.T. Ex 20:24, Lev 24:20 eye for eye…don’t get mad, get even
Nothing secret…Luke 12: 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
v.7-8 The retaliation of our actions
Though ye have done this, yet will I be avenged of you,…
So Samson…smote them hip and thigh…with a great slaughter
No mention of God, God’s name, God’s will, the nation… “I will be avenged”
Revenge has nothing to do with God…it is about us…
Vengeance is mine…Rom 12:17,19-21 Mat 5:44-48
Mistake
After that I will cease… and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam.
Thinking, when I say it is over, it is over. Says who?
Violence breeds more violence…When will it stop?
N.T. Rom 12:17,19…Deut 32:35 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence;
v.9-13 The retribution of our actions
Philistines bring up an army…they want Samson…he was a threat…men of Judah no threat
The men of Judah have gotten used to being defeated…willing compromisers
Too many of God’s people…already defeated…don’t want to fight…rather switch than fight.
His own people turned on him…rebuke him…upset with him for rocking the boat.
The people feared the Philistines more than God…He was an embarrassment to them.
Handed Samson over to the enemy…John 11:49-52…Mat 24:9-12
Judah in bondage…they (rule over us)…they bind Samson…Samson freely submits to it.
v.14-17 The escalation of our actions
Revenge tends to escalate till it gets totally out of control. He was out of control…
Breaks the cords …greatest strength, greatest weakness
Kills 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ass.
Ramathlehi…the heights of the jaw
Enhakkore…the spring of One calling
v.18-20 The exhaustion of our actions
For all his faults…Samson stood and fought alone…separation was his strength…v.16:17
Tired…sin will wear you out…so will the work of ministry
Thirsty…The LORD will give us rest…and water from a Rock…and renew our strength.
Truthful…thou hast given this great deliverance…He knew the source of his strength but never fully grasped the purpose for which he was given them.
Col 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
Ps 110: 5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. 6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. 7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Ezek 33:11 no pleasure of the death of the wicked…no apology either!