Judges 16:1-31
Samson…Making a Mock at Sin
Review: Samson…A life marked by wrong choices…then the consequences of those actions
…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…a walking contradiction…we will not escape the consequences of our sin…nor will we thwart God’s will by our disobedience.
Prov 14:9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
Living example of one who has …preached to others…became a castaway
One preacher called it “the high price of low living”.
v.1-3 Unguarded fleshly passions…The harlot at Gaza…The lust of the flesh…
Carried away by sin…Obvious sin…Weakness for girls…woman at Timnah, this harlot, Delilah
Carries away the gates of the city…Obvious supernatural strength…a man out of control
Misuse of gifts…not given to draw attention to yourself…
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
v.4-18 Unguarded heart…lust of the eyes
v.4 He loved a woman…
Parties with Delilah (“feeble”)…a woman in the valley of Sorek (choice vines) (Napa Valley)
Lose you inhibitions…she is an enticer.
Lose your judgment…Wine is a mocker…The Enemy will “wine and dine” you.
Prov 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Ps 73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
He lies…he lies three times…makes light of his gifts…play thing…it’s a game to him.
…seven green withs…Ps 11:2 strings (bow)(sinews) or (vine)(willow)
…new ropes (cords)
…seven locks
v.5 Entice him…Prov 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Eleven hundred pieces of silver…handsome price of betrayal.
v.6 Tell me I pray thee wherein thy great strength lieth
v.13 Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies:
Misuse of gifts…Not given to mock others…
1Cor 12:7 gifts…are for the benefit of the body…not entainment.
v.19-21 Unguarded strength…pride of life
v.6 Tell me I pray thee wherein thy great strength lieth
Overestimates his strength…I can handle it!
Worn down…temptation does that…opens up and reveals all
Faced with staying in a faithful relationship to God or continuing an ungodly relationship
He chose the ungodly relationship…that is when his strength left him.
Strength not in the hair…but his separation/consecration…the hair an outward symbol.
After that decision is made…
The Enemy can shave your head…before you even realize he is even doing it.
Lose your sensitivity.
Wake up and your strength is gone!
How does that happen?
v.20 Presumption…I will go out as before
Rationalization of sin…presumptuous sin…tragic/fatal or both.
…And he knew not that the LORD was departed from him
Assuming that his strength was in his outward appearance
v.21-22 Deception… The deceitfulness of sin…I’ve gotten away with it up till now…
The Enemy will blind you…you don’t see it coming…Lust of the eyes
The Enemy will bind you…you are a slave before you know it…
Samson sees “separation” as legalism, something to be thrown off…rather than pursued.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
The truth is the exact opposite…separation and holiness…keeps you free!
The Enemy will grind you…grinding in the prison house of sin.
Your either a slave to sin or a servant of God…which is it?
Sin makes you helpless and pathetic…sad, sad state…life becomes a grind…
Prov 13:15 The way of transgressors is hard…
v.23-24 The Enemy will mock you…will ridicule you…will humiliate you.
Your secret sins…your private indiscretions will result in public disgrace.
The world laughs at the fallen Christian…pull him out and let’s have another good laugh.
But they make a fatal mistake…they attribute their victory to Dagon, their God…rather than discipline of the God of Israel…The Enemy always “over-plays his hand”.
v.28 The Believer in Disobedience turns back to God
Wasted potential, tragic end…don’t repent…He will grind you to powder!
Mt 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Remember me…Samson said that…
The thief on the cross said that...
For the first time in his life…he is willing to “die to self”.
Think you have messed up so bad…God can never use you again? Think again!
God gives him one last victory…but he never completed his mission/calling.