11/21/11

Judge Samson: A Case Study in Moral Failure

Part 1, The Spoiled Child
Introduction: The story of Samson is one of the most memorable in the Bible. It is a tragedy. When I think about it, most of my favorite stories are tragedies. Dr. Givago, Les Miserables, Gone with the Wind, Casablanca. The hero doesnt always get the girl. Everyone doesnt live happily ever after. I dont know why but the tragedies really stick with me. Samsons was a tragic story. And it didnt have to be. It all came about because of Samsons Moral flaw. Samson was a He-man with a she-weakness. He was capable of extraordinary accomplishments, but incapable of resisting temptation. God used this giant even though flawed to do His work. And that is the essence of this story. God uses us, even in failure. But we suffer the consequences and miss the glory. Swindoll, pg. 31 Come Before Winter. The tale of the strong man begins in Judges 13. Tonight lets look at his early life. I dont mean to sound like a broken record, but I have to point this out again. The story begins with that sad refrain. Verse 1. The cycle of the judges. Not unlike the spiritual cycle I see in many peoples lives. Tragedy, repentance, prosperity, sin, tragedy. . . This time the adversary was the nation of Philistia. Small strip of land right on the coast. Philistines were sea peoples who arrived along the coast from the Northern Mediterranean areas of Greece and Cyprus around 1200 BC Pharaoh Ramesses III tells how he drove them out of the Nile Delta in 1174BC and they settled along the southern coast of canaan. They destroyed existing Canaanite cities and built their own. Archaeological indicates a well-organized civilization. Very powerful. Supporting the Biblical accounts.

Judges 09 Samson The Philistines settled there probably from the land of the Phoenicians. Very skilled sea people. Historians of ancient Egypt will tell you that even Egypt with her mighty army had recurring trouble with these people of the sea. Add to their Phoenician roots the biblical evidence of Anakim. Remember when the 12 spies went into the land they were frightened by the warriors of extraordinary size called Anakim. During Joshuas day they drove the Anakim from the land except for a small and formidable pocket in the seacoast towns of Gaza, Ashdod and Gath. Ashdod, Gaza and Gath are all three prominent cities in the Philistine plane. Remember years later a young boy named David would go up against a descendant of the Anakim named Goliath. He was The Giant from Gath. . So the Philistines were exceptional warriors and they were a force to be reckoned with even until the time of David. They have oppressed the people for 40 years. Thats a long time. God finally decides to move. Verse 2. Notice Samson was Gods man from conception. I think that is a powerful reminder that the Lord is sovereign even in the womb and we dont have the right to take unborn life. Verse 3 Angel appeared. This is called a theophany. A selfmanifestation of God. These stopped occurring after the incarnation of Christ leading many to think that these angles were a pre-incarnate Christ. Verse 4. Nazarite Oath. This was a vow described in Numbers 6:1-8. Two things: abstain from alcohol and not cut the hair. Normally temporary, with Samson it was a life long situation. Setting apart for a special purpose. Clear it up. Jesus was not a Nazarite. He was a Nazarene. He didnt take this vow. He simply came from the city of Nazareth. Verse 5.

11/21/11 Verse 5 his mission was to begin the deliverance. This points to the imcomplete work, but it also is prophetic about the kind of end he would meet. Down to verse 5. Nazarite.

Judges 09 Samson One look and anybody could see that he loved God! Look at the hair. A constant reminder of the vow. Every party when the wine flowed freely Samson would brush away all offers and loudly profess, No thank you not me. . . I have made this vow. The women would swoon at the disciplined hunk from Zorah.

Manoah struggled to believe his wife. Verses 6-8. The angel came back. Verse 12 - 14. When it was all said and done Manoah was fearful. Verse 22. His wife had to calm him down with common sense. Verse 24 the birth. Chapter 14 describes Samsons early days. Right off the bat we see the emergence of his moral flaw. Verse 2. Samsons first recorded words were I saw a woman. Notice the crass, demanding style, get her for me as a wife. Something is wrong when you see a statement like that.

On the outside everything pointed to God. Inside he was a real mess. Not uncommon is it. How many would never think of taking a drink. Good Baptists dont drink. But they would cheat you blind in a business deal. Driven by greed. Or they would lust after another mans wife. Or entertain soft-core porn. Never let outward discipline cover for internal weakness. Dont point to the vow. Examine the heart. Whats going on when nobody else is looking? II. Deal With Moral Lapses Early.

This He Man Had a She Weakness. The root of this would ultimately spell his demise. Let me share a couple of quick insights about this moral mess. I. Never Let Outward Discipline Cover For Inward Weakness.

I think this is a huge responsibility of the parents. I would almost guarantee that Manoah and his wife new something was wrong in their sons heart. I think this is why he was so passionate about not getting the Philistine girl. He knew. But he seemed powerless to correct it. Aging parents. Overindulging. Strong willed child. Moral lapse. All the ingredients for disaster. Parents: we bear the responsibility of shaping the spiritual direction of our families. And it starts early. Even the small things. I am amazed at the way many parents allow their children to talk to them. The other day Keith told me about a dad whose small boy said, Hey idiot, get me something to drink. The father did. Seems that parents lack basic common sense when it comes to their children.

Think about this. All of Samsons problems stemmed from the fact that he had unchecked lust for women. The sole basis of his selection seemed to be their physical beauty. Verse 3. When the dad protested that she was from the enemy camp Samson didnt care in the least. All he said was, She looks good to me. The attraction was purely physical. Something was wrong in the heart of Samson. How could a man set apart from conception for the purpose of God not care that the woman he was attracted to was not from the Lord. By all outward signs Samson was a devoted follower of the Lord.

11/21/11 Children should be confronted when they are disrespectful to elders. Especially parents. And it is the fathers responsibility to do that. They shouldnt be allowed to talk back, to sass, to hit or any of those. You have to be in control of your home! And you have to guard your childrens moral development. Guard the content in your home. Watch what you watch. Retain the right of refusal. Even into dating. Dads get involved here. Insist that you meet the girl or boy your child will date. Teach them strong moral values. Model strong moral values. Talk straight to them. Know what the Bible says. Prepare and protect them from the world. Beyond the parents. Deal with this yourself. I am more than a little concerned about the moral demise of students. Sexually aggressive females. Exhibitionism. Tremendous moral breakdown. Starting in Jr. High. By college the gloves are off and anything goes. And the students seem incapable of discerning right from wrong. Young man or woman who would walk with God. You must live morally pure. 1. Police Yourself. Job said I have made a covenant with God that I might not look on a virgin. Covenant with your body. You are a temple of god. Glorify god in you bodies. 2. Police Each other. Be accountable. Iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another. Bad company corrupts good morals. 3. Daily Dependence. God help me here. Lead me not into temptation. Every morning that should be your prayer. 3

Judges 09 Samson This is a moral war you are in. Deal with it early. Samson never did, and the beast grew until it got him. III. Understand the Sovereignty of God.

Verse 4. God can use us even in our flaws. But instead of it being a good ending for you, it becomes a tragedy. Samson was used by God. But it didnt have to turn out as it did. This is the part of the script he lets us write. The story line belongs to him. We get to tell how the leading character turns out. Through the choices we make.