The final chapter of Samson’s life is today’s reading. There are many moral and spiritual lessons in this man’s life. Be blessed as you read and pray.
Judges 16: Samson and Delilah
1 Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her.
2 The Gazites were told, "Samson has come here." And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, "Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him."
3 But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron.
4 After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, "Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver."
6 So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you."
7 Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man."
8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
9 Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner chamber. And she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he snapped the bowstrings, as a thread of flax snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.
10 Then Delilah said to Samson, "Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies. Please tell me how you might be bound."
11 And he said to her, "If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man."
12 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And the men lying in ambush were in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.
13 Then Delilah said to Samson, "Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me how you might be bound." And he said to her, "If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and fasten it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man."
14 So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web. And she made them tight with the pin and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he awoke from his sleep and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web.
15 And she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies."
16 And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death.
17 And he told her all his heart, and said to her, "A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man."
18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, "Come up again, for he has told me all his heart." Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands.
19 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.
20 And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" And he awoke from his sleep and said, "I will go out as at other times and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him.
21 And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison.
22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
The Death of Samson
23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, "Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand."
24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, "Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us."
25 And when their hearts were merry, they said, "Call Samson, that he may entertain us." So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars.
26 And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, "Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them."
27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.
28 Then Samson called to the LORD and said, "O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes."
29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other.
30 And Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines." Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.
31 Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.
Things to think about…
1. Samson’s downfall comes like a scene in a tragedy. The Philistines are mocked and toyed with, as Samson takes the gates of the city of Gaza to Hebron, which is 60klms away, Jdgs 16:1-3. All this after going in to see a prostitute. If you are a a follower of Christ, ask yourself if there are areas where your witness is causing a stumbling block to others from seeing Christ as they should? Samson knew the fight between his flesh and his faith, but he often chose the flesh which led to many points of pain in his life, including the longest one, in a Philistine prison.
2. In Jdgs 16:4-22 we see the tragic association Samson has with Delilah, another Philistine woman. Samson was an intelligent man as we know from his riddles, but this did not make him wise or discerning. You would have thought after so many failed attempts to find the source of his strength he would have suspected that Delilah was not concerned for him. Perhaps he was hoping against hope that she would be. Is there a relationship in your life that is not healthy and is clouding your judgement that needs to be ended or at the very least adjusted so you are able to more clearly honour the Lord? Delilah eventually wears him down and shares his heart with a woman who is only bent on materialism and murder. The life of Samson is a tragic signpost to all those that put their flesh before their faith. The Lord’s love for such a one generally involves some painful discipline. Obedience is better than sacrifice, 1Sam 15:22.
3. Samson’s hair begins to grow, Jdgs 16:22, and in his last act of faith he puts himself between the temple pillars and makes the sign of the cross, Jdgs 16:29. In his sacrifice he does more for Israel than what he did in life, vs 30. Try and reflect today on how the strong man (Satan) has been defeated by the Stronger Man (Christ) because of His sacrifice on the cross. While we may have fallen morally, our Lord blesses us and our spiritual hair begins to grow. This represents our growth in Christ which is often achieved through pain, trial and suffering at various points in our lives. Let’s never stay in the past but strain forward for the upward call and prize we have in Christ, Phil 3:12-15.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sermon and reading topic for this week – Sermon “Don’t judge me”
Reading – Judges 2:1-19
1. The period of the Judges was cyclical in nature. They would fall into idol worship, they would be oppressed by Canaanite rulers, they would cry out for a Judge, God would raise up a Judge who would deliver them, they would live in prosperity, then fall back into idolatry and the cycle would repeat. This was because the Israelites did not get rid of the Canaanite inhabitants which caused Israel to turn their hearts towards idols. Discuss some of the idols in Australia. Which ones is the Australian Christian church struggling to fight against?
2. We are often told that we shouldn’t judge others. As Doug mentioned on Sunday the verses quoted to justify such a position are found in Mt 7:1-7. What is your understanding of these verses and what right judgement looks like? Are we in a position to Judge anyone? If so, how?
3. Doug mentioned the Apostle Paul’s words in 1Cor 5:9-13 regarding judgement that occurs in the church and those who are outside the church. Essentially we are called to judge those who name the name of Christ in the church, we are not even meant to eat with someone who claims to be a Christian yet continues to live an immoral lifestyle, 1Cor 5:11. How do you understand these verses and how should we apply them as a church that wants to show the love of Christ?
4. Discuss some prayer points of the group. Church prayer points.
Prayer Points
1. Recharge youth and Kids@Church ministries. Pray for Maddison and Melinda as they Coordinate Kids and Youth ministries.
2. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
3. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
4. Getting drawings into council.
5. Sunday’s message from Judges 12 - “You’re not saying it right” – Pastor Jay.
Praise Points.
1. More visitors to church on Sunday.
2. Two cell groups starting up this term.
3. Praise and worship – pray for continued growth and blessing.
4. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
Announcements
1. Members meeting 23rd May after the morning service.
2. Recharge on this week all high schoolers – 6:30pm-8:30pm Friday at church. $2 coin donation. Melinda Fourie heading up this ministry.
3. Kids Church for all primary schoolers. Maddison Willey is the ministry contact. Parents please check your rosters. Remember to sign your kids in and out.
4. Combined Church worship and prayer meeting at Beacon Baptist, 30th May 5pm.
5. Working bee – Saturday 5th June, 8:00am start at the church.
6. Outdoor service in the morning 6th June followed by lunch on “the common”
7. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
