October 19, 2006
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Please pray for me. Tomorrow I am teaching the lunchtime Bible study. I am teaching on Judges 13-16 regarding Samson. I have been working hard and studying regarding Him, but always love to hear what others have to say.
Samson broke every Nazirite vow, his eyes caused him to sin, so he is part of 1 John’s plan of satan, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and pride of life. The things that tore my heartstrings is that he didn’t realize when the spirit of God was removed from him, and then his prayer at the end. I am also happy that he made it to Hebrews 11 – the faith chapter, even if it was by the last act of his life.
Samson shows us how we need not only dedication but devotion to God, we need accountability, and we need purity. Without that strength is wasted. He could have done so much for his people had he been more disciplined and obedient to God.
I have notes I will share later, but am curious what you might have to share about Samson, especially in the form of life applications.
Heather
Comments (10)
Hi Heather, that servant of God I mentioned is one of my pastors, once a missionary in Pakistan. Pride is a huge problem in Christian circles. We saw that in the OT, in the NT with the pharisees and it is no different today. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble but the proud are blind to this verse. If we could learn from Samson’s mistake, it would do a great deal for the church but why aren’t we learning from the many life lessons in the bible? Knowing the truth alone isn’t enough, the truth needs to be applied and application is a real problem in the lives of many. Please do pray. I’m so burdened and thanks so much. You are an encouragenment to me.
I will be praying for you as you rightly divide the Word of Truth about Samson. I always think of Samson when my friends have a child that will not walk in the way of the Lord. Samson strayed in every way he could come up with and yet in the end, as you said, he turned to the Lord and made it into the hall of Faith in Hebrews. Samson. A he-man with a she problem.
Enjoy your time and being used by Jesus. You are loved. Old Hat
I will be praying for you! I wish I could be there!I know the others will be getting an Awesome teaching……….Have an Awesome Day!……((hugs))…..In Christ’s Love…..Monic
I wonder if Samson lived in a state of denial to some degree. Not really believing he would one day pay the consequences for his disobedience. Just a thought. You will do a great job teaching. I think you are gifted and certainly have the desire to share God’s truths. Blessings..Vel
Samson is one of those characters in the Bible who seems to be bigger than life: he kills a lion with his bare hands; he carries off the gates of a city; he catches foxes, ties their tails together, and puts torches in them to let them loose in the fields of his enemies; and he ends his life by pulling down the temple of Dagon on himself and on a full house of Philistines.
Not only does he do things in the power of the Lord, things that we would have to call miracles, his whole life was a miracle. His birth was announced to his mother by an angel, he lived his life as a Nazarene; he is described as someone God chose to use to set Israel free from their oppressors.
Samson had a personality that was out of control. He wouldn’t take advice from people who knew more about life; he had a hot temper that got him into trouble with the Philistines more than once; he was attracted to women because of their physical beauty rather than because of their righteousness; he ended up in unmarried and unholy relationships with Philistine women because of his desire; and finally he was so weak that he couldn’t even keep a secret from these women when he knew he should keep his mouth shut.
How could God ever use a person who was so influenced by the lusts of the flesh and emotional extremes? The Bible doesn’t cover up any of Samson’s faults, and yet it tells us that God was behind many of the decisions that Samson made. God wanted Samson to infiltrate the Philistines, and He seemingly used Samson’s weaknesses for women to accomplish His purpose.
Sometimes we all make mistakes, and sometimes they are such big mistakes in our own eyes that we think we have disqualified ourselves for service to God. Imagine that Samson came to a church or to a mission board and asked to become part of the ministry staff. I can already hear the objections ~ “You married a non-Christian?” “You’ve been divorced?” “You killed several of your enemies in a fit of anger?” “You have used the services of prostitutes?” “You are presently living with a non-Christian woman without being married?” I don’t think that Samson would get very far. But God used him in marvelous ways. In many ways, Samson’s life seemed out of control, just as ours does, at times ~ but God was and is still, in control. What a wonderful lesson for all us.
Great post! Sorry for the “blog” in your comment section. You are in my prayer’s, Heather ~
Samson is an example of how drunkeness
leads to forgetfulness.
“Courageous”
by Mary Carolyn Davies
Make me too brave to lie or be unkind.
Make me too understanding, too, to mind
the little hurts companions give, and friends,
the careless hurts that no one quite intends.
Make me too thoughtful to hurt others so.
Help me to know
the inmost hearts of those for whom I care,
their secret wishes, all the loads they bear,
that I may add my courage to their own.
May I make lonely folks feel less alone,
and happier ones a little happier yet.
May I forget
what ought to be forgotten; and recall,
unfailing, all
that ought to be recalled, each kindly thing,
forgetting what might sting.
To all upon my way,
day after day,
Let me be joy, be hope! Let my life sing!
I will be praying for you
Samson screwed up…………….big time………..but no matter how bad it looks…….how deep the well we’ve fallen into……….HE is there beside us. NOT up in heaven…………waiting for us to figure out how to fix the problem. Like Samson we need to be coming to our heavenly Father and asking for forgiveness and giving what’s left of us to HIM. I really believe too many christians can’t see past the darkness in the well to find our Father. We somehow get it into ourselves that we have to “get in shape” and fix the problem before coming to Jesus. When I think how Samsom must have looked……..with his eyes plucked out and bound to those pillars with throngs of ppl staring at him……………..I can’t imagine being in a more humilating place. And yet……………..he chose to humble himself and bring what was left before God and ask to be used one more time. Thank you Lord God that you never see us in any other way…………….except through the blood of your Son Jesus Christ. I wait to hear how it goes………..and to read your next blog. ***hug*** V7 Penny
Sorry just a little time now. but loved Samson for teaching my young boys. How they love the strength and the retribution. How I loved the lessons of listen to your parents and be very careful of beautiful young women…who may not love God. Nice. They got that message very clearly at a young age. good prep.
Hi Heather,
It’s getting pretty late now and I just noticed that you subscribed to my site. I’m honored that you would do so. I look forward to more of your writings. This is a really great and informative post. I took a look around and I like what I see. The Word of God is so rich. I’m glad you dropped in on me and hope you will feel comfortable to come back again soon. I’m also subbing to your site as well. You’ve really done a great job with your entire blog. Thank you for your encouragement and God bless you. Have a really good Sunday at church.
Warmly in Christ,
Joe Smith