The Life of Samson

This was for a men's retreat that I am going to do soon. A great study by the way. Samson was a man of faith. He is often remembered for his failures (which he did have) but God remembered him as a man of faith. His life should be both a caution and an inspiration to us.

The Life of Samson

The Pitfalls of His Life

1. Samson’s Commission
1. He was chosen before his birth to be a savior for God’s people

                                                               i.      Christ appeared to make the announcement of his birth to his parents.

1.      Judges 13:20-22 

2. You have been chosen by God to be a demonstration of God’s power.

                                                               i.      1 Peter 1:2-3 

3. He was given the power of the Holy Spirit.

                                                               i.      Judges 13:24-25 

4. You have been given the power of the Holy Spirit.

                                                               i.      John 15:26-27  

5. He was given a great enemy to fight.

                                                               i.      Judges 14:3-4 

6. You have been given a great enemy to fight

                                                               i.      2 Corinthians 10:3-5 

2. Samson’s Courage
1. Samson’s Philistine wife is taken from him and given to the best man at the wedding.

                                                               i.      Judges 14:20 

2. Samson retaliates by burning the Philistine Fields, and the Philistines respond by burning his father-in-law and wife with fire

                                                               i.      Judges 15:6 

3. Samson comes back and slaughters the people responsible for the murder of his family.
4. He is then pursued by the Philistine Army that sends the men of Judah to bind him.
5. Samson by the power of the Holy Spirit slaughters a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey

                                                               i.      Judges 15:14-16 

6. Samson is delivered by the miraculous water that is provided by God for him. God’s help is his true source of power.

                                                               i.      Judges 15:17-19 

7. Samson gives the Israelites 20 years of freedom from the Philistine oppressors.

                                                               i.      Judges 15:20 

3. Samson’s Compromise
1. Samson’s faith changed from trusting in God to deliver him, to an over confidence in his abilities. His greatest compromise was placing his trust in himself rather than in God.

                                                               i.      This caused him to fall into immorality.

1.      Judges 16:1-3 

                                                             ii.      His immorality caused him trust in a deceptive woman.

1.      Judges 16:4-5 

                                                            iii.      His trust in an immoral woman led him to be taken captive by his greatest enemy.

1.      Judges 16:20-21 

                                                           iv.      Because of his great compromise he was unaware that the power of God had left his life.

1.      Judges 16:20 

4. Samson’s Contrition
1. Samson is given one last chance to give his life for his people.

                                                               i.      Judges 16:27-30 

2. Samson is honored in the New Testament as a man of faith

                                                               i.      Hebrews 11:32-40