Building Strong Hearts, Cultivating Deep Life with Samson

1. Building Strong Hearts, Cultivating Deep Life! SAMSON How The Mighty Has Fallen! Judges 16:4–31

2. INTRODUCTION Let’s look at Samson & the last woman of his life… Delilah

3. 1. Samson's Delilah

4. "Delilah" means… • “delicate” • “devoted” • “coquettish”(flirtist) • “amorous” • (full of sexual desires)

5. Judges 16:4…. “Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.” [TNIV]

6. The Valley of Sorek was “the place of the choice red grape” connotes PLEASURE (sensuality)

7. One author writes…. “[Delilah] was presumably a Philistine, though that is not expressly stated, only that she belonged to the valley of Sorek. She is not spoken of as Samson’s wife, …

8. …. though many have understood the account in that way. The text simply says that he loved her (verse 4). The Philistines paid her a very high price for her services: eleven hundred pieces of silver [each]. …

9. …. The account indicates that for mental ability, self-command, and nerve, she was a remarkable woman. Unfortunately, she put her gifts to an evil use by exploiting Samson’s love.”

10. Judges 16:5…. “The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, ‘See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him ….

11. Judges 16:5…. …. so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.’” [TNIV]

12. The Hebrew word “lure” means… “to find an opening” – a point of vulnerability.

13. James 1:14…. “But each of you is tempted when you are dragged away by your own evil desire and enticed(lure).” [TNIV]

14. For Samson, the enticement is the lure of the “unattainable” woman…. Delilah

15. Proverbs 7:6-23 … illustrates that there is pleasure in sexual sin – grapes are quick to ferment and sour.

16. Note: When we’re aware of our weaknesses and turn them over to the Lord, He can use us more fully (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). When our weaknesses are blind spots, however, we’re in trouble.

17. What isyourweaknesses? Selfishness Drugs Alcohol Materialism Worry Anger Lust Greed Ambition Sex Pride

18. The Philistines could see Samson’s weakness. Why don’t you ask a few friends, your spouses or parents/children for a candid film review of your life?

19. Proverbs 27:6…. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” [NASB]

20. Judges 16:6-14 records Delilah’s attempts to unravel the mystery of Samson’s strength in order to weaken him for the Philistines.

21. 2. Samson's Destruction

22. Judges 16:15…. “Then she said to him, ‘How can you say, 'I love you,' when you won't confide in me?….’ ” [TNIV]

23. Judges 16:16…. Samson finally fell under pressure. • Judges 16:17…. Samson reveals his secret to Delilah.

24. Judges 16:17…. “So he told her everything. ‘No razor has ever been used on my head,’ he said, ‘because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother's womb. ….

25. …. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.’ ” [TNIV]

26. Samson’s hair … an outward symbol of his INWARD COMMITMENTto God. In reality, Samson’s superhuman strength lay not in his uncut hair, but in the mighty presence of God in his life.

27. The fall of can be traced to 2 things…. Samson He did not know his WEAKNESS. He did not knowhis STRENGTH. i) ii)

28. Mistakenly, Samson did not realize that God is the real source of his strength.

29. God allows Samson’s strength to be taken from him so that in painful circumstances he will learn that without the omnipotent God, he is impotent.

30. Application.... Samson had grown to depend on his own strength instead of God’s. God sometimes removes our crutches – gently, but suddenly and without warning.

31. Proverbs 18:10-11…. “10 The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. 11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.” [TNIV]

32. 3. Samson's Death

33. During Samson’s dark experience in the dungeon, God’s grace begins to glimmer. Samson’s hair starts growing back.

34. Judges 16:22…. “But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.” [TNIV]

35. And as his hair grows, so does his strength and his relationship with the Lord.

36. Now humbled and completely dependent on God, Samson turns his thoughts and heart back to his Father. Judges 16:28-30

37. In a final, momentous act of courage and self-denial,Samson fulfills his destinyand begins “to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines”(Judges 13:5).

38. CONCLUSION A Final Application....

39. With beggar’s hands of faith, Samson reaches out to touch the feet of his God. He said, “Sovereign LORD, remember me....” (Judges 16:28).

40. If you’re an unbeliever, you can pray with the thief on the cross – “Remember me” – you will be with Jesus in paradise (Luke 23:42-43). 1)

41. If you’re a believer With a burden, you can pray with Hannah – “Remember me” – His compassionate love to help you cope with your difficult circumstances (1 Samuel 1:1-20). 2)

42. If you’re a believer who has blown it in life, you can pray with Samson – “Remember me” – God’s strength can help you overcome your defeated past (Judges 16:28-30). 3)