Sermon Tone Analysis

Samson

Background

Climate

Judges 13:1 “1 Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.”

A picture of the conditions:

Post the death of Joshua.

Periods of the Judges

The Lord Builds Family in Marginal Climates

Judges 2:11-18 “11 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; 12 and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger.

13 They forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.

14 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel.

So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.

15 Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them.

And they were greatly distressed.

16 Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them.

17 Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with ot…”

-The group God used to bring havoc on the people of Israel were the Philistines.

40 years.

-we see a macro and a micro snapshot.

Think about a camera with a wide angle lens and then a shot with a closeup.

When we see that in the Bible, the reason it is so important is God is the God of the Universe, but he is also the God of you specifically.

He is a tune to the affairs of your life.

V. 2-certain Man, from Zorah, named Manoah, of the family of the Danites.

Wife barren, no children.

v. 3-an angel-bear a son

vv.4-5 Nazarite vow

Individuals who took a vow of consecration to God.

The Nazirite Vow in the Old Testament

The Hebrew term for “Nazirite” comes from the Hebrew word meaning “to separate” (נזר, nzr).

Numbers 6 presents the distinguishing features of the vow as:

• abstaining from anything related to grapes and/or alcohol

• refraining from cutting one’s hair

• avoiding dead people (even family members)

The Nazirite’s holiness is connected to long hair (Numbers 6:5).

A man or a woman who takes a Nazirite vow represents the whole nation to God as a bride, one set apart and devoted to her husband.

The long hair is a crown, and at the end of the time of the vow, the Nazirite cuts his long hair and offers it up as a sacrifice to God, much as we will take our crowns and cast them before the Lord in heaven

The text goes on to detail the steps for being released from the vow: After bringing multiple prescribed offerings, the Nazirite would shave his or her head at the entrance to the tent of meeting and burn the hair.

The priest would then offer the waive offering, and the Nazirite would be released from his or her vow.

Two well-known Old Testament characters were likely Nazirites:

Samson is specifically called a Nazirite (Judg 13:7)

v. 8 Manoah praying-carrying parents

V. 9 God listens to our prayers.

If you desire more or want more that serves Him, He will provide.

God desires good parents.

V. 12-God can help you determine a rule of life & work

V. 14 Family must get behind a movement of God in the family.

Families must get behind the rearing and influence.

God Works His Will In Reckless Circumstances

There is a clear contrast in this scene to Gideon in Judges 6. Gideon’s offering (a peace offering of sorts) was accepted.

But God refuses Manoah’s (and thus, Israel’s) offer of a meal.

Communion, the peace-meal with God, could not occur because in Manoah’s day, the people had not cried out to the Lord; there was no peace with God and mankind (13:1).

First, an olah—a whole burnt offering, an ascension offering—must be made.

The writer parenthetically tells us that Manoah is not confused regarding the order of offerings (as we might be).

Rather, it is only because he does not yet know that this is the angel of the Lord that he wrongly offers to sit and eat in peace with this man.

vv.

15-16 God will accept our reaching out before the ideal.

We first reach out and then He brings the ideal.

V.18-God’s name is Wonderful

VV. 19-22 God’s Presence will be made known

VV. 23-25 The boy was born named Samson, he grew and the spirit of God grew with in him.

Chapter 14

Samson desires a Philistine Wife

Location :Timnah-daughter of the Philistines

I believe on of the big themes of Samson in Judges is the fact that things are not always as they appear.

Judges 14:2 “2 So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.””

When the parents are not for the marriage, usually that should tell us something.

1 Samuel 16:7 “7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him.

For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.””

Judges 14:3 v “3 Then his father and mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?”

And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.””

Listen, parents usually have our best interest at heart.

Listen to your parents.

Judges 14:4 “4 But his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord—that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines.

For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.”

V. 4 When we do not understand why someone made the decision they made, there are times we must love and trust that God is in control and he knows what he is doing.

Theme of the story of Samson.

And the story is bipolar at both ends.

Something can be very strong and vicious and appear so sweet.

Judges 14:5-9 “5 So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah.

Now to his surprise, a young lion came roaring against him.

6 And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand.

But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.

7 Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

8 After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion.

And behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion.

9 He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating.

When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they also ate.

But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion.”

vv.

12-19

Deception, Lies & Divided Loyalties is Dangerous Ground

God is using Samson as His puppet to accomplish His will for Israel ultimately.

“eye for an Eye, tooth for a tooth-OT period”

When we play that game it can always for the immediate parties-lose-lose.

Judges 14:20 “20 And Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.”

Is there a downhill spiral in choices?

Certainly.

Was there collateral damage?

Certainly.

Can God still accomplish His will along the journey?

Why do you think this is important?