A Place Of Grace
10-4-26
  • Battle Belongs
  • As we consider Samson’s narrative this morning we see:
    Samson could tear apart a lion, carry away city gates, and defeat a thousand men—yet his extraordinary strength did not produce consistent obedience. His life reflects an Israel that had grown accustomed to bondage, while God continued working to deliver His people. As we consider their story, we must ask: Are we submitting to what is right in God’s eyes, or becoming comfortable with what is right in our own?

    What Has Happened?

    Judges 13:1 gives us a sad summary of the state of Israel and there are things absent that should wave a red flag of warning and concern for us…
    Judges 13:1 NASB95
    Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, so that the Lord gave them into the hands of the Philistines forty years.
    This is the last time we see this cyclical statement appear in this book [cycle and spiral slides]
    We see absent from this introduction or any other indication from the text that Israel cries out to God
    Judges 15:9-13 indicates to us that the people are apparently “content” & don’t want to disturb how things are
    They are living in bondage and have grown “okay” with it, maybe even “comfortable”
    It is in this state, even though Israel may not be calling on God to act, that He does so in a rather unique way…
    The LORD Himself visits a couple who are not able to have children
    He informs them they will have a son, he shall be a Nazarite from conception and be so his whole life (not a Nazarene, from Nazareth) Numbers 6:1-21
    Judges 13:3-5 lays out for us this judge to be… God in His sovereignty chooses to use this son they will have to begin His work against the Philistines
    Judges 13:3–5 NASB95
    Then the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son. “Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. “For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
    Consider the implications of observing God work even before birth...
    This calling demonstrates that God’s commitment to Israel transcends the nation’s spiritual condition.
    The Samson narrative exemplifies divine love that cannot let go—even when the loved one repeatedly betrays loyalty.
    Ironically, through a deeply compromised judge we see a window into God’s character.
    God sets him apart for holiness, yet allows him to squander that calling, revealing God’s patient love despite human failure.
    Samson’s prenatal calling, though he ultimately failed to fulfill it faithfully, served God’s larger purpose of demonstrating His power and sovereignty to Israel and the nations—a purpose that transcends any individual’s obedience or disobedience.

    Strength on Display

    In churches growing up I would be taught the narratives in Samson’s life and the stories would intrigue a young man. Interestingly the point or lesson would usually stress that... “we look to God for our strength.”
    While this is an accurate Biblical principle I really don’t feel that this is the central reason God has recorded this in the book of Judges…
    When we see these acts of strength played out we NOTICE God working, empowering, and fulfilling His purpose (Sovereignty) in spite of mankind:
    Judges 14:5–6 Tore apart a young lion with his bare hands, as one would tear apart a young goat. The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him. (Visiting a pagan woman)
    Judges 14:19 Killed thirty men at Ashkelon and took their clothing to pay the wager from his riddle. The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him. (he would not be in this situation had he not followed the lust of his eyes)
    Judges 15:7–8 Struck the Philistines with a great slaughter in retaliation for burning his wife and her father. The number killed is not given. (he is responding out of rage and personal revenge)
    Judges 15:13–14 Broke free from two new ropes when the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him. The ropes became like burned flax, and his bonds fell away. (his own people turn him over)
    Judges 15:15–16 Killed one thousand Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone. (in the end he recognizes God’s empowerment and deliverance here)
    Judges 16:3 Uprooted Gaza’s city gates, including both gateposts and the bar, placed them on his shoulders, and carried them to the hill opposite Hebron. ( he was visiting a prostitute)
    Judges 16:6–9 Snapped seven fresh bowstrings used to bind him, as easily as a cord breaks when exposed to fire.
    Judges 16:10–12 Broke new ropes from his arms as though they were thread.
    Judges 16:13–14 Pulled free from the loom arrangement after Delilah wove the seven locks of his hair into the web and secured them with a pin. (these things were done as he slowly allowed himself to be worn down and defeated by Delilah)
    Judges 16:23–30 Brought down the Philistine temple by pushing against its two supporting pillars. About three thousand men and women were on the roof, with additional people inside. He killed more at his death than during his life. (he asked God even in this moment to let him avenge himself because they took his sight!)
    Interestingly as we look at Samson’s life we see he was BLIND long before the Philistines gouged out his eyes.
    However we must also remember Judges 14:4… God’s purpose advanced without making Samson’s motives righteous.
    Judges 14:4 NASB95
    However, his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord, for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.
    Many of Samson’s conflicts were driven by personal grievances. Yet God worked through this compromised man to begin Israel’s deliverance.
    He knows and understands his strength comes from the Lord, YET… he uses what God has blessed him with for his own selfish reasons
    These accounts certainly teach us that strength comes from God. But they also confront us with a troubling reality: Samson repeatedly received God’s strength while resisting His direction.

    Compare & Contrast

    In considering how to allow this narrative to have the intended impact for our lives that it should, I decided to look at it in a compare and contrast approach. In brevity I want to look at Samson, Israel, David… and ultimately I want us to look to God.
    “We share these struggles still today.” Contrast asks, “Will we respond with self-will or submission to God?”

    COMPARISONS of Samson & Israel

    Set apart from birth… Set apart by covenant
    Pursued foreign women… Pursued foreign gods
    Chose right in his eyes… Did what was right in thier own eyes
    Compromise led to captivity… Rebellion led to oppression
    Called on God, given strength… Cried to God & recieved deliverers (early on)
    Desire and convenience have displaced OBEDIANCE in both Samson and Israel!
    Attraction now shapes choices
    Personal feelings, pleasures fuel responses
    Presumptions on God’s grace, strength, and mercy foster excuses to sin
    What is EVIL IN GOD’S SIGHT is now right, comfortable, accepted in thier sight (AND THEY ARE BLIND TO IT!)

    CONTRAST of two men of FAITH!… Samson & David… (Hebrews 11:32)

    Both are remembered as men of faith, yet neither consistently acted faithfully
    Both were leaders through whom God delivered His people Israel
    Both men have God’s Spirit come upon them and empower them to God’s will
    God’s calling and power does NOT remove the responsibility to obey
    Both men faced and fought Philistines
    Samson did so because of wrong done to himself
    David approached battle for God’s Name and God’s Honor
    Both men faced and killed a lion and had victories over enemies in mighty ways
    Samson acknowledged his dependance on God after the victory (at Lehi w/jawbone)
    David acknowledged his dependance before victory (Goliath)
    Both men made decisions under pressure
    Samson with woman at Timnah he saw Judges 14 1-3 “looks right to me”
    David with military actions 1 Samuel 23:2-4 “what does the Lord direct”
    Both had opportunities to retaliate
    Samson justified retaliation by what was done to himself
    David waited on the Lord to work, leaving Saul to God
    David nearly took vengeance on Nabal before Abigail restrained him (1 Samuel 25)
    Both men were vulnerable to sexual sin… temptations
    Samson with foreign women, prostitute, Delilah the seductress
    David committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged Uriah’s death
    Both men had failures and sin… and God dealt with them both in thier sin
    Samson lost strength, was captured & blinded and in the end he explicitly expresses his dependance on the Lord
    David was confronted by Nathan, lost his son and we see he has a heart of explicit repentance for his sin
    Both men receive God’s MERCY and GRACE… while still facing the earthly consequences
    God’s mercy and grace does not make our sin harmless
    God’s use of Samson did not mean God approved of Samson’s conduct
    Judges 16:30-31 sums up Samson’s life in a tragic way
    Judges 16:30–31 NASB95
    And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life. Then his brothers and all his father’s household came down, took him, brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. Thus he had judged Israel twenty years.
    1 Kings 15:5 sums up David’s life in a powerful way
    1 Kings 15:5 NASB95
    because David did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.
    When David followed his own desires, he behaved like Samson.
    When he submitted to God’s direction and correction, the contrast became clear.
    Both men knew God’s power. Both men knew sinful desire.
    The question was whether their desires would govern their decisions—or whether God’s Word would govern and correct them.”
    When God’s Word contradicts what looks right to me, will I insist on my way—or submit to His?

    Let’s Look To God

    May I caution you this morning: Don’t leave here today elevating one man, looking down on another without reflection on the person you see in the mirror. Don’t shake your head at Israel and fail to see that the church God’s bride struggles with the same things today.
    Choosing what pleased his eyes We can make decisions based on attraction, feelings, or preference before considering what God has said. “I want it” becomes “It must be right.”
    Possessing strength while lacking self-control We may have abilities, knowledge, or ministry gifts while leaving our appetites and attitudes undisciplined. Ability does not equal maturity.
    Allowing personal wrongs to fuel retaliation We justify sinful responses because someone mistreated us: “They did it to me first.”
    We continue relationships, habits, or situations that draw us toward disobedience, convincing ourselves we can handle them.
    We can be confident in ourselves while unaware of how seriously compromise has affected us.
    Calling upon God in desperation We readily acknowledge our dependence when our resources fail. The challenge is to cultivate that dependence before the crisis comes.
    we can become comfortable with what holds us captive.
    James 1:14–15: Recognize where unchecked desire leads.
    1 Corinthians 10:12–13: Reject self-confidence and respond faithfully to temptation.
    Romans 12:17–21: Refuse to justify revenge.
    Hebrews 3:12–13: Receive the daily encouragement and correction that guard against hardening.
    QUESTIONS:
    What desire am I allowing to overrule God’s Word?
    What compromise have I convinced myself I can control?
    Am I relying on past victories while neglecting present obedience?
    We look at Israel, Samson, and even David and we see failures, we see sin. When we look at Jesus Christ and we see His willing faithfulness His willing sacrifice and we remember… the true cost of our sin!

    NOW REMEMBER:

    The Bread
    The Cup

      • Judges 13:1NASB95

      • Judges 13:3–5NASB95

      • Judges 14:4NASB95

      • Judges 16:30–31NASB95

      • 1 Kings 15:5NASB95

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