Introduction
April 23-24, 2024
Key resource: The Samson Syndrome, Mark Atteberry
◼ Visualize the perfect man. How would the world describe him?
o Samson was that man. But he did not measure up to God’s calling.
◼ This guy had it all. He was hand-picked by God to lead Israel against the Philistines, gifted in talent and potential.
o But we see very little of the hero God made him to be.
o What do we know about him?
◼ We often focus on the Biblical success stories. But God gave us four chapters on this guy! Samson is a lesson on why strong people fail.
◼ Strong people should be the pillars of our homes, churches, and communities. But they aren’t.
◼ We lead our families, churches, and businesses. Let’s learn to do better than Samson did.
Samson’s story
◼ Israel (again) did evil in the eyes of the Lord. God gave them into the hands of the Philistines for 40 years.
◼ Reminder: The cycle of the judges:
o Israel does evil in the eyes of the Lord.
o The Lord sends an oppressor to torment Israel.
o The people cry out for someone to rescue them.
o The Lord raises up a judge (military leader) who leads Israel to victory.
o There is peace for a time.
◼ Judges 13 – Let’s review.
o God gave a barren woman a son and named him Samson. It means “sunny.”
o Dedicated as a Nazirite (Numbers 6)
▪ No wine or fermented drink, not even seeds or skins.
▪ No razor must touch their head.
▪ Do not go near a dead body.
▪ Typically, a temporary vow (Samson’s vow appears permanent).
o God blessed him and the Spirit of the Lord stirred him (rare in the OT). But he never realized the potential of his “sunny” name.
o Story after story indicates Samson was seduced by the culture and by his own selfish desires. Even when he did attack the Philistines, it was more for personal revenge than for God’s justice.
Lesson 1 – Strong people tend to disregard boundaries.
◼ Samson obeyed God when it was convenient. Otherwise, he just did what he wanted because he assumed his skill would get him out of trouble.
◼ Sin isn’t always a plunge off a cliff. Often it is a slippery slope that we think we can handle.
o Remember the joy of living within God’s boundaries.
o Renounce any activity that has lured you outside God’s boundaries in the past
o Rebuild the fences you have trampled.
o Rejoice in the mercy and grace of a forgiving God.
Lesson 2 – Strong people tend to struggle with lust.
◼ Judges 14:1-31Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman.2 When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.” 3 His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?”
◼ Matthew 5:28 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
◼ A plan of action
o Get right.
▪ Proverbs 4:23 - Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
o Get away.
▪ II Tim 2:22 – Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
o Get help.
▪ Lust is more than just a self-discipline issue.
o Get busy
▪ Galatians 5:16-26. If you give up an act of the flesh, you will need to replace it with a fruit of the Spirit
▪ Psalm 32:3-5. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Lesson 3 – Strong people tend to ignore good advice.
◼ Samson ignored good advice from his parents (14:1-3).
◼ Great people welcome great advice.
o Moses listened to his father-in-law Jethro and became a better leader (Exodus 18:17-24).
o Rehoboam did not listen to his wise advisors and divided Israel as a result (I Kings 12).
Lesson 4 – Strong people tend to break rules.
◼ What were the vows of the Nazirites?
o Nothing UNCLEAN – dead bodies
o Nothing UNWISE – strong drink
o Nothing UNNECESSARY – cutting hair
◼ Samson kills a lion and later eats honey from his carcass (a violation of the Nazirite vow).
o When Samson dipped his hand into the carcass of the lion and scooped up some honey, he broke the rules of his Nazirite vow.
o Most people consider Samson’s sexual sins to be the most grievous. What made the scooping of the honey particularly grievous?
◼ Rules
o Rules shelter us from trouble (PROTECTION).
o Rules shape us into better people (PROVISION).
o Rules show us how we’re doing (PLAN).
Lesson 5 – Strong people tend to overestimate their own cleverness.
◼ Judges 14 – Samson gets married. Let’s review.
o He gives a riddle to the wedding guests. Samson finally gives the answer to his bride and she relays it to the group.
o Judges 14:18 – If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle.
o He then goes down to Ashkelon and kills 30 men to provide the clothes he bet on.
o Samson’s big sin: He lacked DISCERNMENT. Discernment is the ability to see to the heart of the matter. It’s wisdom and good judgment.
◼ The enemies of discernment
o Pride
▪ Proverbs 16:18 – Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall
o Liquor
▪ Proverbs 20:1 – Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
o Anger
▪ Proverbs 27:4 – Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
◼ The secrets of discernment
o Genesis 39:6-9 - Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” 8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”
o Joseph looked around and saw his blessings (8). Take a moment and see what you have before you do something stupid.
o Joseph looked within and saw his integrity (9). If you act like a creep, you will always feel creepy.
o Joseph looked forward and saw his future (9). We get into sinful situations that have a 100% chance of crashing.
o Joseph looked up and saw his God (9).
▪ Revelation 1:4-64 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves
us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father to him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
◼ Samson repeatedly made poor choices in two areas:
o He chose to hang out with the wrong people.
o He didn’t control his sexual desire.
o Where is your area of repeated mistakes?
Lesson 6 – Strong people tend to use anger as a tool.
◼ Judges 14:19 –19 Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of everything and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he returned to his father’s home.
o This was not “righteous anger.” There was no attempt to cry out to God.
◼ Worldly reasons to get angry.
o To get what we want.
o Create an image of toughness
o Send a message.
o Feel the surge of adrenaline.
◼ Steps to take:
o Analyze your anger.
▪ Anger is addictive.
▪ Anger must be intensified to maintain its effectiveness.
▪ Anger produces collateral damage.
▪ Anger stunts your spiritual growth.
o Attack your anger.
▪ Gen 4:6-7 - Sin is waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must subdue it.
▪ You can let God’s word become your counselor.
▪ You can lower your expectations of people.
▪ You can learn the difference between a mountain and a molehill.
▪ You can resist the temptation to speculate.
◼ There are times when anger is necessary. But Ephesians 4 says not to sin in our anger, nor let the sun set on it.
Lesson 7 – Strong people tend to repeat the same mistakes.
◼ Key question: How many times will you mess up before you learn your lesson?
◼ Judges 15 – Let’s review.
o He visits his wife, whom his father-in-law has given to another person because of Samson’s actions at the wedding (where he killed 30 innocent men to get their clothes to settle a bet).
o When his father-in-law refuses to let Samson see them, he gets revenge by lighting 300 foxtails on fire and letting them run through the Philistines’ crops.
o The Philistines take revenge by killing Samson’s wife and his father-in-law. Samson kills many of them in retaliation.
o Judah and the Philistines make a pact to hand Samson over to them. They bound him and took him to the Philistines and the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson. He struck down 1000 men with the jawbone of a donkey.
o He then gripes to God because he is thirsty and God gave him water.
o Samson then led Israel for 20 years.
◼ We can all relate stories of guys that we know who never seem to learn their lesson.
o The wedding incident wasn’t enough. Samson claims revenge at least three times in this chapter alone.
◼ Reasons
o Even the strongest men are still human. Paul in Romans 7: “I can’t make myself do right.”
o Many strong men have blind spots.
▪ Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
o Many strong men have untended weaknesses.
o Many strong men have too much pride.
Lesson 8 – Strong people tend to have big egos.
◼ Judges 15:8-16 – Samson, the Philistines, and the jawbone of a donkey. Look what I’ve done!
◼ Pedestal of Pride
o On the pedestal of pride there is an absence of heartfelt worship.
o On the pedestal of pride there is foolishness.
▪ Proverbs 17:19 – Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin. Whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
o On the pedestal of pride there is isolation.
o On the pedestal of pride there is disappointment.
◼ Hope for a heart of humility
o Remember who you are
o Remember why you’re here.
o Remember who you serve (the living God).
Lesson 9 – Strong people tend to take too much for granted.
◼ Get R.E.A.L.
o Recognize your fatal flaws.
o Experience God daily
o Adjust your gauges.
o Learn discipline.
◼ Questions
o Are you given to whining or complaining? How can we help each other not to do this?
o Is disobedience putting any of your blessings at risk?
o Does the grass always look greener on the other side of the fence? Share stories.
o Do you practice good health habits?
▪ How many calories do you take in each day? What is your daily menu?
▪ How often do you exercise at least 20 minutes per day?
▪ When was the last time you had a physical exam?
▪ What physical issues run in your family?
Lesson 10 – Strong men tend to lose sight of the big picture.
◼ Judges 16 – Let’s review.
o Samson sleeps with a prostitute in Gaza. The people plan to ambush him at the city gates in the morning, but he escapes in the night by tearing off the gate with his bare hands.
o He fell in love with Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines tell her to convince Samson to share the secret of his strength.
o He lies to her three times and she complains until he is sick of it (Judges 16:16). So, he tells her that he would lose his strength if his head were shaved. He fell asleep on her lap and she cut his hair, removing his strength (The Lord left him – 16:20).
o The Philistines gouged out his eyes and put him in prison in Gaza, where his hair grows again.
o The Philistines brought Samson to the temple of their god Dagon to entertain them. He prayed to God for strength to get revenge one last time. He pushed down two temple pillars and the temple collapsed, killing many.
◼ When you pray, how much of your prayer life focuses on:
o Praising God?
o Confession of sins?
o Thanks for what God has done?
o Asking for things?
o Yourself?
o Others?
◼ Read Judges 16:28 –28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” What was Samson’s prayer focused on?
◼ What was Samson’s mission?
o Judges 13:5 – He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.
o Samson did NOT end well. He hadn’t changed a bit. But this is not where Samson’s story ends.
▪ Hebrews 11:32-3432 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.
o This is not a tribute to Samson. It is a tribute to God’s grace.
o I stand in awe of a God who is gracious enough to tolerate a man like Samson, a man who never seemed to learn his lesson.
o We are all capable of great things for God’s kingdom. But we are never more than one bad choice away from humiliation. Choose wisely. Learn well.