Dark Times. Broken People. Faithful King. | Week 8

Dark Times. Broken People. FAITHFUL KING.

Week 8

Judges 13-14

“And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years” (Judges 13:1).

We are now entering the last recorded sin cycle with our last judge. Samson was the 12th judge who was raised up by God to deliver His people. We have the most detail about Samson’s birth and life. He is the only judge who was called from the womb. He acts alone, never assembling an army for deliverance. We see through Samson how our Sovereign God is able to work even through a disobedient and unlikely judge.

I. The Miraculous Announcement – (Judges 13:2-23)

“God’s laws and instructions are vastly important. They are meant to be followed and obeyed without compromise. But even more than knowing the words of His Word (information), He wants us to know HIM” (Dark Times, Broken People, Faithful King, p. 169).

II. Set Apart as a Nazirite – (Judges 13:4-5)

“Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to dedicate himself to the Lord, 3 he shall abstain from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar, whether made from wine or strong drink, nor shall he drink any grape juice nor eat fresh or dried grapes. 4 All the days of his separation he shall not eat anything that is produced by the grape vine, from the seeds even to the skin. 5 ‘All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall pass over his head. He shall be holy until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the Lord; he shall let the locks of hair on his head grow long. 6 ‘All the days of his separation to the Lord he shall not go near to a dead person. 7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father or for his mother, for his brother or for his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head. 8 All the days of his separation he is holy to the Lord” (Numbers 6:2-8). Luke 1:15 – John the Baptist
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III. Samson’s birth – (Judges 13:24-25)

Samson..............Christ

“Contrasted with Jephthah, Samson had every advantage as a boy, His birth was predicted by an angel; he had godly parents who loved him greatly; he was uniquely dedicated to God as a Nazirite; and he experienced the power of God’s Spirit as a young man. Despite all these favorable factors, Samson’s life as it unfolds in the next three chapters is marked by tragedy” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, p. 465).

IV. Samson’s Marriage – (Judges 14:1-20)

Deuteronomy 7:1-4; 2 Corinthians 6:14

“Circumcision was a sign that a family was in a personal covenant or relationship with God, as part of His people. Their issue was not a racial one. It is about marriage with someone outside of the Lord’s covenant. God’s prohibition (Exodus 34:15-16) is not against inter-racial marriage, but against inter-faith marriage (for instance, Moses was married to a non-Israelite, Zipporah, but one who recognized God’s covenant: see Exodus 4:24-26)” (Tim Keller, Judges for You, p. 136).

Rahab, Ruth

The Wedding –

• In the home of the Bride
• According to Philistine tradition
• Companions were all Philistines
• Seven-Day Wedding Feast

V. Samson’s Character

• Proud
• Impulsive
• Lustful
• Covetous
• Unteachable

VI. Samson’s Riddle – (Judges 14:12-18)

‍VII. Samson’s Revenge – Judges 14:19-20

“When God isn’t permitted to rule in our lives, He overrules and works out His will in spite of our decisions. Of course, we’re the losers for rebelling against Him, but God will accomplish His purposes either with us or in spite of us” (Warren Wiersbe, Be Available, p. 132).

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