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Samson – Strong, Shallow, Self-willed (Part B)

Cross Reference Radio / Pastor Rick Gaston
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January 19, 2021 6:00 am

Samson – Strong, Shallow, Self-willed (Part B)

Cross Reference Radio / Pastor Rick Gaston

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January 19, 2021 6:00 am

Pastor Rick teaches from the Book of Judges (Judges 14)

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Pastor Rick Gaston

Even under the Jewish dispensation of the law still place an if we lose sight of this one or two things I think are likely to happen at some point one you beat yourself up to our state take advantage of and he will make you feel so low and miserable, you won't waiting the other is that we don't want to become careless. We want understand it that costs the Lord to bring disgrace to us that we enjoy so much. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher. Rick asked Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Rick is currently teaching through the book of Judges. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. Today's message is called Sampson strong shallow self wealth and pastor Rick will be teaching in Judges chapter 14 verse four now, but his father and mother did not know that it was of Yahweh that he was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. That's up power was packed. This verse is packed with information. Mom and dad did not know that Yahweh was going to make a move through this, not that he was sanctioning.

Not at all. God works with the resources he has the sin of Sampson was not of the Lord, the deliverance was of the Lord through Sampson in spite of Sampson that is the message and that is the Lord that's going to seek occasion because the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

What's so powerful about that little phrase is a sound like that just you know well you pay taxes to us and that's that.

All they were brutal. I threaten Sampson's wife that he meets here in Timothy's betrothed wife at least then I say if you don't tell us to run away going to burn you and your dad alive your old family so that's the Bible singlet don't lose sight of who these people are, they're not people just going to know on the go shop your supermarket anymore. They're going to kill you in a horrific way. If you don't give them their way.

So God did not put the urgent Sampson's heart for what was wrong, he simply used it and throughout Scripture and its language. God is frequently said to do that which he permits this is the whole thing with Farrell Farrell hardened Pharaoh's heart God ratified and used.

It worked with it to deliver his people.

You will not be able to charge God with wrong you cannot say what what what what what we say is wrong for another person to do you know who can say well it's despicable that you would lie to me, but it's okay for God to lie to me.

You get the can do that if it's despicable for some of the lot. Here the gods are colliding you doesn't is not afraid of us and so is God young believer does not know what that means up for us the kind laid out for them. We understand how encompassing that one title is God all-knowing, omniscient, self existent, loving, merciful, put blood on his love.

While someone had to begin to serve the Philistines damage because they continued at the pace.

Evidently they continued at the pace of growth and dominance that they now had they may have pushed the promise that the people of the promised land out of the promised land, pushed the Jews, Elsa God is beginning his work through Sampson.

Looking back over the many dead Philistines over the 20 years of Sampson's life and you get the sense that you know God did know what he was doing. Even though Sampson did the wrong thing God stayed the course and so well what was God supposed to again strike and then try to find another guy that would not do that one of that I messed up so so that's is I'm going to keep Sampson and I'm going to use him.

Nonetheless, I should add, though he was reckless and careless. We have no evidence of him being an idolater that is very great relief. So at the time no one had a knowledge that this was going on. Judges 15 verse 20 and he Judges rev.

20 years in the days of the Philistines. I had a long rain. When I getting all of it in these four chapters but we are getting the hard stuff.

He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. Again, not an approval. But God adapting to okay if Sampson is going to go this way that I would have to do this with him. Nonetheless, he often does this when God is not permitted to rule, he will overrule when he is determined to have what he wants accomplished and God's will is that the judge move against Philistines not marry them. That would ruin the work of Sampson was allowed to consummate the marriage so God sees you occasion, accomplishes objective and Sampson is mine.

Well, you know, I can easily get to a place where you and I can feel the Philistines income. I want to but I want this woman now and because of this event. Sampson will go on to kill 30. I believe troops of the Philistines of bring that out we get there, he'll burn up their crops that will inflict economic damage on them in the whole fox tail thing. He slaughtered a great number of them were told in chapter 15.

The numbers not given the store thousand men one day. At one time in one battle with one jawbone of a donkey and then on his way out of his death he killed over thousand more.

You did so much damage at that last day, especially by taking out the leadership that this one man who didn't need an army made such an impact on the Philistines that it did begin the processes of deliverance and bring relief to the people and though he was wrong.

God was with them. Psalm 19. Who can understand his errors that not God's because he has none. Speaking of the individual who can understand who can you understand your errors sometime you send God I'm so messed up in my head. Can you help me out in the psalmist is cleanse me from secret faults will secrets to God.

No me. Maybe others often memoir people can read your mind. Some of you we would discuss the be sending the sensing of gummy bears, gummy bears, or some other treatment.

Keep back your servant from presumptuous sins.

The church needs to learn that don't presume one God, what he's gotta be in this or what what what are you basing this conviction offer as a conviction is because you really want. Let them not have dominion over me that I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression.

So he says they know who can understand is there is cleanse me from my secret Fox TV back from presumptuous sins that I'll be blameless. It's a beautiful prayer to bed.

Sampson did not have it is a dinner for me or for she pleases me. Well, there is a spoiled part spoiled is a behavioral problem from being overindulged by parents is one definition from one dictionary a behavioral problem from being overindulged by parents for at that time the Philistines had dominion over his roof Israel for 40 years, we read that in Judges chapter 13 verse one.

Now verse five. So Sampson went down to Temne with his father and mother came to the vineyards of Temne not to surprise the online came roaring against him while mom and dad are going with him to the Philistine neighborhood to negotiate the marriage transaction. Marriages in those days were met and that part of the world work much like a business transaction of uniformity with fiddler on the roof. You know that Tavi and Liesel Wolf work negotiating the marriage of his eldest daughter.

She knew nothing about this and that they captured that fiddler on the roof captured that part of their culture which still is alive and certain parts of their culture. Anyway, Temne geographically was at a lower elevation than the door where Sampson is from coming from his hometown, so the language becomes now symbolic says he went down is not without meaning is taking his parents down with them by looking to marry someone that God is forbidden and made my comments about we as parents need to watch that new children when you become parents go into it. Understanding that you don't want to be taken down by your own children, and came to the vineyards of Temne night parts with his parents at this point, and that too has some symbolism in it because they parted and really don't like I can to get a nice Jewish girl go fight Philistine woman and they were not in agreement but why did he depart what it whether going on Temne lettuce.

He said you know I had taken a shortcut. It's a rougher route. You stay on the main road and cutting to the vineyards and it is great season. I think he's munching on grapes is a pop into the vineyard. He's not supposed to ease a separated one. Remember that the difference in a Nazirite means a separated when Nazareth means watchtower two different words to different meanings. I don't think he was flaunting his abstention watch me. I can go to the vineyard. I will touch the fruit radio we have no reason to believe that the law of the flesh. It is this. It's week as it it was dead just as much week. Then as it is today, but love covers a multitude of sin, not law law doesn't cover multitudes and losses, you are guilty you are busted. Romans three for the law could not do, and that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, God has to deal without sin because we can't, we can just make movement in that direction. Desiring it, but in the end we need divine intervention law is inadequate, but it is not in perfect laws perfect, converting the soul. Galatians 221 I do not set aside the grace of God for righteousness comes through the law that Christ died for nothing is right. If I can get to be righteous without Christ, who needs the death of Christ. Well I needed because I cannot do it. So we need to keep side of this. These laws it even under the Jewish dispensation of the law still was in place and if we lose sight of this one or two things I think are likely to happen at some point one you beat yourself up to our Satan will take advantage of and he will make you feel so low and miserable, you won't waiting for the king. The other is that if we don't want to become careless. We want understand it, that the costs the Lord to bring this grace to us that we enjoy so much. So we strike the balance, which is what grace is no talk about a ballerina moving so gracefully, but she was tripping and stumbling over the place with that's not grace Sampson was comfortable where he did not belong. We find a Jew and Temne a Nazirite in the vineyard, and later we will find the Jew in Gaza. The Jewish Nazirite in Gaza and you know there's no penalty mentioned for the Nazirite breaking their vows in the Old Testament, the penalty was supposed to be internal goofed. I made this vow and I'm I blew it and that would be incentive to not blow in God never said listen, I don't want you to ever drink again. Water anything ever is not something we couldn't do the Nazirite's vows very doable stain for season and in the things that he abstain from it wasn't like it was no custard ice cream God had put that on that would've been a tough one. And if you like soft ice cream if you don't like suffice me the passes will be up Sunday morning for prayer that anyway certainly breaks God's heart is as a young lion roaring against him again suggestive language. This was a warning.

You don't belong in the vineyard. You don't belong apart from your parents and you don't belong on your way to attend beware of the devil. We should read that first Peter was a friend of Timothy 58 be sober see that's why wanted to read it. Couldn't remember the one that I want to read it because Sampson was not sober minded. He was drunk with self and it Peter says, be sober, be diligent because your adversary, Satan works. Satan means adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour Jamie's business at what he saying is looking to eat the devouring not looking to do play a game of Parcheesi with you is something he's looking to take you out. So did God send the lien as a warning to Sampson as he walked the wrong way on the wrong path in the wrong place. I believe yes absolutely. I mean there's other reasons why the lines you noted. Now it is going to be the first time we see his strength in action. The Holy Spirit gave Sampson the power to defeat this enemy.

You could say that is very much part of the story Sampson strength was not his own, and which is going to be brought out when Delilah was done with them and Sampson remained in spite of his goof ups and sin is disobedience and silliness and shallowness itself will he still remained a consumer of God's blessings. That is part of this moment, he doesn't belong in the vineyard is not supposed to be on the path to Temne, he should be with his parents is done doing any of those things and get God still gives him strength to beat down the lien. See, this makes us robust in the face of trouble in life is supposed to encourage us or you could refer years and read the section be terrified, but I know got now is yes, God was with this man.

I want to be an instrument for the Lord and not abuse that I don't want to get away with half of what Sampson got away with stuff at their support gets really bad. I would always get it right. Verse six in the spirit of Yahweh 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 from the bottom of the verse of the fact that mom and dad not know this is happening reinforces that he separated from them as they would been there witnesses of the whole thing in the spirit of Yahweh came upon him mightily, there are only a few great feats of Sampson listed for us as I alluded to earlier, there were more things that he had accomplished all read that first moment, but let's just review some of them, always killing align with this bare hands listed okay so I hope in the part about as a member Terra goat.

I've never done that. I don't even eat goat as may be those of you who like goat know that means anyway. He says I know you're into animal you know I'm not into cruelty to anything except tics, but I miss a hard renal. Just picture the whole thing. Josephus says he ripped his throat out. Josephus does not bring scripture for us. Some commentators try to say when he struck a fatal blow, but he said he torn apart. Well, I don't know what it means. Whatever it is his bloodiest glory and willing back to what I was saying.

He kills align with his bare hands.

He slays 30 philistines in this chapter will get to that he gets his 300 foxes or jackals. A good abandoned put torches connected to their tails which is amazing how much time to take to catch 300 of the fingerprint them to waive them, and no one can. He's not with while our society. He broke the bonds that you know will Sampson the Philistines coming which really gives a good story slays a thousand member the jawbone of a donkey carries the gates of Gaza, up the hill. I can't wait to get to that one practical joke, but he's serious. I'm imagining so taking some of picking picking up someone's pickup truck and walking minimum I'll work up a hill and flipping it over us everything. It's amazing the strength this man had. And of course the end he topples the building of the Philistines, but Judges 16 says, the destroyer of our landfill seen speaking about him of the destroyer of our land and the one who multiplied our dad so they were likely very more battles than what we have recorded just in this these four chapters but by the time we get to chapter 16.

Sampson has fallen so far from God that we no longer read about the spirit of God coming up on and that again is there's another message God is saying yeah my spirit is with him. He struggling the royalties in the early stages of his you know shallowness.

I'm giving him space to get it together and it just gets worse with Sampson till finally God has to depart from him. It says any tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat will nothing was in his hand had quite a heated argument with this lien and in one don't know that there's so I will say this not only had he been given strength but you had to have had speed and timing to take our lien.

I mean, what if he was strong removal and sloth for the bit lesson not enough to have the gift. This, there must be ancillary you know items that go with her so you have the gift of discernment.

You can smell a rat, we have to know how to administer that because the people that don't have the discernment don't see what you're saying you just start a fight. Everybody is turned against you call also I told you this was going to happen. We should stay in this barber would know you sellers know that it is now so you part of the lesson is that yes he had all this strength. We also had some timing and coordination, and he was able to exercise the gift as he did like so many of us he had the hands to do the job. What about the heart. He says, but he did not tell his mother, father, and again.

Apparently no one knew of his strength and he comes out unscathed really shows up to Temne and his godly scratch marks most for not funding inventory errors.

Churches like didn't get touched you how to keep a secret for a while because the parents they did know about the lien they will eventually so will everybody else we know the wife and the riddle of course he held a secret for a while and Delilah, of course, he told her the secret to so he held secrets only for a while. Not a good way to be secrets need to go into a fall, and as the pastors know you know we don't tell and a lot of frustrated with. You don't want to get that habit private information private information is the end of it.

Verse seven. Then he went down and talked with the woman and she pleased Sampson well well we go to bookmark this because he does not learn his lesson. As I mention he heads to Gaza and there finds a harlot and and then Delilah is not learning lessons because he's too self impressed because he thinks he's above these things. Verse eight.

After some time.

When he returned to get 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 line.

Well, maybe you have had the privilege of shooting something and leaving it and coming back later in the buzzer to take that thing clean and this I think it says after some time my my point of trying to get a visual on what this carcass looked like wealth at least it's mummified to Mrs. this dried up, but it's probably just the bones ale the rib cage and beads of men nice little place for themselves. They are sweet as honey, my age, I shouldn't be doing that and wake, but here Sampson. He says after some time he returned to get her and turned aside to see the carcass of the lien here is again turning to the writer to the left, but not going straight once again he's going the wrong way is returning to the scene of pride. It was a CM I did that, did you really have to. I was eagerly expecting to find wells we have to read it because it applies to it. If we were in first John chapter 16 we represent Sampson for an hour and Sampson blows judgment in reference first John brawl that is in the world, the lust of the flesh. Let me go down to Temne. She pleases me lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the father but is of the world, so he wanted the wrong woman, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes when he saw. He walked to the wrong field lust of the flesh is he's munching on those grapes. I mean come on if he came out the great out of the vineyard as a Nazirite you know why think the creatures of his chin does not have any who would believe him. Why did you go the other route which is why I vineyard, and he went back to this warped victory.

It was a warped victory exist should not of been there and and that's the pride I talked about the lien and he says the home. Behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lien did he say to himself. This is approved by God because the honeys coming on since you know God's approval to set an omen. I don't think he cared whether he was just so so self minded that they just felt he was an exception to these things. Verse nine he took some of it in his hands and well as he and went along eating when he came to his father and mother. He gave some to them. They also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lien they want to emphasize that nobody knows the secret because it's going to be part of the story denies a Nazirite and all the commentators well you use violating the Nazirite. I shouldn't say all of them in a shouldn't sound like I'm better than them because I don't agree with them. I don't agree with them or not better than them, but I don't agree with most of them.

The Nazirite was also such a dead human body. It was food he can eat meat and initial prohibition on Sampson eating meat or preparing a meal so these not breaking any law, far as I know of the Jewish law for the Nazirite by scooping the honey and or if you start if is even making contact with the whatever's left of lien, but that's just if you did many of your study Bibles might have that and you can submit them to my desk for correction. Kitty it has to be said. Those guys are great. Most most of the Bible is the just amazing, but none of them get it all right for that.

You've got a come here and it is hard is so much information nobody I just can't say it. Most people can't get it all right okay nobody can get it all right you going to find that the decision 08 he missed that one is a really good guy doing he got that one wrong but pride but anyway I think is no problem him touching the dead animal if the animal died of natural causes and you touched it in you. You weren't even a Nazirite way was ceremonially unclean. Messages can go down the temple and participate, so will not buy I learned my first time to Leviticus. You know what, I'm not under the law. Try to memorize Jewish law too far removed know everything, we just had to remain with what's obvious move. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Judges cross reference radio is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

If you'd like more information about this ministry, we invite you to visit our website cross reference radio.com will find additional teachings from Pastor Rick available there, and we encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so you will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio. You can search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast that work just follow the links and cross reference radio.com that's all the time we have for today. Join us next time to continue learning more from the book of Judges right here cross reference rate