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

Peter says be sober because you're stare Satan word Satan means adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour Jamie's business.

That's what he said looking be able to devour you, not looking to play game Parcheesi with 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.

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, and now here's Pastor Rick in Judges chapter 14 with the conclusion of his message called Sampson strong shallow self.

Sampson was not sober minded. He was drunk with self and Peter says, be sober, be diligent because your adversary, Satan word Satan means adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour Jamie's business. That's what he said is looking to eat devour you not looking to play game Parcheesi with 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 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 still remain. The 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 the Temne should be with his parents is done doing any of those things and get God still gives them 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 was 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. Reinforced that he separated from them, or else 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 or read that first moment witnesses review some of them, always killing align with this bare hands listed it okay so I hope. And 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 if you're into Antonio. I'm not into cruelty to anything except tics, but I miss a hard renal. Just picture the whole thing.

Josephus says he pulled up to throw it out. Josephus is not writing 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 killed a lion 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 to fingerprint them to waive them and knowing kidneys up with while our society.

He broke the bonds that you know will Sampson the Philistines are 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 mean imagine.

So taking some of picking picking up someone's pickup truck and walking minimum I'll walk up the hill and flipping it over us step and it's amazing the strength this man had.

And of course the end 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 there will likely vary 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've torn apart a young goat will nothing was in his hand. He had quite a heated argument with this lien and in one I 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 out lien. I mean, what if he was strong removal of this law for the minute 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 and thereby just turn against you call also I told you this was going to happen. We should stay in this Barbara would know you sailors know 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 or father and again. Apparently no one knew of his strength and he comes out unscathed really shows up the Temne and his godly scratch Marcellus enough time to give up trailers 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 in 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 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 mentioned, 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 pick 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 12 at least it's mummified to Mrs.'s dried up but is 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 way. 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 to see. 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 but now her and Sampson blows judgment when reference first John for all 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 the wrong field lust of the flesh is munching on those grapes. I mean come on if he came out the great out of the vineyard as a Nazirite you know why peace in the creatures of his chin does not have any who, I believe him when you go to the other route which is why I vineyard, and he went back to this warped victory. It was a warped victory should not of been there and and that's the pride I talked about the lien and he says behold behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lien. I did he say to himself. This is approved by God because the honeys coming out. This is 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 should say all of them and I shouldn't sound like I'm better than them because I don't agree with. I don't agree with them and not better than them, but I don't agree with most of them Nazirite was also such a dead human body. It was food he can eat meat and is no 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 he still keeps 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. Kidding it has to be said. Those guys are great. Most most study Bibles. The just amazing, but none of them get it all right for that. You've got a come here and his heart is so much information nobody I just can't say it. Most people can 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 tried 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 at the just go down the temple and participate.

So you will not II learned my first time to Leviticus.

You know what, I'm not under the law. I'm not trying to memorize Jewish law. It's too far removed to know everything. We just had to remain with what's obvious. Verse 10, so his father went down to the woman and Sampson gave a feast.

There were young men use to do so. This is a wine feast. Incidentally, he supposed to be away from the grapes made was peach wine. Verse 11 and it happened when they saw him, that he brought 30 companions to be with him and these are not Jews. It reads as though in verse 11 that his father hired friends.

Sampson couldn't keep her friend just not a likable guy is just too into himself. These are Philistines and their godless and he's mixing with the wrong crowd.

Mom and dad are that become advocates and supporters enablers. We would say verse 12. Then Sampson said to them, let me pose a riddle to you if you can correctly solve and explain it to me within seven days of the feast, then I will give you 30 linen garments and 30 changes of clothing sort of an icebreaker, you know, there are just so you just hey hey how about this and the difference between a parable and a riddle is the parable supposed to be understood. You supposed get that one rentals a heart and I hate them personally in an outside little boxes and stuff. Are you a kid comes up as a riddle, a getaway for me. I hate riddles of the heart can never get them, but he challenges their wit and he didn't care for these men that's clear in the story we cares for their women because give with those he men. Verse 13 but if you cannot explain it to me then you shall give me 30 linen garments 30 changes of clothing and they said to him pose a riddle that we may hear it this cockiness of both side maybe that little bit too much wine in them by now me, I would've said no no I'm I'm bad at riddles toy is buying you close because of the clinic bowling for clothing, but don't try to get it for me anyway this is a lot this 30 pieces of clothing. In those days was not 30 pieces. One guy will be assents to lose the bet.

Verse 14 so he said to them out of the heater came something to eat out of the strong came something sweet after three days he could not explain the riddle that this was a cartoon form you see them banging at the wall to kick in The riddle is pretty clever you Sampson's no full evidently mom and dad got a good education raised him up right away you come up with a room then not easy to make up or to answer this dump these men. This enigma in Scripture the Queen of Sheba.

She threw some at Solomon he got all right.

She was so impressed and he was impressed she was impressed. Daniel had skill in interpreting dreams and enigmas or or riddles is not the first time shows up, it shows up most in judges verse 15 now, but it came to pass on the seventh day that they said to Sampson's wife entice your husband that that he may explain the riddle to us or else we will burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us in order to take what is ours is that not so sweet a pick on the woman. She is that she's a Philistine within me. She thinks she had to do with the seated make the riddle. So these these bullies gang up on her and try to get her to get to the riddle so they don't have to pay a said no. Sampson, which is going to enjoy the night but pride wouldn't let them do that Sampson probably knew that going into it away says we will burn you and your father's house with fire. He means they mainly going to kill them with fire horrific way when I going to sneak you some poison regarding it make you really go through it. They were not fooling around.

So let's not lose sight of that. These are the types of folks that Israel was being oppressed by verse 16.

Then Sampson's wife wept on him and said you only hate me, you do not love me, you have pose a riddle to the sons of my people but you have not explained it to me and he said to her. Look, I've not explained to my father, my mother, so should I explained to you. Well them is almost comical. She is not married yet he still posted to his mom and dad, that's the idea. There, let's go. Verse 17 packet and together now. She had wept on him. The seven days while there feast lasted and it happened on the seventh day that he told her because she pressed him so much.

Then she explained the riddle to the sons of her people so she's a try to, you know quite dramatic with this. You only hate me, you know love because you won't tell me a little something that's like going on but he doesn't know that her life and her family's life but her siblings.

Her mom is is in danger of these monsters rafted him. He does know the consequence of this, he could kill Lyons break ropes and push down buildings, but he could not overcome the power of a woman's tears. He's not the only man in history where woman's tears actors kryptonite and is a voice in his ear say make it stop.

This will happen with Delilah Ducey will vex his soul to death just as nagging as this was happening so I told the story before this little boy were outright live and he has to go to the doctor to get this pebble out of his ear and the darkness is how would you do is what stuck it in and why did you do it for the girls wouldn't stop singing. Do you want to build a snowman. The little girls wouldn't stop singing.

It's each of these secrets couldn't take it any is six years old. I love that guy is just life is a life is not a mood room is to get that is comical. Nobodies. So anyway, but that comes out in the story is biblical men. You can say that the biblical so because she pressed him so much. There is the nagging but unfortunately his motive to abandon his position wasn't the it wasn't noble… You know, it's a sin you annoy me so much yeah okay here's riddle any reports about verse 18, so the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down. What is sweeter than honey and what is stronger than a lion he could just see the smoke faces and he said to them, if you had not plowed my heifer you would not have solved my riddle now reads as though he is calling the woman heifer yeah she's a female lemming. That's the really the only connection. The heifers were used for plowing. So what are you in a heifer by definition of that age or maybe even now is that the did not yet have a calf so the idea of the proverb is you cheated.

That's what he saying and is using the you know an agrarian society, many just said you cheated but it's a nice phrase to memorize is one of the Scripture verses that you really never need, but it's fun to memorize verse 19. Then the spirit of Yahweh came upon him mightily and he went down to Ashkelon and killed 30 of their men took their apparel and gave the changes to those who had explained the riddle so his anger was aroused and he went back up to his father's house. This is the first fight scene of Sampson with human beings we we have an they could avoid it he does actually is really not making payment is voided out the agreement they voided out by cheating this his wrath is infuriated at their deception and going to her she may have at some point to kill me because he still wants to marry her, just not right away. Space pretty hot and so he goes to Ashkelon to find. I believe a true garrison and that's who he kills and he doesn't bring back clothing brings back armor and the strength of this is in the words he doesn't use the same word the translators and you.

If you have a new King James clothing is in italics, indicating that it's been inserted by the translators but he says he gave them. He took their apparel and gave the changes he's giving the armor that's the Hebrew word there and it's shows up in other sections of Scripture that way. So Sampson likely attacks. A garrison and takes their armor which is part of their clothing as I believe was Abner told abaci Chase, one of the young men kill him take his armor same Hebrew word in second Samuel 21. I hope I made that clear so there's some ambiguity there in the it's a work plan how he does it also help out in the Hebrews to rhyme his wordplay going on the strength of the different words used in verses 13 we talked about. If you lose, you pay clothing, but then he comes back he doesn't think same Hebrew word, giving them clothing is giving them armor the beach of weapons. Whatever it is he took me came back he said don't mess with me again. Take this and they would've known he had to of killed Philistine troops to get what he brought back and they would understand. He was too strong for them.

So the cycle retaliation spreads or speeds up verse 20 and Sampson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man. Not the best man as we would think today he may have been sort of the lead man of the party bridal party. He had his duties as this hired attendee but it doesn't carry the idea that they were friends and so when we read it we read this, we save West prepared best man would do that well low down one would do it. But this man was removed from Sampson and had no allegiance to affect your enemies so the Lord is going to use this turn of events, the giving of the woman he's betrothed to. He's going to just wrap everything up and Phyllis is going to pay.

Here's a verse that I think applies to Sampson. Nonetheless, Psalm 32 verses 89.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with my eye.

Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding which must be harnessed with the bit and bridle, else they will not come near you. So there.

The psalmist is saying submit. Don't be like an animal. Sampson's strength in here. He demonstrates his brute strength. The three hot goes home to mom and dad. He doesn't consummate the marriage didn't stay there.

That's what will pick it up in the next chapter 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 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 out or 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