Samson’s War (Part B)

You have a great victory like this and then to quickly be tested in the face no sooner had the Israelites come to the Red Sea than they were faced with hunger and thirst, they begin badmouthing Moses is read Elijah's great victory on Mount Carmel the end of route and then to run to the gates of the city had to beat the chariot on and then to be chased into the wilderness at the threat of a contract being put out on his life by Jezebel. And that's a lesson for us in Scripture to have a great victory.

Be careful let you guards down. 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.

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Pastor Rick will continue his study called Sampson's war in Judges chapter 15, the Philistines knew how to use Goliath word they had Sampson that would've been the match of the century right Sampson first-line one being boom that would minute but anyway that's ON with David so he could have benefited from these 3000 troops if he were a leader to lead them into action against the Philistines and teach them a lesson that would've ended the rule, but the story does not come out that way. And the Jews feel like what was sparing ourselves because these people are going to come in and and and kill us so we brother hand over Sampson. It's expedient for the nation that once offer words of Caiaphas that the price of course. He prophesied were told that year, even though he did not know it but instead of seeing Sampson as a deliverer as they should have. They considered him a troublemaker. He rocked the boat just can't let sleeping dogs lie would doing all right here we have the barley more than we get the weakest Philistines. But that's okay you develop your palate begins. Do you know enjoyed. After a while, but will all of you know, suction enigma, was he really again it's that's part of the enigma is difficult to understand was a very easy to understand. Is it just simply just sell fish that died that the answer to everything he does wrong or is it more complex than that and he said to Sampson, do you not know that the Philistines rule over us. What would Joshua and Caleb say about the church's also today, is there a church that is just too awful to attend. Sure, there are, of course, somebody attends them nonetheless, so they wouldn't be in existence. What you have to ask if you know as an individual or am I too troublesome to work with you and other people. I just can't work in a ministry because they can't work well they refused to work with others. Fortunately, we don't see a lot of that. But you do see it from time to time. You know someone says well we do it this way and then want to do it that way and they don't make a mess in the summer. Since you cannot do it that way because this whiny get all offended would've been better off if they just didn't show up that so it's nice when you have people that just go II gait as he would like do that, asking me to do something too difficult. You have to look at some of that in the story of Samson. Why is this Sampson's war.

Why don't the people in this to. I think those are some of the factors well, it says it here in verse 11 of the bottom as they did to me so I have done to them. That's his motto. That was the cycle of vengeance that he introduced into the land's eye for an eye approach. Well that's what you get your know if you review familiar with that were on the roof for retail Bureau says when someone said life arises and you know by that will all be blind and toothless. 949242 pennies right.

The law was not given that model of the law that rule of law was given to the leaders to understand that they had to exercise just decisions and not play favorites. It was never intended to be permission for individual vendettas. You did me wrong, I'm gonna do you wrong well verse 12, but they said to him, we have come down to arrest you, that we may deliver you into the hand of the Philistines, and Sampson said to them, swear to me that you will not kill me yourselves well speaking about these men from Judah that have come to arrest me think of Peter.

At least Peter drew his sword and swung it. It didn't just say all LA under arrest you okay Peter you gotta love him. He does not attack him too much you know before you touch my Lord. On top your head office is approaching Christ a sense is that I really don't repeat this kind of help. So they reason that is better for Sampson to go to war or to jail than for them to go to war. Maybe they were right. This is then Sampson said to them, swear to me that you will not kill me.

This was actually kind normal of Sampson.

You have to go with these guys strong as he was Republican out all very easily what he likely makes this request because he does not want to kill any of his own people is he saying I'm not going into anybody's hand soap is going to kill Sampson today Philistines are not. So he says listen if you try to kill me and I'm going to hurt you. I'm not saying that that's probably what's what is happening here because by going to the Philistines, he got ugly little MacCallum. So what would be the purpose of use. If you knew he was going to his definition of supply rather be diet to have my own countrymen, and give the enemy the satisfaction of killing me.

So in this connection.

Again, no, no record of of any of the Jews dying or of Sampson doing any violence to his own people, but in this connection, the great possibility of Sampson flashes out what he could of been. We know that he's a very intelligent man. He makes riddles he renames places and I think that the men of Judah missed the men of Judah did not say you know what he is a noble man he could've resisted all of this. He just says you guys can hurt me know were not going to hurt him, but they must. There did just so their eyes are on the Philistines. No one is looking up in this picture. So they spoke to him saying no verse 13 but we will try you securely, and deliver you into their hand. We will surely not kill you, and they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock. Sampson thinks this is humorous that comes out with Delilah. Well, if I'm bound with new ropes I can break them on when he already did. This is going to taunt her with with that.

But what is he say at this point. Thanks for not killing me and ending me over to killers. He has no intention of going with these men he's going to pull them away from his people a little bit but not outside of the fight.

That's about to take place word evidently spread throughout the land of the Philistines and the Jews that Sampson was invincible and so nobody thought though that these measuring all roles would've been you know not as strong as the new ones was the thinking. I remember when I went how that all worked with zero hardware store on the way to Somerset better bring the new ropes with you.

It's always a cute little question but verse 14 when he came to Lehigh. The Philistines came shouting against him.

Then the spirit of Yahweh came mightily upon him in the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire in his bonds broke loose from their hands.

Lehigh incidentally means that your worked out that way maybe was named after these events when historian appends the story as he lost the original name the Philistines came shouting at him.

Big mistake that you should've just taken him into the Landon then let him go. Hope the men that are coming at him. You get the feeling they're very angry shouting because it Sampson is probably killed many of their friends and family members, and they hate him. And so this a thousand minutes in infantry Battalion against one individual so he's got one in a thousand chance of course, with God. Those statistics don't count. Then the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him strength outside of his own supernatural strength, burst through it to take these ropes and just stay home. Just like pull off like that you couldn't even do it easily with Jan, let alone ropes. I know this so many questions you know comical questions I have about the stories just as I would like to okay let's try it now with the quarter-inch steel cable. Okay, you got that one verse 15 he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey reached out his hand and took it and killed a thousand men with it just like that fresh jawbone, meaning not brittle. Perhaps the work of scavengers jackals would be good for the story.

We don't know but somehow there was donkey that died not too long ago. In that vicinity, and all jawbone would've been to brittle and so he finds a fresh one years ago when I was in the military and grease on the beach waiting to be picked up taken back to ship with food was really good there on the beach. Is this jawbone next to me with the teeth still and it wasn't fresh but the teeth were still in it and I presume it was a donkey's.

It was long enough now I had the jawbone, but I also had a 45 on my hips. I was into her to the Philistines, so he reached what I think of that when I read the story.

Erin Ivan took some of the teeth home. I have since lost them. I don't know they didn't fit but they were huge and it was too small to be a horse had to be a donkey and why wasn't a believer them, but when I became a believer and read the story, of course, connected the dots and I feel very special.

Being able to share that with you. Thank you for not yawning, reached out his hand and took it. He's a bit of a wild man he webinars anything is like something he sees is nothing coming out of his fisticuffs is not the answer I needed advantage and there just so happen to be this jawbone and so instinctively he goes beast mode on everyone and killed a thousand men with it nor the battlefield were like this one. The spectators, the Jewish spectators probably see this all taking place. Why didn't they rally to his side on these I will first off the Philistines and the Jews alike are anticipating his death at any moment and it never comes. This like he's got a good there is no way I'll man this is like went to this like 15 minutes in and still they can't make it is not even coming the other guy so is more than strength. Again, either as eye hand coordination to speed on me just this is a phenomenal thing when we get to heaven if there's a video section which documentaries on these things, only one of the first ones on the list, not at the top. It is going to be in their I'd like to make a that would be a good series teaching of things I'd like to see your David dropping Goliath. The three men in the furnace Daniel in the lion's den.

Could you look at the face of the stupid Lions like we eat every body can't get 6 to 7 just so much funny thing zooming the fish going through the Red Sea with Moses with a fishlike looking at the turtles in there looking out questions questions questions so many questions. The Bible is an exciting book. Yet God says you have read it and enjoy it. Then go live it well okay anyway they spectators they saw this, they were anticipating the death of their champion and it does not come did the men of Judah feel an urge to join him whether anyone in their ranks thing you know we just can't stand here but that's what they did.

Verse 16.

Then Sampson said after he kills him with the jawbone of a donkey heaps upon heaps with the jawbone of a donkey. I have slain a thousand men. He slays the Philistines with the jawbone of this donkey and then it spun time is time for him to wax eloquently to shine out with his poetry. Goldman the name of his only real weapon this jawbone of a donkey's triumphant words to play on the Hebrew language is kind of interesting words for donkey. The word for donkey and the Hebrews, how more in the word, for he is Homer so it's very close to each other and suicidal like ice Lewis law is not close to what he said but that's the nature of the pond that he uses and he's so you you think he would be too tired at this point to come up with poetry. Even when I'm fresh I don't come up with poetry well.

He is also parched, but he gets his poetry out and it's it's quite remarkable leads and well educated man and he comes up with these things feel out of the eater came something sweet to me just sees these are deeds created like disease.

These humor and irony in it and everything in the irony of this and how humiliating you I got charming with what jawbone of a donkey and the gold.

King James even makes it more embarrassing for them well. Judah watched and Judah listened Judah even wrote down the poem but they did not join the fight and they don't even appear to pat him on the back verse 17 AMI pause before read the reason why I one of the few reasons why believe the Judah's watching is because of how the narrative is given to us. It says he found a fresh jawbone reached out his hand, verse 15 and took it and killed a thousand men within verse 16. Then Sampson said, with a jawbone of all the donkey. Then he makes this the speech and he's probably crying out loud and then it goes on to say in verse 17 where we are now.

This is why think they were close enough to hear and see it all. And so it was when he had finished speaking Betty through the jawbone from his hand and called the place, Rahmat Lee, I jawbone Hill.

That's what that means, it's you host the city still had it received. He slays MAV says you know ice Lewis saw them, he still got the jawbone and is an and visually they can see there's a throw the jawbone awaited the jawbone. It will that is Sampson. It was a trophy to him. Abraham would've built an altar. David Wood wrote a song Daniel would've knelt down and started worshiping the Lord in front of every body called out to Yahweh.

Sampson goes poetic about what he did and he's going to criticize God in the process while he asked God for water if you've ever heard the song yesterday when I was young. Such a tragic song I like the song I wanted to be about me, but I think find it moving, but I'm his 11 of the parts of it says I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out.

I never stopped to think what life is all about and every conversation I can now recall concerned itself with me or nothing else at all how perfect is it describes a professional athlete that become so selfish and self-centered that there is a star not just to Natalie but there's been notorious for this and I know they played the song in Mickey Mantle's funeral. If you know Mickey Mantle, the baseball players life. You can see the connection because Mickey was just was actually a great boy from Oklahoma but the fame got to him and in the latter years. He looked back and that was the time he regretted this was Sampson to that every conversation he could recall concerned himself with himself or nothing at all. I do not want to be that way. There are those that will spin every conversation to something that is about them.

Verse 18. Then he became very thirsty so he cried out to Yahweh and said you have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant, and now shall I die of thirst, and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised, going from the bottom up, we can see again. He did not want to give satisfaction to the enemy of them killing him but he's thirsty now. Then he became very thirsty for water but not for God. This is the first time we hear him praying and will sit for satisfy your thirst for himself, empowered by the Lord would still the flesh was so weak we read of God doing for Sampson but we do not read of Sampson doing for God is God is going to give him the water. Is this a praise or protest but see it again. He became thirsty so he cried out to the Lord and said, you have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant. Well, that's praise and now shall I die of thirst informs the end of this certain uncircumcised. That's a protest is Exodus 14. The Jews came to Moses after they were delivered from butchering pharaohs. Then they said to Moses, because there were no graves in Egypt.

Have you taken us away to die in the wilderness, why have you dealt with us to bring us up out of Egypt they were saying. So you freed us from one danger just to kill us with another. That's not what God is looking for the three men that were in the furnace of Nebuchadnezzar who came out would not even the smell of smoke on them, which is just another miracle baked into it. They were very grateful for God, but they also said at the very beginning that deliverance from the furnace was not required for them to be loyal to God is always worth reading that in Daniel chapter 3 verse 16 oh Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us from your hand okaying by not that it be known to you okaying that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the golden image which you have set up man. I mean, you don't talk to the king like that ever. In those damning Nebuchadnezzar is probably the most powerful king in all the Bible terms of deceivers so sovereign just kill him. We could do anything he wanted.

Wiseman didn't tell him what is dreamily just have Mike to help. We had power over the religious people. Usually the you know the church and is one of the church with the religious folks in the royalty they clash but not a Nebuchadnezzar, and they stand up to him and he said God doesn't have to save us forth or not worship what you're all about. Wow we Christians should be remembering them more often in our lives. Proverbs 24. If you frame the day of adversity, your strength is small.

Yeah, but in the pit of efforts to the it's hard not always easy. So this indirect. Thank you. At best, acknowledging what work God did through him soon takes a step backwards. You don't step forward two steps backwards, and now he's suggesting that God had only done half the job in delivering him, yet God in his mercy gives him the water.

So here we have this incredible victory that nobody saw coming and in Scripture.

This is typical to have a great victory like this and then to quickly be tested in the faith.

No sooner had the Israelites come to the Red Sea than they were faced with hunger and thirst, they begin bad mouthing Moses.

We just read Elijah's great victory on Mount Carmel the end of drought and then to run to the gates of the city had to beat the chariot on and then to be chased into the wilderness at the threat of the contract being put out on his life by Jezebel. And that's a lesson for us in Scripture to have a great victory. Be careful to let your guards down verse 19 so God split the hollow place that is Lehigh and water came out and he drank in his spirit returned and he revived. Therefore, he called its name factory which is in Lehigh to this day. So there he is again poetry's naming places all play Jovan Hill and now he names this you know prayer springs your prayers were offered up in God answers.

And so Jesus is still added God would look bad.

Jeff Sampson died of thirst after he beat the Philistines God was in the let that happen.

But exams it does not even talk to the Lord, which suggests he doesn't know how to pray. Why would he not know how to because he doesn't practice you learn how to bring better as you go on and live a holy do.

Although I do sometimes when I'm learning a try. Talk to God enough, but I always feel very comfortable talking to God know that he hears everything. I know my place before him Sampson you read the story said you know you talking to city. One of these thousand guys when we get to the part was Sampson thanks God we don't and God ministers to his outer man, how much already.

God would administer to the inner man. I don't want to be like this.

Therefore recall the name X hackery again the spring of one calling or prayer springs and so the Jovan Hill in prayer springs to names that he pins onto the he defines these places these dramatic names demonstrates his creativity. Verse 20 any judge Israel 20 years in the days of the Philistines, while he must've had more to him than just what we've read so far for him to survive 20 years of judgeship in Israel. It does imply that he did actually lead over or preside over hard decisions in the lives of the people, but he was false to his calling, his flesh will again rear its ugly head and dominate and lead him into self-indulgence, which will end in his untimely death. Going back to the song yesterday when I was young. There's another line in here that I think fits the life of Sampson thousand dreams, I dreamed the splendid things I plan I always built to last on the weekend shifting sand lived by night and shunned the naked light of day, and only now I see how the years ran away that Sampson Spurgeon said his whole life was a series of miracles and follies, so this one man Sampson watching the Sampson's war we look at this said this is how not to live, how not to be the believer and perhaps this victory though changed him a little bit. That's why we have at the end of this chapter. Any judge 20 years days of which is a remarkable accomplishment. Well, next session get to the end of Sampson climactic story of Samson and Delilah 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 out for just follow the links and cross reference radio.com that's all the time we have for today.

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