O Be Careful Little Eyes

Boy probably got so many files before, only this time as he takes is one powerful and smashes it in the same folder you crumpled rapidly reaches folder to put him in his grip behind the Russell mind is thinking less blood test Stephen Davey began looking at the life of Samson to continue his story today when Samson found himself no longer able to see physically. He was finally able to see spiritually when everything else is stripped away, he finally understood what really mattered. The question we need to ask ourselves today. Is this what might God have to take away from us to let us finally see Stephen called today's message will be careful lies while is one of the love story love filled with intrigue and greed is a story that the box office today would make a movie probably is is a picture with braille.

The last scene is about to be shot in Judges chapter Stephen following in the life of this rebellion now for 20 years. He judged all I himself.

He is the life he has accomplished. However, very little in either unifying Israel or bringing about the lives of the people and it's probably because they knew God was correct.

He also was inconsistent and immoral. In fact is we think the story back up in chapter 16 activity seems like old news. Look at verse 1L.

Samson saw Harlan there and when in her again were given the subtle hint of Samson's problem.

This is the week change in his armor that will only bring them down last session. Perhaps I ought to review briefly just for a moment, turn back to chapter 14 and noticed the common theme. The problem that Samson has with his eyes verse one, Samson went down the 10 all old woman verse two. So we came back and told his father and mother. I all intends verse three. The latter part of Pacific that was father get her for me, for she lost verse seven. So we went down and talk to the woman and she looked good Samson ladies and gentlemen, said problem is not his eyesight. Focus is the sin of observation. It is this concentration is in this man to live births today as I see that little good to is unable to control his lust tragedy is Satan is already blind here spiritually is already enslaved here sensuously. I think it is more than ironic that his chief weakness is introduced with the word Samson saw Samson's word and the biblical account.

Our eyes all woman. Interestingly, God will discipline him by allowing the enemy to take away Billy knows what happens verse two of chapter 16 was full of the gaze. I say Samson has come here. They surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city, they kept silent all like saying last wait until the morning light and then we will kill first grade now Samson lay until midnight and at midnight hereof and took all of the doors of the city gate and the two proposed and pull them along with the bars and then he put them on his shoulder.

These gates if they were constructed in typical fashion I uncovered in research would weigh about 45,000 pounds they were wooden but they were covered with metal plate post as well so I did a little further research and discovered, to put it in perspective, it would say that is placed on his shoulders is a full-size Buick Park Avenue. I called the dealer and asked him how much away we wonder what in the world that I will write the equivalent bill Park Avenue, with a slight half he puts it on his shoulders and it says that he walks look at the less part of the verse to the top of the mountain which is out of a breeze going all the car back were I think it's funny. All these men need another way to your under attack but no one approaches him at this point. No wonder the gay guys are standing there in all and now they're looking at this big hole in the city gate the left with a big hole in the city budget. What's happening here. Samson is being deceived. Unfortunately, by his sin and thinking he's invincible. Here's the problem is display of strength came so closely attached to his this file sin and he is getting in his mind, as it will be revealed with his story with Delilah that he is now Samson the mighty invincible I can go pick up again on my shoulders and walk off is become accountable to God.

Obviously for anyone else. In fact, I can imagine all the Jews on the back things I heard about the gate gaze that you will find my Bible here.

Right here put it under Abraham's name.

There are one of my heroes is a super same supercenter ever question by the rest of us are anybody ever mention the harlot to trouble is he is developed the mentality that he is invincible and he is now sitting duck for this sweetie named Delilah. Look at verse four. After this came about that he love a woman in the Valley of sort was the next event whose name was Delilah verse five in the lords of the Philistines came up to her there. The five keys of the five city kingdom of the Philistine Empire enticed him. They said and see where his greatest strength lies in how we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him, then we will each note that give you 1100 pieces of silver. That's 5500 pieces of silver to betray Samson how much did you just get years later to betray Christ.

30 she's getting 5500. In other words, she's getting enough of a nest egg to live the rest of her life in luxury, but also find rather tragic is he apparently loved each other before this happened, which revealed the Delilah at a price on her character. I do want to stop here momentarily to give you two observations of moral failure. Give them to you. Number one moral failure always involves small. In other words, it never happens in an instance, Udall, Cliff morally. It's more like a toboggan ride you get on because it's fun and it picks up speed and sooner than you'd like. You're going to ask to get all that moral failure, Samson did not end up in a Philistine jail overnight took little steps toward it.

Beginning in chapter 14, then you will see him in jail, but it didn't happen in a moment.

Personally believe that the three women mentioned in Samson's life are not the only women in his life at the Scripture records and in this chapter is visit the gaze of so matter-of-factly that it seems indicate this was standard fare for Samson just another event that a man who has run rampant emotionally with his passions observation number two moral failure usually involves relevant legitimate needs.

Delilah's name is submitted that is Jewish. She's the only Semitic or Hebrew girl that the Bible tells us he's involved with, and it says that he loved her. This is the only wall it says that he lost what I find interesting is that brass Samson is making an attempt to satisfy a need.

He's doing it legitimately. You cannot have God's blessing, but the need. He has his legitimate need to realize as well as Samson. By this time is middle-age, talking about a 50-year-old Mancini to get your picture this man pushing pillars over is a 25-year-old that middle-age guy battle worn and weary started from his fights. He has lived virtually alone.

That is, without a permanent companion is taken on the Philistines along. We never read any record of anybody ever helping them.

He is a Warner, I believe, weary man is strength is from the spirit of God but his discernment is diluted by his immoral life. You look at him at the end of his 20 years and he is waiting one flush and he's over which she represents to him Delilah. That is perhaps a final attempt to settle down.

It's obvious from the Scripture.

They lived together.

Some believe even get married this point in his life. He needs her. Otherwise he would've run. He should have run but he chose to stay several years ago woman walked into my office. The young lady who had fallen in love with a guy who didn't know the Lord didn't care about the Lord wanted nothing to do with the Lord. She was a believer they become engaged as you came into my office for my approval.

As her pastor and counseling to boot. After a little while. I was able to show her from record of Scripture that God disapproves she was confronted with the truth. I told her that what she needed was not counseling but current to make the right decision. She would choose either to follow the will of Jesus Christ for something legitimate something good or she would choose to marry this young man I will never forget.

She began to weep profusely. She put her head face in her hands weeping as she understood clearly the choice that after regaining composure she looked at me through teary eyes and she said I choose to marry this young man. She got up and walked away.

Take a look at the choice Samson is making her sick so Delilah said the Samson woman she lied. He loves please tell me where your greatest strength is and how you may be bound to afflict you to notice the coal almost obvious tactic uses unsafe and I think her mind is clouded by the 5500 pieces of silver will want to know how or what the secret was so that she could protect them. She would want to know how to edit so that she could she could make sure that nothing ever happened to it again for telling where your greatest strength is and how you maybe mount you so dumb he cannot see through any Chevrolet's distraction. Is there something wrong with this girl.

She was know it can bring me down, but his discernment is so diluted with follows in the text is a little cat and mouse game room number one is found in verse seven Satan said to her, if they bind me with seven fresh cords.

These are both great that have not been dried.

Then I shall become weak and be like any other man chuckle chuckle the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them, probably while he was asleep course more than likely Samson is asleep at this point in verse nine.

Now she had men lying in wait in an inner room, but she's him. The Philistines are upon you Samson. He wakes up at that moment and he's snaps. The text says the court has a three because that's when it touches fire so his strength was not discovered and let me correct here. The typical story that I have always believed in thought is that it is best. I always believe that the Philistines rushed Samson.

He stands up and breaks the corns attacks the Philistines and kills them waves his hands in the air Delilah that your wonderful as all we never read any record of the Philistines charging Samson there and hiding and when they're assured that his strength is gone there not and that would be proven by his inability to break the bowstrings, then they would rush him. The point is, ladies and gentlemen, Samson doesn't know their Philistines hiding in the closet you think this is one big game with number two on use ropes in verse 11.

Same result. He snaps them like a thread in verse 12 move number three little more dangerous. He says if you weave my hair in a strange fashion so she does. She ties into a lumen pin verse 13 the same result. Only this time she wrecks the he wrecks her sewing machine. Problem is, though in this move, move, number three becomes closer to revealing the truth than ever before and mentions for the first time. His hair Samson is playing a game of Russian roulette. And every time a hammer strikes the mount against him reading a story written by a religious or recorded by him. The pastor moody church about going even when when Oliver Cromwell was the protector of England, there was a well-known circus animal trainer is not all around the country. People would come to watch him any of these acts you performed during acts with lions and tigers and elephants and he had one though that would mesmerize the audience snake act he had purchased 14 years earlier a little 7 inch make and he'd work with that 14 years in admin performing this daring act with it. One night the tent was packed with thousands of people came time for that act and they brought the cage up to the ring and headed over there, they had imitation grass in front of it and the trainer lapses with an out of that open cage withers a huge boa constrictor and it wraps itself around the trader's feet and slides its way upward until at this particular time, the trainer was hardly visible only a little portion of his face crowd when the static cheering, squatting, but after about 30 seconds. The cheering stopped. Something was wrong. The trainer's face was growing read before that audience hushed, so much so that they did their read they heard the unmistakable sound of bones breaking before anyone could rush to help. What was once a 7 inch snake crushed its trainer. The death Samson is at this point is a man who thinks the serpent is trained 20 years he's allowed to slide up his body. He's barely visible and he still thinks it's a game. Take a look at the next move first 15.

Then Delilah said to him, how can you say I love you when your heart is not with me should of said how can you say you love me when you keep trying to tie me up.

You have deceived me these three times that that told me where your greatest strength is that it came about when she pressed him daily with her words and attend that's price assured him that his soul was annoyed, death, and finally, it's as if he said okay okay I'll tell you, for 17 so he told her all that was in his heart and he said to her razor has never come to my head, for I have been and as a right to God for my mother's womb.

My head is shaved in mice brings will leave me and I shall become weak and be like any other man know that's not true sense is missed the point. He has come to the point and place in his life, in which he has become like a Philistine Philistine had charms that were blessed by their idle priest and they would take those charms in the battle and when they would win the victory they would give the credit and the benefit to their lucky charm. Samson never mentions the spirit of God. He never mentions why he says if you take away my lucky charm. I lose my strength to this verse 18. When Delilah saw that he had told her all that was in his heart never sees the discerning one here she said and call the lords of the Philistines, saying, one once more, for he is told me all that is in his heart the Lord of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hand.

Verse 19 and she made him sleep on her knees. In other words, this was one night she was going to catch Samson off guard and when he was asleep. She called for man verse 19 and she had him shave off the locks of his hair and she began to afflict him in his strength left him that as you probably pushed him out of her lab. Verse 20 and she said the Philistines are upon you Samson.

Penny awoke from his sleep and said I will go out as at other times and shake myself free and the most tragic phrase in the whole story now follows, but he did not know that the Lord had departed from him was nothing more tragic than a person who loses the power of God and Dustin even know me ask you a question. If the presence and power of God were to leave this church.

How many Sundays would it take for us to realize we were functioning on her own strength.

If the power of God's spirit left your life how long it takes for you to just cover that you're operating in the flesh.

We the day in our spirit is less Samson and he doesn't even know Samson you're on your own nonsense here is gone but I'm still the mighty Samson. We are told what happened, but imagine with me what took place. Samson probably got up to Philistine soldiers come for him and he engages in combat.

He's done so many times before, only this time as he takes is one powerful fist and smashes it into the shield of a Philistine soldier instead of the shield from knowing his hand crumpled and pay brassy reaches for another soldier to push him and the soldier doesn't buy she's these grabbed from behind and he wrestles to get free mind is filled with. He's thinking this can be, but it is faith in God left you notice how the scriptural camera slips in the fast motion. Verse 21. The Philistines sees them the gouged out his eyes and he brought them down the gaze that worried earlier but with a harlot and bound him with bronze James and he was a grinder in the prison mighty or fallen verse 22 tells us something interesting that this chart is coming back but it tells us that God is not abandon Samson for good. In fact, it gives the reader. This editorial note, God's power is still available. Samson going the desk.

What happens to safe and imprison all prove that what is prayer a few moments is that Samson comes face-to-face with his full life and repentance and he begins in that prison a relationship with God that should've taken place as a judge in Israel Samson really didn't have a lot of time to develop this newfound relationship because he begins to hear them chanting.

We Samson we, Samson why because in verse 25. It so happened that when they were in high spirits away from this party for their daughter Dagon that is going to give him the fish God. All glory to begin the chamfer Samson cough Samson verse 25@email.or having a party this is wonderful were going to look at the great hero of Yahweh were going to show you that he is not being compared to our God day God, by the way whenever a leader falls the world still throws the party why because it gives their false God's greater credibility and drags the true God through the mud all the dignitaries are here. The five kings. Why all the rulers of Philistine Empire was assembled, which by the way is interesting because are about to lose their leadership, which will set them back.

This would be a candidate for President of the United States, and the vice president and the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Congress Senate all gathered under one roof their own using themselves with this middle-aged blind men are confusing in their pushing them around her taunting him or forcing him to be led painfully by hand. This is your placing a chant to their God. Dagon Samson finally has enough sodas got by the way, consistent praise and prayer is for God's honor and for his own vindication is the only it's only the second prayer that we have recorded the decree verse 28. Then Samson called to the Lord and said, oh Lord God please remember me, please strengthen me just this time of God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines were my two eyes. This prayer reveals to changes in Samson's thinking when we give them to you quickly. Number one reveals that Samson is repentance from his life of sin. Samson not only is repentance for the first time, but he is also dependent on the Lord for strength. That is, he recognizes his source of rings is not in his hair but it is God, he says, oh Lord, please remember me.

Verse 28 and please strengthen me just this time Samson for the first time in Scripture can see with discernment. I find it so intriguing that when Samson can no longer leave physically, but he finally begins to see spiritually when everything else is stripped away, he understands what really matters ask you another question. Is there something in your life that God has taken away or gotten needs to take away for you to be able to clearly see him a job spouse a child. Those are the things in your line of sight. It is no coincidence. Ladies and gentlemen that Frank Sinatra's hit song entitled I did it my way. That is the song that has been recorded by more artists in America in the last 20 years than any other song. Why is it such a hit because it is so close to our human nature. We like to do it our way. Samson has been for 20 Years Doing It His Way and is about to lose his life slicked with finish the story. Verse 29 and Samson grass. The two middle pillars on which the house rested and braced himself against them. The one with his right hand and the other with his left. You think Samson has any idea that strength is within himself. At this point, no way. It's either God or not at all.

Samson said let me die with the Philistines. In other words, God use me more time I'm willing to die so desperate to be used by your power in the event with all his might. House fell on the Lord and all the people who were in it, so the dead, whom he killed his death were more than those we killed in his life is and gentlemen, Samson was restored to some position of power. But he was not recent or to the same position of power. He was supposed to be in charge.

One of the thing is that God brings more awareness time and time again of the consequences that we pay because of arson. Samson's hair began to grow back with his eyes ever did. He toyed with sin for 20 years.

The Bible makes it very clear sexual temptation and morality is in aura temptation that we are not toyed with.

We are not flirted with, we are not to debate with.

We are not dialogue with Paul makes it clear we are told Ron and a vintage wisdom series from the book of Judges Stephen called today's lesson will be careful little lies.

We'd love to learn how God is using this ministry to build you up in the faith. Our mailing address is wisdom international PO Box 37297, Raleigh, NC 27627 if you do that again. You can write to us at wisdom international PO Box 37297 Raleigh, NC 27627 make plans to join us right back here on wisdom