INTRODUCTION - THERE IS NO GREATER STORY OF A TRAGIC HERO THAN THAT OF SAMPSON, THE NAZARITE

• His conception, birth, & life were ordered of God for true greatness, a Judge of Israel.
• But his own personal weakness and immorality defeated his life & happiness -to suicide
• God fulfilled his purpose through the life of Sampson in spite of his sin

But Sampson was not able to enjoy God's fulfilment because of his self will, lust, & rebelliousness

I. THE PROMISE OF A GREAT DELIVERER - Judges 13

The evil of the children of Israel caused them a 40 year servitude to the Iron Masters- Philistines

A. SAMPSON'S MOTHER AND FATHER RECIEVED THE PROMISE OF A SPECIAL SON TO DELIVER ISRAEL

1. The mother of Sampson obviously prayed that she be given a son- natural desire of woman
2. The Angel of the Lord gave her a promise-v.3 some special instructions-5, & promise 5b
3. She might not have understood, but she carried the word to her husband-v.6,7

B.  SAMPSON'S FATHER WANTED REASSURANCE, AND SOUGHT THE LORD IN PRAYER TO KNOW THE MATTER

1. Rather than argue, or seek his own opinion, he sought the Lord -asking for help v.8b
2. The angel came again to the woman, & she ran for her husband –he asked- special instructions 12
3. The angel again repeated the vow of the Nazarite -13,14 Numbers 6:1-8 special- John The Baptist

C.  SAMPSON'S PARENTS SOUGHT THE NAME OF THE ANGEL, & OFFERED A SACRIFICE TO GOD

1. The angel refused to give his name, but secret -wonderful-, the name of Jesus- 18
2. The offering was placed on a rock- & fire came down and devoured it- v-20
3. Sampson's father feared death because of their vision- but she reasoned of consolation-22,3

Though the angel never appeared again- they knew it was of the Lord- Sampson born- 21,24

II.  SAMPSON'S SELFISHNES SHOWS QUICKLY 14 - 15

The spirit of the Lord led- 13:25, but Sampson's self will frustrated God's deliverance

A.  THE FIRST EPISODE CONCERNING SAMPSON SHOWED HIS DESIRE FOR FORBIDDEN FRUIT - AN ENEMY GIRL

1. Courtship is a precious time, enjoy it in the Lord - dangerous time - but Sampson said "get her for me" - 14:2
2. His father & mother plead with him, but he wanted his pleasure v.3b - headstrong, mad love
3. But God was willing to use his fault 7.48- for His eternal purpose will not be thwarted

B.  IN ORIENTAL CUSTOM THE PARENTS ARRANGED THE ENGAGEMENT OF THEIR SON AND THE WOMAN

1. During the process Sampson killed a lion v.6, later took honey v.5,3-set up a riddle-
2. With the bachelor party- Sampson stumped the group-gambled 14- but they threatened 15
3. The betrayal of his girl angered him - 18b - so he gathered his gambling debts in war - 19

C.  IN HER BETRAYAL SAMPSON'S GIRLFRIEND SEALED HER OWN DEATH, AND BROUGHT GREAT CONFLICT

1. Sampson stomped about mad - the father gave the girl to another 14:20 & Sampson mocked - 15:2
2. Sampson retaliated (Vengeance is the Lord's) - the foxes & firebrands (Jackals) - v4
3. The angered Philistines destroyed Sampson's girl- the very fate she tried to escape- v.6

Sampson was delivered - v.11 - Spirit filled he slew Philistines- 14, Miracle of Jawbone-15, 19

III.  SAMPSON'S SINFULNESS BRINGS DESTRUCTION - 16-17

Sampson grown 20 years older- sane selfishness now grows to terrible sin & terrible cost

A.  SAMPSON SOUGHT HIS LOVE FROM THE ARMS OF THE HARLOTS, AND FOUND THE WOMAN WHO WOULD DESTROY HIM

1. We might laugh at the drunk comedy of the trap-v1-3 -ripped the doors off-carried 35 miles
2. But he finally fell into the clutches of Delilah - sin promises pleasure but gives death!
3. She mocked him, nagging about the secret of his power & 3 times he lied- 7,11,13 - excused?

B.  SAMPSON'S CAPTIVITY WAS BROUGHT ABOUT BY HIS BREACH OF THE NAZARITE VOW !

1. Delilah nagged him to death - v.16b - and told the secret things of God - Sinful talk leads to sin
2. She made him sleep - v.19 hot drunkenness? dancing? -lustful temptation- sheared!
3. He wist not what he had lost! - 20 - & it cost his his eyes v.21 & freedom

C.  BUT EVEN IN THE PRISON GRINDER SAMPSON REPENTED, HIS HAIR GREW BACK, & GOD HEARD HIS PRAYER

1. The growth of the hair did not come quickly - he suffered much & long the wages of sin
2. They brought him out to mock him - 25 - but Sampson cried to God for help- 28, 30a
3. He slew 3,000 Philistine leaders in his death but he committed suicide -tricked by Satan

Unless we have a miracle- many of our greatest youth will be so tricked by Satan!

CONCLUSION - WHEN THE ENEMY RULES THE LAND, GOD NEEDS HEROIC SOULS, BUT SATAN TEMPTS TO DESTROY

1. We need strong boys and girls who will take the vow of the Christian- not Nazarite!
2. Who knows what can be done when a few men with pure hearts begin to serve Christ!
3. Allow God to guide you in your love, courtship, & marriage or Satan will destroy!

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