1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:04,160 Be grateful if you could open your Bibles at the book of Judges and chapter 13, 2 00:00:04,880 –> 00:00:09,680 we continue our series Dectures on the Titanic, looking at how we can avoid 3 00:00:09,680 –> 00:00:16,160 a plunge to disaster in our lives and learning today from the story of Samson Judges and chapter 4 00:00:16,160 –> 00:00:21,760 13. And as we turn to that opening the Bible, let’s come before God in a moment of prayer. 5 00:00:24,719 –> 00:00:28,719 Father, we’ve come here today to meet with you and to hear your voice. 6 00:00:30,240 –> 00:00:36,880 And so as we open the Bible again now, we ask that you will speak to us through it, 7 00:00:38,400 –> 00:00:45,279 show us ourselves in it and point us to Jesus Christ our Savior and our Lord, 8 00:00:46,720 –> 00:00:56,560 giving us hope in and through him. These things we ask together, in Jesus’ name. Amen. 9 00:00:57,040 –> 00:01:04,239 Now I want you this morning to try and imagine a nightmare scenario. 10 00:01:06,320 –> 00:01:11,440 It’s hard for us to do this because we’ve become so used to the freedom that we enjoy 11 00:01:11,440 –> 00:01:19,199 and sometimes may take for granted, but I want you to imagine tanks rolling up the streets 12 00:01:19,199 –> 00:01:25,599 in Washington. I want you to imagine the unthinkable scenario in which a foreign power 13 00:01:25,599 –> 00:01:33,599 has invaded this country and we are no longer a free people. The FBI and CIA have been taken over. 14 00:01:33,599 –> 00:01:39,360 All of the national security apparatus has been dismantled. A foreign army are on the streets 15 00:01:39,360 –> 00:01:47,360 of every city, and every day, there are atrocities committed by the military on the streets in the 16 00:01:47,360 –> 00:01:55,360 loop against defenseless people on their way to work. Various attempts at resistance have been 17 00:01:55,360 –> 00:02:01,839 made, but whenever anyone gets involved in something to do with resistance, they disappear 18 00:02:02,639 –> 00:02:08,160 and are never heard of again. So gradually, over time, resistance crumbles. 19 00:02:09,119 –> 00:02:18,160 People begin to accept the unthinkable. We lose hope of ever regaining our freedom. 20 00:02:19,839 –> 00:02:25,600 Now, that is the nightmare scenario that applied to God’s people at the beginning of Judges in 21 00:02:25,600 –> 00:02:32,399 chapter 13. Do you see there that the Lord had delivered them into the hands of the Philistines 22 00:02:33,199 –> 00:02:41,759 for 40 years? God’s people at this time had no army. They had no king. There was no organized 23 00:02:41,759 –> 00:02:50,080 resistance movement, and so they were absolutely helpless under the tyranny of a fearful oppressor. 24 00:02:51,199 –> 00:02:58,479 The enemy had rolled into the land, and for 40 years, the people of God had been unable to do 25 00:02:58,479 –> 00:03:07,600 anything about it. 40 years! That’s a whole generation. You think of what 40 years means. 26 00:03:07,600 –> 00:03:14,080 You try and picture your children, or your grandchildren, growing up over a period of 40 27 00:03:14,080 –> 00:03:19,600 years. You’ve known freedom, but they’ve never known it since they were born. All they’ve ever 28 00:03:19,600 –> 00:03:27,039 known is the tanks in the streets. And you’re now seeing them, 20, 30, 38, 39, 40 years old, 29 00:03:27,039 –> 00:03:35,279 and you wonder, will they ever know what it is to be free? And you as you get older begin to cry 30 00:03:35,279 –> 00:03:42,320 out to God, where is deliverance going to come from? You can’t see a hope of it on the horizon. 31 00:03:43,679 –> 00:03:50,399 But God heard the prayers of his people, and he answered in the birth of Samson. 32 00:03:51,759 –> 00:03:55,360 Now we need to know three things about Samson before we get into the story 33 00:03:55,360 –> 00:04:02,000 so that we can understand it rightly. The first is that Samson was a gifted believer. 34 00:04:02,559 –> 00:04:09,039 I say he was a believer, because the New Testament specifically tells us that he was a man of faith. 35 00:04:09,039 –> 00:04:16,239 Hebrews chapter 11, verse 32 lists him along with David and Samuel and Gideon as those who 36 00:04:16,239 –> 00:04:23,440 administered justice, conquered kingdoms, through faith. He was a man of faith. So I expect for that 37 00:04:23,440 –> 00:04:32,160 reason to see Samson in heaven. I don’t expect to see Caine there. I don’t expect to see Esau there. 38 00:04:32,799 –> 00:04:38,320 But I think that we can expect to see Samson there, because for all his flaws, the Bible tells 39 00:04:38,320 –> 00:04:46,880 us he was a man of faith. Not only that, God made it clear before Samson was born that he was to be 40 00:04:47,200 –> 00:04:52,880 apart for a very special purpose for God. Chapter 13 of Judges and verse 5, 41 00:04:52,880 –> 00:05:00,720 this boy is to be a Nazirite. He’s to be set apart from birth and he will begin the deliverance of 42 00:05:00,720 –> 00:05:07,279 Israel from the hands of the Philistines. Now this bit about being a Nazirite was somewhat unusual. 43 00:05:07,920 –> 00:05:14,720 You can read about it in Numbers and chapter 6. Basically, when a person wanted to give themselves 44 00:05:14,720 –> 00:05:20,880 with a special devotion to God for a period of time or for a particular purpose, they would 45 00:05:20,880 –> 00:05:26,079 take a vow in which they would not cut their hair, in which they would abstain from any 46 00:05:26,079 –> 00:05:33,279 alcoholic drink, and in which they would not touch nor go near any kind of dead body or carcass. 47 00:05:34,239 –> 00:05:38,959 This was in order to keep them ceremonially pure so that they could continually be 48 00:05:38,959 –> 00:05:44,559 as it were in the presence of God. Now a Nazarite vow was normally taken 49 00:05:44,559 –> 00:05:49,119 for a particular period of time, a few months or whatever, for a special reason. 50 00:05:49,920 –> 00:05:55,679 But what was unique about Samson was that this vow applied to the whole of his life. 51 00:05:56,320 –> 00:06:01,279 From the moment that he was born, God said, you’re set apart for a particular purpose. 52 00:06:01,920 –> 00:06:06,239 And it was for that reason that, unlike any other college student, 53 00:06:06,239 –> 00:06:13,119 his mother never once said to him, son, go to the barber’s and get a haircut. 54 00:06:13,119 –> 00:06:16,480 She never said that to him. And so., throughout his life, 55 00:06:16,480 –> 00:06:19,679 his hair grew. Now notice third, that he was gifted. 56 00:06:19,679 –> 00:06:23,839 He was a believer. He was set apart for God. He was unusually gifted by the Holy Spirit. 57 00:06:24,399 –> 00:06:30,959 Chapter 13 and verse 24, the Spirit of the Lord began to stir in him. 58 00:06:31,760 –> 00:06:38,559 It was the Holy Spirit who gave him this gift of remarkable strength. 59 00:06:38,559 –> 00:06:45,359 It was a charisma. It was what we might call a spiritual gift and it was used to extraordinary 60 00:06:45,359 –> 00:06:51,279 effect. So if we are to understand Samson properly, we need to start from what the Bible tells us, 61 00:06:51,279 –> 00:06:58,559 that he was a gifted believer, set apart from God, empowered by the Holy Spirit for a special task 62 00:06:58,559 –> 00:07:06,799 to which God had called him. Secondly, he was a courageous hero. I think of Samson as 63 00:07:06,799 –> 00:07:14,880 the Arnold Schwarzenegger of the Old Testament. He is this larger-than-life hero who comes into 64 00:07:14,880 –> 00:07:20,079 a desperate situation and gives hope when everything else seems lost. In this country 65 00:07:20,079 –> 00:07:28,239 that is defeated and overrun, here is one man who is ready to put up a fight for the liberation of 66 00:07:28,239 –> 00:07:35,359 God’s people from their enemies. And he does it with awesome results. When we read about Samson 67 00:07:35,359 –> 00:07:46,480 taking out a thousand Philistines, we are not to thumb our chins and pull long faces and say, 68 00:07:46,480 –> 00:07:52,320 oh dear, what terrible moral problems there are in the Old Testament. No, we’re meant to 69 00:07:52,320 –> 00:07:59,839 cheer at that point, because we’re finding one hero who is prepared to face up to the enemy 70 00:07:59,839 –> 00:08:05,119 in a situation where the people of God have been cruelly oppressed for forty years and nobody 71 00:08:05,119 –> 00:08:12,079 around seems to be prepared to do anything about it. He becomes a one-man army in a nation that 72 00:08:12,079 –> 00:08:20,160 is otherwise defenceless. He would have merited the highest honours that our military could bestow 73 00:08:20,160 –> 00:08:26,480 for valour and courage in battle. But then the third thing to know about Samson is that he 74 00:08:26,480 –> 00:08:34,000 was an irresponsible fool, and this is the great irony of this man’s life. Here’s a man with godly 75 00:08:34,159 –> 00:08:42,960 parents, with spiritual gifts, extraordinary courage and greatly used by God. And yet at times as we’ll 76 00:08:42,960 –> 00:08:50,559 see he does the most stupid, stupid things. And so as you follow the story of Samson, sometimes 77 00:08:50,559 –> 00:08:56,400 you don’t know whether you should be cheering for him or weeping over him. And of course, 78 00:08:56,400 –> 00:09:02,400 the story therefore raises a very relevant question for us. How can a man who is such a 79 00:09:02,400 –> 00:09:11,119 gifted believer, so greatly used by God in his purpose, at the same time be such an irresponsible 80 00:09:11,119 –> 00:09:17,919 fool? How is it possible for a man to be given so much strength by God, and yet at the same 81 00:09:17,919 –> 00:09:25,280 time, as pursuing a wonderful ministry, make so many foolish mistakes? Now if you’ve never 82 00:09:25,280 –> 00:09:31,919 seen that contradiction, then you don’t live in the same world as I do. Samson speaks 83 00:09:31,919 –> 00:09:38,719 right to the heart of the questions that we face today. He reminds us that it is possible 84 00:09:38,719 –> 00:09:44,479 to have the gift of the spirit, that it is possible to be called by God to ministry. 85 00:09:45,039 –> 00:09:50,559 That it is possible to be used by God in his kingdom, and to take a plunge to disaster. 86 00:09:51,440 –> 00:09:56,479 And there isn’t one of us here who wants that to be true of us. And so our purpose 87 00:09:56,479 –> 00:10:05,200 today as we follow the story is to make sure that we learn from Samson so we don’t follow his path. 88 00:10:06,559 –> 00:10:11,679 Now as we turn to the story you have to use your imagination now to picture Samson. 89 00:10:12,719 –> 00:10:18,880 This guy’s been working out in the weight room for years when he walks 90 00:10:19,679 –> 00:10:30,559 his muscles ripple under his bronzed skin. Are you getting the picture here? His deep set dark eyes 91 00:10:32,799 –> 00:10:40,080 and his chiseled features and his perfectly toned six pack of abs 92 00:10:41,840 –> 00:10:45,840 attract attention wherever he walks. And now that 93 00:10:45,840 –> 00:10:51,760 you’ve got him firmly pictured in your imagination, I want you to see this Old Testament hunk 94 00:10:53,039 –> 00:10:59,520 walking down the road to a place called Tymna. And there at the beginning of chapter 14, 95 00:11:00,559 –> 00:11:08,640 we’re told that Samson sees a Philistine woman. Now, she must have been an absolute stunner 96 00:11:09,359 –> 00:11:15,440 because as soon as Sampson saw her, he was absolutely smitten. He comes home chapter 14 97 00:11:15,440 –> 00:11:21,200 and verse 2, and he says, I have seen a Philistine woman in Tymna. And he says to his mother and 98 00:11:21,200 –> 00:11:28,559 father, now get her for me as my wife. You have to get the inflection that’s there in the original 99 00:11:28,559 –> 00:11:35,359 in what he said here. It kind of was like this, I saw a woman 100 00:11:35,359 –> 00:11:43,760 in Tymna and he says to his mother and father, This is the one, no doubt I have seen her, 101 00:11:43,760 –> 00:11:49,679 no one else like her I have ever seen. Now, of course, Sampson is wanting to do the right 102 00:11:49,679 –> 00:11:54,880 thing in getting married, but of course he is doing it for all the wrong reasons. 103 00:11:55,599 –> 00:12:01,599 He didn’t even know this woman, it wasn’t until later that he even spoke to her. 104 00:12:01,679 –> 00:12:05,039 All he knew at this point was what he saw. 105 00:12:06,880 –> 00:12:10,960 Sampson’s mother and father of course are absolutely horrified by this. 106 00:12:10,960 –> 00:12:15,280 The Philistines are the enemy who have been oppressing God’s people for forty years. 107 00:12:16,080 –> 00:12:18,960 How can you possibly marry the enemy? 108 00:12:20,159 –> 00:12:23,039 But Sampson had made up his mind. Verse 3 of chapter 14, 109 00:12:23,599 –> 00:12:27,359 Get her for me, he says, she’s the right one 110 00:12:27,359 –> 00:12:30,479 for me. Well, talk about the strong-willed child! 111 00:12:31,679 –> 00:12:34,880 He’s so smitten, he’s not listening to anybody else. 112 00:12:35,599 –> 00:12:39,359 And of course as we saw last time, that’s the first step on the road to disaster. 113 00:12:40,400 –> 00:12:44,960 Now, there may be some parents who can identify with Sampson’s mother and father at this point 114 00:12:44,960 –> 00:12:51,200 today. You’ve sought to raise the child or children that God has given to you. 115 00:12:52,320 –> 00:12:54,000 You’ve poured yourself into that, 116 00:12:54,000 –> 00:12:57,919 and you’ve done everything you know how to direct them on right paths. 117 00:12:58,479 –> 00:13:02,479 But they have a will of their own, and there comes a point as they grow into maturity 118 00:13:03,440 –> 00:13:04,640 where you can’t stop them. 119 00:13:05,919 –> 00:13:09,440 You wish that you could, but you know that you can’t. 120 00:13:11,039 –> 00:13:15,679 And you can see pain further down the road and you kind of wince as you think about it. 121 00:13:16,880 –> 00:13:20,239 But all that you can do is to live with your pain, 122 00:13:20,880 –> 00:13:26,559 and to trust that God may do something remarkable to bring good out of it. 123 00:13:28,559 –> 00:13:31,760 Now if that’s where you are, this is a wonderfully encouraging story, 124 00:13:32,320 –> 00:13:34,640 because God did do something remarkable. 125 00:13:35,760 –> 00:13:41,119 And though Samson brought a great deal of self-inflicted pain into his own life, 126 00:13:42,320 –> 00:13:43,760 God never let go of him. 127 00:13:44,719 –> 00:13:46,960 And through all the tragedies of his life, 128 00:13:48,159 –> 00:13:55,679 God wove his foolish decisions into a bigger purpose that God used to advance his kingdom. 129 00:13:56,479 –> 00:14:00,559 You find this referred to particularly in chapter 14 in verse 4, 130 00:14:00,559 –> 00:14:07,520 where we’re told that Samson’s parents did not know that this was from the Lord. 131 00:14:08,400 –> 00:14:12,000 Now that does not mean that the Lord validated this marriage. 132 00:14:12,000 –> 00:14:15,200 It was a breaking of a principle that God had already given. 133 00:14:15,760 –> 00:14:19,599 It was a dreadful mistake and it led to all kinds of pain. 134 00:14:20,400 –> 00:14:25,919 But the good news is that even your most dreadful foolish stupid mistake 135 00:14:26,559 –> 00:14:29,280 cannot overwhelm the purposes of God. 136 00:14:30,000 –> 00:14:34,799 And God has a wonderful way of taking even the stupid mistakes of our lives 137 00:14:35,599 –> 00:14:44,799 and weaving them into the wider purpose that he can still accomplish in and through his people. 138 00:14:45,840 –> 00:14:47,359 Well, we’re going to see that story. 139 00:14:48,320 –> 00:14:52,239 Now, it’s interesting that as they go on the way to Timna, 140 00:14:52,239 –> 00:14:54,400 to meet up with this lady for the first time 141 00:14:55,119 –> 00:15:01,200 that Samson has his first experience of the Spirit of God coming on him in power. 142 00:15:02,000 –> 00:15:03,280 Chapter 14 and verse 5, 143 00:15:04,479 –> 00:15:06,799 as they approach the vineyards of Timna, 144 00:15:07,679 –> 00:15:11,280 a young lion came roaring toward Samson. 145 00:15:12,239 –> 00:15:15,119 The spirit of the Lord came upon him in power 146 00:15:16,080 –> 00:15:20,479 so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands. 147 00:15:21,200 –> 00:15:24,320 Very interesting, God can bless you even when you’re on the wrong path. 148 00:15:26,479 –> 00:15:29,840 And God’s power came to Samson at this moment in his life, 149 00:15:29,840 –> 00:15:31,520 he’s attacked by this lion 150 00:15:32,559 –> 00:15:34,479 and to his own absolute astonishment, 151 00:15:34,479 –> 00:15:36,080 he finds he has the strength to tear 152 00:15:36,080 –> 00:15:38,159 the lion apart limb from limb. 153 00:15:38,159 –> 00:15:40,799 He must have been amazed when he saw what he’d done. 154 00:15:41,760 –> 00:15:44,880 It happened only because of the direct power of God 155 00:15:44,880 –> 00:15:46,799 coming at that moment upon him, 156 00:15:47,599 –> 00:15:49,679 but it was a kind of sneak preview 157 00:15:50,320 –> 00:15:53,840 of what God would enable him to do in the future. 158 00:15:54,559 –> 00:15:59,599 With power like that, all things are possible. 159 00:16:01,520 –> 00:16:03,760 Now sometime later the family returned 160 00:16:04,320 –> 00:16:08,400 for what turned out to be a nightmare of a wedding. 161 00:16:08,400 –> 00:16:10,000 Now lots of people have good stories 162 00:16:10,000 –> 00:16:11,520 about things that went wrong in weddings, 163 00:16:11,520 –> 00:16:14,080 you know, cakes that fell over, and so forth and so on. 164 00:16:14,719 –> 00:16:20,820 But this is the mother of all wedding nightmares I tell you. 165 00:16:22,500 –> 00:16:23,700 The family come back 166 00:16:24,479 –> 00:16:26,880 and as they’re coming down for the wedding, 167 00:16:26,880 –> 00:16:28,000 approaching Timnah, 168 00:16:28,640 –> 00:16:30,640 Samson pulls off the road to see 169 00:16:31,359 –> 00:16:34,239 if the carcass of the lion he killed is still there. 170 00:16:34,239 –> 00:16:35,359 And sure enough it is. 171 00:16:36,000 –> 00:16:37,280 And to his astonishment 172 00:16:37,280 –> 00:16:41,200 some bees have made a hive within the carcass, 173 00:16:41,200 –> 00:16:42,960 the bones of this lion. 174 00:16:42,960 –> 00:16:44,320 And there’s honey there. 175 00:16:44,320 –> 00:16:45,919 It must’ve made Samson laugh. 176 00:16:46,640 –> 00:16:48,799 And he made up a little rhyme about it. 177 00:16:49,520 –> 00:16:52,239 Out of the eater, something to eat. 178 00:16:53,200 –> 00:16:57,119 Out of the strong, the lion, something sweet. 179 00:16:58,320 –> 00:17:00,799 Now when Samson arrived in Timnah 180 00:17:00,799 –> 00:17:04,400 he was responsible for organizing the wedding reception 181 00:17:04,400 –> 00:17:07,199 and we’re told in verse 10 of chapter 14 182 00:17:07,599 –> 00:17:11,359 that he was given 30 companions. 183 00:17:12,079 –> 00:17:13,599 Now I don’t know how it is for you 184 00:17:13,599 –> 00:17:16,400 when you’ve had experience perhaps of organizing a wedding 185 00:17:16,400 –> 00:17:18,319 but being told there’s an extra 30 guests 186 00:17:18,319 –> 00:17:20,000 who you don’t know who want to turn up 187 00:17:20,000 –> 00:17:22,000 is really not very good news at the last minute 188 00:17:22,000 –> 00:17:22,719 wouldn’t you think? 189 00:17:23,359 –> 00:17:24,959 Everybody who has ever planned a wedding 190 00:17:24,959 –> 00:17:27,760 knows how difficult it is to get the guest list 191 00:17:27,760 –> 00:17:29,760 squeezed down to fit the budget 192 00:17:30,880 –> 00:17:33,040 and now here’s Samson finds 193 00:17:33,040 –> 00:17:34,880 that he has to have 30 people 194 00:17:34,880 –> 00:17:37,680 who he doesn’t even know in his wedding 195 00:17:37,680 –> 00:17:39,520 and he’s not at all pleased. 196 00:17:40,160 –> 00:17:41,839 I don’t know how it was put to him 197 00:17:41,839 –> 00:17:43,760 perhaps his wife put it something like this 198 00:17:45,040 –> 00:17:48,959 Well dear, there are already 300 guests 199 00:17:48,959 –> 00:17:51,520 on my philistine side of the family 200 00:17:52,319 –> 00:17:53,520 And of course there’s only you 201 00:17:53,520 –> 00:17:54,880 your mother and father on yours 202 00:17:55,839 –> 00:17:57,520 Only three on one side of the church 203 00:17:57,520 –> 00:17:58,239 not very many 204 00:17:58,800 –> 00:18:00,880 I tell you what we’ve got some other relatives 205 00:18:01,439 –> 00:18:03,839 maybe they can come as your guests also 206 00:18:03,839 –> 00:18:06,319 another 30 they can stand with you 207 00:18:06,319 –> 00:18:08,000 Well Samson’s not at all amused 208 00:18:08,000 –> 00:18:10,560 because of course he is paying for the wedding 209 00:18:11,439 –> 00:18:14,479 so he decides to have a little bit of fun 210 00:18:15,040 –> 00:18:17,280 with the unwanted guests 211 00:18:17,280 –> 00:18:18,400 He tells them the riddle 212 00:18:19,680 –> 00:18:22,000 Out of the eater, something to eat 213 00:18:22,000 –> 00:18:22,479 He says 214 00:18:23,280 –> 00:18:26,400 Out of the strong, something sweet 215 00:18:27,359 –> 00:18:28,959 And then he makes a bet with them 216 00:18:29,760 –> 00:18:30,959 If you can tell me 217 00:18:30,959 –> 00:18:33,359 he says to the 30 unwanted guests 218 00:18:33,359 –> 00:18:34,959 the meaning of this riddle 219 00:18:35,839 –> 00:18:38,400 then I’ll pay for your tuxedos 220 00:18:39,040 –> 00:18:40,560 Now it doesn’t actually say tuxedos 221 00:18:40,560 –> 00:18:41,599 but it says suits 222 00:18:41,599 –> 00:18:43,839 and we’re talking about a wedding 223 00:18:43,839 –> 00:18:45,920 so what do you think they would have been? 224 00:18:47,680 –> 00:18:48,479 And then he says 225 00:18:48,479 –> 00:18:52,880 but if you can’t tell me the meaning of this riddle 226 00:18:52,880 –> 00:18:55,119 you’ll be paying your own expenses 227 00:18:55,119 –> 00:18:59,760 which the 30 guests were not too amused about 228 00:19:00,479 –> 00:19:00,959 By the way 229 00:19:00,959 –> 00:19:02,880 if this is a little bit of free advice 230 00:19:02,880 –> 00:19:04,400 thrown in for nothing this morning 231 00:19:04,400 –> 00:19:06,239 if you want to promote family harmony 232 00:19:06,239 –> 00:19:08,719 don’t play games with your in-laws 233 00:19:08,719 –> 00:19:12,079 about who should pay what in the wedding reception 234 00:19:12,079 –> 00:19:13,839 it always leads to trouble 235 00:19:13,839 –> 00:19:16,079 and of course it did here 236 00:19:16,959 –> 00:19:19,839 These wedding celebrations went on for days 237 00:19:19,839 –> 00:19:21,119 and in verse 15 238 00:19:21,760 –> 00:19:25,920 we find that the guests are leaning on Samson’s wife 239 00:19:25,920 –> 00:19:27,520 to find out the answer 240 00:19:28,000 –> 00:19:28,560 Verse 15 241 00:19:28,560 –> 00:19:30,959 On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife 242 00:19:31,680 –> 00:19:34,959 coax your husband into explaining the riddle to us 243 00:19:36,079 –> 00:19:37,920 or we’ll burn you 244 00:19:37,920 –> 00:19:38,959 some wedding guests 245 00:19:39,760 –> 00:19:41,439 and your father’s household 246 00:19:42,239 –> 00:19:42,959 to death 247 00:19:42,959 –> 00:19:43,920 well this poor woman 248 00:19:43,920 –> 00:19:46,560 fancy being told that by your guests in the middle of your wedding 249 00:19:48,000 –> 00:19:49,599 this woman is desperate 250 00:19:50,319 –> 00:19:53,680 and this is the fourth day of a prolonged kind of celebration 251 00:19:53,680 –> 00:19:56,160 so talk about ruining the honeymoon 252 00:19:57,520 –> 00:19:58,400 Verse 16 253 00:19:58,400 –> 00:20:02,160 Samson’s wife threw herself on him sobbing 254 00:20:03,119 –> 00:20:03,920 You hate me 255 00:20:04,880 –> 00:20:06,160 You don’t really love me 256 00:20:07,199 –> 00:20:10,239 I was a bit rich to start this in the middle of the honeymoon, don’t you think? 257 00:20:11,199 –> 00:20:14,400 You have given my people a riddle but you haven’t told me the answer 258 00:20:15,599 –> 00:20:19,520 and she went on and on until eventually Samson told her and 259 00:20:20,160 –> 00:20:24,959 she told the guests and Samson lost the bet and he had to pay for the tuxedos 260 00:20:25,760 –> 00:20:32,160 So Samson’s absolutely furious he goes off and he takes the lives of 30 philistines 261 00:20:32,160 –> 00:20:35,680 takes their clothes brings them back to the reception 262 00:20:35,680 –> 00:20:40,640 gives them to the 30 guests and then stomps off home in a furious rage 263 00:20:40,640 –> 00:20:44,000 leaving his bride stranded at the altar 264 00:20:44,959 –> 00:20:47,920 And if that’s not enough of a wedding nightmare for you 265 00:20:47,920 –> 00:20:50,719 then I have to tell you it gets worse afterwards 266 00:20:50,719 –> 00:20:54,079 because at the beginning of Chapter 15 Verse 1 there 267 00:20:54,160 –> 00:20:59,119 Samson turns up at his bride’s house at Timnah again 268 00:20:59,119 –> 00:21:02,079 He arrives with a bunch of red roses 269 00:21:02,079 –> 00:21:04,160 Well it doesn’t actually say that 270 00:21:04,160 –> 00:21:05,920 Actually it was a young goat 271 00:21:05,920 –> 00:21:09,199 But the significance is exactly the same 272 00:21:09,760 –> 00:21:11,359 Because what he wants to do is 273 00:21:11,359 –> 00:21:14,880 he wants to say he’s very sorry about all that happened at the wedding 274 00:21:14,880 –> 00:21:18,959 and he’d very much like to kiss and make up in the bedroom 275 00:21:18,959 –> 00:21:20,640 Look at Chapter 15 in Verse 1 276 00:21:20,640 –> 00:21:21,439 That’s what he says 277 00:21:22,640 –> 00:21:23,760 To his father-in-law 278 00:21:24,479 –> 00:21:26,719 I’m going to my wife’s room 279 00:21:26,719 –> 00:21:27,219 he says 280 00:21:28,400 –> 00:21:33,439 So here’s a guy who seems to think that he can walk in and out of a relationship at will 281 00:21:33,439 –> 00:21:36,319 that he can cause all kinds of trouble and sorrow 282 00:21:36,319 –> 00:21:42,000 and then that he can just come back at a moment’s notice and take out what he left off 283 00:21:42,400 –> 00:21:45,119 The father of the bride is having nothing to do with it 284 00:21:46,160 –> 00:21:48,800 And breaks to Samson the bad news 285 00:21:50,239 –> 00:21:53,119 Samson, you left your bride at the altar 286 00:21:54,079 –> 00:21:57,439 Tough luck son, she married the best man 287 00:21:58,880 –> 00:22:03,680 And of course at this, Samson is more furious than he has ever been before 288 00:22:03,680 –> 00:22:07,520 And in an act of wanton cruelty in his rage 289 00:22:07,520 –> 00:22:11,760 he takes foxes, sets their tails on fire 290 00:22:11,760 –> 00:22:17,280 and releases them into the wheat harvest that was ready to be brought in for the philistines 291 00:22:17,839 –> 00:22:20,719 Of course the whole of the fields begin to go up in smoke 292 00:22:20,719 –> 00:22:23,760 and once that blaze has started, like a forest fire 293 00:22:23,760 –> 00:22:25,119 it cannot be stopped 294 00:22:25,119 –> 00:22:29,520 and it continues on until the whole harvest of the philistines is destroyed 295 00:22:30,400 –> 00:22:35,040 And now he is philistine public enemy number one 296 00:22:36,400 –> 00:22:40,400 And even his own people now want to disown him 297 00:22:41,119 –> 00:22:44,000 The men of Judah come over to him to negotiate 298 00:22:44,640 –> 00:22:48,079 They meet him at a cave, there are 3000 of them who come 299 00:22:48,079 –> 00:22:49,439 Just a small delegation 300 00:22:50,079 –> 00:22:50,800 Verse 11 301 00:22:51,760 –> 00:22:57,359 Don’t you realize that the philistines are rulers over us, they ask 302 00:22:58,400 –> 00:23:00,160 Chapter 15, verse 11 303 00:23:00,160 –> 00:23:02,719 What have you done to us? 304 00:23:04,239 –> 00:23:05,680 Now, you see where these folks are at 305 00:23:07,119 –> 00:23:12,239 We’ve been oppressed by this military regime for 40 years 306 00:23:13,359 –> 00:23:16,319 We’ve learned that the best way is not to provoke them 307 00:23:17,280 –> 00:23:20,079 You go around burning their fields, you’re going to bring down 308 00:23:20,079 –> 00:23:23,599 an iron fist on us and cause all kinds of trouble 309 00:23:23,599 –> 00:23:28,079 Samson, you’re a liability 310 00:23:28,319 –> 00:23:31,839 And so they suggest that they want to give him up to the philistines 311 00:23:31,839 –> 00:23:32,880 and Samson agrees 312 00:23:34,000 –> 00:23:36,640 He allows them to bind him with ropes 313 00:23:37,680 –> 00:23:41,839 and he’s handed over as a prisoner to the philistines 314 00:23:42,959 –> 00:23:44,640 and at the moment where they’re about 315 00:23:44,640 –> 00:23:45,839 to take him captive 316 00:23:46,560 –> 00:23:49,119 chapter 15 in verse 14 we read again 317 00:23:50,160 –> 00:23:55,199 that the spirit of the Lord came upon him in power 318 00:23:56,719 –> 00:24:01,040 Samson tore off the ropes with this power that was given 319 00:24:01,040 –> 00:24:03,439 to him in that moment by the spirit of God 320 00:24:04,479 –> 00:24:08,079 He grabbed the jawbone of a dead donkey 321 00:24:08,880 –> 00:24:13,199 and remember that in those days conflict was hand-to-hand combat 322 00:24:13,199 –> 00:24:16,560 Wielding that as a ferocious and an awesome weapon 323 00:24:17,920 –> 00:24:23,599 He took out one thousand of the enemy’s crack troops on that day 324 00:24:25,199 –> 00:24:26,800 We’re meant to cheer for that one 325 00:24:26,800 –> 00:24:29,599 There were three thousand men from Judah 326 00:24:29,599 –> 00:24:33,119 who weren’t ready to put up any kind of resistance 327 00:24:33,119 –> 00:24:38,800 But Samson, empowered by the spirit of God, did more as one man alone 328 00:24:38,800 –> 00:24:40,319 than three thousand could do 329 00:24:41,199 –> 00:24:46,400 In taking out the cracked troops, a legion of them 330 00:24:46,400 –> 00:24:50,000 from the enemy’s battalion on that day 331 00:24:51,280 –> 00:24:53,119 Now at this point in the story 332 00:24:53,680 –> 00:24:55,280 You kind of feel confused 333 00:24:56,239 –> 00:24:58,640 Because it’s almost like there are two Samsons 334 00:24:59,760 –> 00:25:02,640 There’s this great military hero 335 00:25:03,599 –> 00:25:09,359 who will take on a whole opposing army, single-handed 336 00:25:11,119 –> 00:25:14,560 And at the same time there’s an irresponsible fool 337 00:25:14,560 –> 00:25:16,719 who’s a liability to have around the place 338 00:25:18,239 –> 00:25:21,359 He’s the courageous hero who delivers God’s people 339 00:25:22,479 –> 00:25:26,560 But he’s also the irresponsible fool who’s a liability to God’s people 340 00:25:27,359 –> 00:25:29,280 That’s why I said you don’t know whether to cheer for him 341 00:25:29,280 –> 00:25:30,239 or to weep over him 342 00:25:31,280 –> 00:25:33,760 One minute he seems like a juvenile delinquent 343 00:25:33,760 –> 00:25:37,359 getting up to extraordinary and painful and irresponsible pranks 344 00:25:38,239 –> 00:25:42,160 And the next you find the Spirit of God is on him 345 00:25:42,800 –> 00:25:45,359 And God is doing something through him 346 00:25:45,359 –> 00:25:47,439 for people who know nothing but defeat 347 00:25:48,719 –> 00:25:53,760 And he takes out an entire legion of the army of a wicked regime 348 00:25:55,680 –> 00:26:00,239 How can such courage and such foolishness be bound up in the life of one man? 349 00:26:01,760 –> 00:26:06,000 How can God use a man who shows such dreadful lack of judgment? 350 00:26:08,239 –> 00:26:12,000 Well, the rest of the Samson’s story follows the same pattern 351 00:26:12,000 –> 00:26:16,319 At the beginning of chapter 16 he goes down to Gaza, an enemy city 352 00:26:17,280 –> 00:26:18,800 and he sees a prostitute 353 00:26:19,760 –> 00:26:22,560 and he behaves as an irresponsible fool 354 00:26:23,680 –> 00:26:26,800 While he’s in her house the enemies lie in wait for him 355 00:26:27,439 –> 00:26:28,400 but he escapes 356 00:26:29,040 –> 00:26:32,560 And as he escapes he goes through the gates of the city of Gaza 357 00:26:32,560 –> 00:26:36,000 He takes the gates and the posts on his shoulder with him 358 00:26:36,000 –> 00:26:38,400 and takes them several miles up the road and dumps them 359 00:26:39,040 –> 00:26:40,239 He’s a courageous hero 360 00:26:41,760 –> 00:26:45,680 Then Samson falls in love with a woman called Delilah 361 00:26:46,400 –> 00:26:50,000 He must have known that she was working as an agent of the enemy 362 00:26:51,439 –> 00:26:53,199 But he can’t resist her charms 363 00:26:54,400 –> 00:26:57,920 She begins to ask for the secret of his strength 364 00:26:58,160 –> 00:27:00,160 Then Delilah begins to ask for the secret of his strength 365 00:27:00,160 –> 00:27:06,479 Well now, Samson, a big strong guy like you needs to learn to be vulnerable 366 00:27:09,199 –> 00:27:14,719 And if we’re to be really close, we really shouldn’t have any secrets 367 00:27:16,319 –> 00:27:19,680 Eventually he tells her 368 00:27:20,079 –> 00:27:23,079 If his hair was cut he would lose his strength 369 00:27:23,239 –> 00:27:30,479 Remember his hair was the sign of his special consecration to God and it was from God that his strength came 370 00:27:32,239 –> 00:27:36,439 But if the sign was taken, the reality would go 371 00:27:37,319 –> 00:27:41,160 and one night when Samson was asleep, Delilah cuts his hair 372 00:27:41,160 –> 00:27:45,160 and then when the Philistines come to arrest him, he tries to shake himself 373 00:27:45,160 –> 00:27:48,920 but he discovers to his horror that the strength is gone 374 00:27:48,920 –> 00:27:51,959 that’s where we read for some of the saddest words in the old testament 375 00:27:52,000 –> 00:27:54,000 chapter 16 in verse 20 376 00:27:54,000 –> 00:28:00,439 he did not know, that the Lord had left him 377 00:28:00,439 –> 00:28:02,599 the Philistines bound him in chains 378 00:28:03,880 –> 00:28:06,680 they put out his eyes 379 00:28:06,680 –> 00:28:10,599 and then they sent him to work, grinding in a mill 380 00:28:10,599 –> 00:28:13,520 along with other slaves they had gathered 381 00:28:14,079 –> 00:28:19,479 and that’s where John Milton wrote his magnificent line in his poem about Samson 382 00:28:19,479 –> 00:28:20,920 that some will know 383 00:28:22,099 –> 00:28:25,160 eyeless in Gaza 384 00:28:26,199 –> 00:28:28,160 at the mill 385 00:28:28,160 –> 00:28:29,040 with slaves 386 00:28:29,040 –> 00:28:33,739 four horrible horrible death beats it would seem 387 00:28:33,739 –> 00:28:36,920 eyeless in Gaza 388 00:28:36,920 –> 00:28:39,219 the enemy capital 389 00:28:39,219 –> 00:28:42,439 at the mill grinding out flour 390 00:28:43,880 –> 00:28:45,400 with slaves 391 00:28:46,680 –> 00:28:50,300 that is a plunge to disaster 392 00:28:51,160 –> 00:28:55,280 and of course it makes us ask the question of this man so gifted and so 393 00:28:55,280 –> 00:28:58,979 privileged and so endowed by God’s strength 394 00:28:58,979 –> 00:29:03,239 how could that happen to him and the answer is clear 395 00:29:03,239 –> 00:29:08,500 because he never developed self-control 396 00:29:08,500 –> 00:29:10,060 and if you do 397 00:29:10,060 –> 00:29:12,739 not master your passions 398 00:29:12,739 –> 00:29:16,979 your passions will master you 399 00:29:16,979 –> 00:29:19,939 this was the tragedy of this gifted man’s life 400 00:29:20,020 –> 00:29:25,579 so gifted and yet so out of control 401 00:29:25,579 –> 00:29:30,920 Samson’s story of course touches some of the greatest battles of our lives 402 00:29:30,920 –> 00:29:35,939 when we’re talking about learning to control your passions 403 00:29:35,939 –> 00:29:40,420 were talking this morning about some of the greatest struggles 404 00:29:40,420 –> 00:29:43,300 that we face in the christian life 405 00:29:43,300 –> 00:29:46,839 the pull of our passions 406 00:29:46,839 –> 00:29:49,500 can be so strong 407 00:29:49,500 –> 00:29:53,260 and it can be so destructive 408 00:29:53,260 –> 00:29:59,160 and sometimes we feel so defeated right there 409 00:29:59,160 –> 00:30:03,619 for that reason I want to end this morning with two words of encouragement 410 00:30:03,619 –> 00:30:06,040 and they’re simply these 411 00:30:06,040 –> 00:30:09,739 the first 412 00:30:09,739 –> 00:30:12,300 christ can keep you 413 00:30:12,300 –> 00:30:13,479 christ 414 00:30:13,479 –> 00:30:15,060 can keep you 415 00:30:15,060 –> 00:30:18,900 and this takes us to the very heart of the message of the bible 416 00:30:19,579 –> 00:30:22,199 he is able to keep you 417 00:30:22,199 –> 00:30:24,119 from falling 418 00:30:24,119 –> 00:30:25,439 Jude writes 419 00:30:25,439 –> 00:30:28,920 or in the words we read earlier from titus in chapter 2 420 00:30:28,920 –> 00:30:30,939 the grace of god 421 00:30:30,939 –> 00:30:32,579 teaches us 422 00:30:32,579 –> 00:30:34,540 to say no 423 00:30:34,540 –> 00:30:37,239 to worldly passions 424 00:30:37,239 –> 00:30:41,099 there is a grace of god that comes in jesus christ 425 00:30:41,099 –> 00:30:45,420 that teaches us, you have to learn this but you can learn it 426 00:30:45,479 –> 00:30:49,020 the grace of god can teach you 427 00:30:49,020 –> 00:30:51,500 to say no 428 00:30:51,500 –> 00:30:54,040 to worldly passions 429 00:30:54,040 –> 00:30:58,339 and bring you to the place where you live a self-controlled upright and godly 430 00:30:58,339 –> 00:31:00,239 life in this present age 431 00:31:00,239 –> 00:31:02,040 not in heaven in this 432 00:31:02,040 –> 00:31:08,579 present age 433 00:31:08,579 –> 00:31:12,939 you do not need to fall 434 00:31:12,939 –> 00:31:17,800 you do not need to be overwhelmed by the pool 435 00:31:17,800 –> 00:31:20,760 of worldly passions 436 00:31:20,760 –> 00:31:26,520 now the problem for some of us here is that we simply do not believe god 437 00:31:26,520 –> 00:31:31,599 we say that we are believers but we do not believe what god has said to us 438 00:31:31,599 –> 00:31:35,319 all the time we run the same story through our minds 439 00:31:35,319 –> 00:31:38,979 oh, it’s so strong, i can’t overcome it, you don’t know how difficult it is 440 00:31:38,979 –> 00:31:39,599 for me 441 00:31:39,699 –> 00:31:42,459 well, i can manage in other areas but there’s this person and 442 00:31:42,459 –> 00:31:48,359 i can’t do anything there 443 00:31:48,359 –> 00:31:53,339 you go to counseling and you pour out the same thing 444 00:31:53,339 –> 00:31:57,640 you repeat again and again the lie of your enemy 445 00:31:57,640 –> 00:32:01,479 that you fundamentally believe 446 00:32:01,479 –> 00:32:03,119 nothing can be done about this 447 00:32:03,119 –> 00:32:09,219 it’s too strong, the pool is too great 448 00:32:09,439 –> 00:32:12,160 living for you will only begin when you believe God 449 00:32:12,160 –> 00:32:15,479 you say you’re a believer 450 00:32:15,479 –> 00:32:22,239 am asking you to believe what God says on this issue 451 00:32:22,239 –> 00:32:26,239 soak it into your mind right now this morning 452 00:32:26,239 –> 00:32:35,500 the grace of God teaches us to say no to worldly passions 453 00:32:35,500 –> 00:3239,000 the grace that God pours into our lives through Jesus Christ 454 00:32:39,000 –> 00:32:43,420 puts you in the position where you can by His grace 455 00:32:43,420 –> 00:32:48,619 learn to say no 456 00:32:48,619 –> 00:32:52,800 where victory begins where you believed that 457 00:32:52,800 –> 00:32:57,239 over the lie of the enemy who tells you again and again and again 458 00:32:57,239 –> 00:33:03,560 you can’t beat this one 459 00:33:03,560 –> 00:33:07,660 you do not need young folks 460 00:33:07,660 –> 00:33:11,660 to make a bunch of foolish mistakes like Samson 461 00:33:11,660 –> 00:33:15,660 bringing indescribable pain to you and to those who are around you 462 00:33:15,660 –> 00:33:19,640 you don’t need to do that 463 00:33:19,640 –> 00:33:23,859 Jesus Christ has come into the world to make it possible for you to live 464 00:33:23,859 –> 00:33:26,739 a better life 465 00:33:26,739 –> 00:33:29,319 to say no 466 00:33:29,319 –> 00:33:32,479 to worldly passions 467 00:33:32,479 –> 00:33:35,099 however they come to you 468 00:33:35,099 –> 00:33:38,099 through a cable 469 00:33:38,099 –> 00:33:40,520 through an internet 470 00:33:40,520 –> 00:33:43,000 through a person in the office 471 00:33:43,000 –> 00:33:47,640 you can say no to that which will destroy you 472 00:33:47,640 –> 00:33:49,859 don’t let the enemy tell you otherwise 473 00:33:49,859 –> 00:33:54,880 Christ can keep you 474 00:33:54,880 –> 00:33:58,880 believe that 475 00:33:58,880 –> 00:34:02,060 believe Him 476 00:34:02,300 –> 00:34:04,300 and here’s the second thing 477 00:34:04,300 –> 00:34:09,899 not only can Christ keep you and there’s the basis of our confidence 478 00:34:09,899 –> 00:34:13,939 but wonderfully Christ can restore you 479 00:34:13,939 –> 00:34:16,899 this is so wonderful 480 00:34:16,899 –> 00:34:21,899 we haven’t heard the end of samson’s story yet so let’s just go there briefly now 481 00:34:21,899 –> 00:34:25,439 look at chapter sixteen and verse twenty-two one of the most beautiful 482 00:34:25,439 –> 00:34:29,659 verses or pictures in the whole of the old testament 483 00:34:29,659 –> 00:34:36,379 picture samson eyeless, blind 484 00:34:36,379 –> 00:34:39,139 and he’s chained 485 00:34:39,139 –> 00:34:44,379 and he’s at this mill grinding out flour and he’s with the slaves and he’s in this 486 00:34:44,399 –> 00:34:50,739 dark hall in the enemy’s capitol in Gaza 487 00:34:50,739 –> 00:34:54,919 and we are told in chapter sixteen verse twenty-two 488 00:34:54,919 –> 00:34:57,979 the hair on his head 489 00:34:57,979 –> 00:35:01,300 began to grow again 490 00:35:01,300 –> 00:35:03,260 Isn’t that beautiful? 491 00:35:03,260 –> 00:35:06,340 the sign of his strength 492 00:35:06,340 –> 00:35:10,080 the sign of how God had used him 493 00:35:10,080 –> 00:35:14,959 the prospect of some future usefulness 494 00:35:14,959 –> 00:35:21,959 the hair on his head began to grow again 495 00:35:22,659 –> 00:35:25,239 he’s taken a plunge to disaster 496 00:35:25,340 –> 00:35:30,560 but even those who take a plunge to disaster 497 00:35:30,560 –> 00:35:34,399 need not make that the end 498 00:35:34,399 –> 00:35:37,399 there’s salvation for Samson 499 00:35:37,399 –> 00:35:40,800 even here 500 00:35:40,800 –> 00:35:43,000 now there’s a lot of discussion in churches 501 00:35:43,000 –> 00:35:45,679 as you will know about what restoration 502 00:35:45,679 –> 00:35:47,639 should look like 503 00:35:47,639 –> 00:35:49,199 when someone has fallen 504 00:35:49,199 –> 00:35:50,860 like samson did 505 00:35:51,860 –> 00:35:56,659 He’s betrayed the people of God 506 00:35:56,659 –> 00:36:00,780 he’s been with a prostitute in Gaza 507 00:36:00,780 –> 00:36:02,600 what his restoration for this man look 508 00:36:02,600 –> 00:36:04,000 like? 509 00:36:04,000 –> 00:36:07,260 well I think the Samson story really 510 00:36:07,260 –> 00:36:08,840 helps us here let me give you four 511 00:36:08,840 –> 00:36:11,300 principles just very briefly and you can 512 00:36:11,300 –> 00:36:12,820 reflect on how they apply 513 00:36:12,820 –> 00:36:14,780 I can see many applications of them in 514 00:36:14,780 –> 00:36:18,580 the home and in the church 515 00:36:18,919 –> 00:36:23,580 number one restoration did not mean 516 00:36:23,580 –> 00:36:27,419 avoiding the consequences of Sampson’s 517 00:36:27,419 –> 00:36:28,780 actions 518 00:36:28,780 –> 00:36:32,340 he was at the mill in Gaza with the 519 00:36:32,340 –> 00:36:34,840 slaves he would never have been there if 520 00:36:34,840 –> 00:36:36,979 it wasn’t for his folly but he went 521 00:36:36,979 –> 00:36:39,060 there as a result of his folly and he 522 00:36:39,060 –> 00:36:41,239 did time there too 523 00:36:41,739 –> 00:36:44,219 restoration does not mean avoiding the 524 00:36:44,219 –> 00:36:47,060 consequences of our actions if all we’re 525 00:36:47,060 –> 00:36:49,020 interested is avoiding the consequences 526 00:36:49,020 –> 00:36:50,600 of our actions it probably means we’re 527 00:36:50,600 –> 00:36:52,060 not truly repentant 528 00:36:52,060 –> 00:36:54,500 restoration does not mean avoiding the 529 00:36:54,500 –> 00:36:56,419 consequences of your actions 530 00:36:56,419 –> 00:37:00,719 number two restoration may not mean 531 00:37:00,719 –> 00:37:04,100 coming back to your previous position 532 00:37:04,100 –> 00:37:08,860 now think about this Sampson got his 533 00:37:08,860 –> 00:37:13,399 hair back but he never got his eyes back 534 00:37:13,399 –> 00:37:17,020 he was wonderfully restored and as we’ll 535 00:37:17,020 –> 00:37:19,679 see in a moment he was wonderfully used 536 00:37:19,679 –> 00:37:22,479 again by God in fact the greatest work 537 00:37:22,479 –> 00:37:24,479 that God did through him was done at the 538 00:37:24,479 –> 00:37:27,939 end of his life but it wasn’t the same 539 00:37:27,939 –> 00:37:33,159 work as would have been if he had not 540 00:37:33,159 –> 00:37:34,479 fallen in this way 541 00:37:34,479 –> 00:37:38,360 restoration may not mean going back to 542 00:37:38,360 –> 00:37:41,919 the previous position choices have 543 00:37:41,919 –> 00:37:46,280 significance and some choices rightly 544 00:37:46,300 –> 00:37:50,439 move us on to another path the best 545 00:37:50,439 –> 00:37:54,239 thing to do in that case is to accept it 546 00:37:54,239 –> 00:37:59,739 thirdly samson was restored slowly his 547 00:37:59,739 –> 00:38:02,219 hair grew as a process 548 00:38:02,219 –> 00:38:07,340 forgiveness maybe instant but 549 00:38:07,340 –> 00:38:12,260 restoration is always a process and the 550 00:38:12,260 –> 00:38:13,919 fourth thing and I think this is by far 551 00:38:13,919 –> 00:38:16,060 the most wonderful is simply this that 552 00:38:16,060 –> 00:38:19,899 God used the disaster in samson’s life 553 00:38:19,899 –> 00:38:23,760 to bring him into a position where he 554 00:38:23,760 –> 00:38:26,800 made his greatest contribution to the 555 00:38:26,800 –> 00:38:29,260 kingdom of God it wasn’t where you would 556 00:38:29,260 –> 00:38:31,179 have been otherwise he was brought into 557 00:38:31,179 –> 00:38:34,340 a most difficult place at the mail in 558 00:38:34,340 –> 00:38:38,760 gaza but it was from there that God used 559 00:38:38,760 –> 00:38:42,120 him to make his single greatest life 560 00:38:42,120 –> 00:38:44,439 contribution to the advance of the 561 00:38:44,439 –> 00:38:46,860 kingdom of God God used him in an 562 00:38:46,860 –> 00:38:50,120 incredible way and that can be true of 563 00:38:50,120 –> 00:38:54,360 you whatever you’ve done look at how it 564 00:38:54,360 –> 00:38:58,580 happened they decided the Philistines 565 00:38:58,580 –> 00:39:02,320 to have a party a great party in the 566 00:39:02,320 –> 00:39:04,760 temple of their God which was of course 567 00:39:04,760 –> 00:39:07,320 the control and command center for the 568 00:39:07,320 –> 00:39:10,659 entire Philistine operation this great 569 00:39:10,659 –> 00:39:13,300 temple was dedicated to their God an 570 00:39:13,320 –> 00:39:16,699 idol by the name of Dagon and they 571 00:39:16,699 –> 00:39:18,879 decided in this party in which they were 572 00:39:18,879 –> 00:39:21,979 throwing up praise to Dagon 573 00:39:21,979 –> 00:39:24,620 declaring that he was greater than the 574 00:39:24,620 –> 00:39:27,600 God of the Bible because Samson the 575 00:39:27,600 –> 00:39:30,100 hero of God’s people had been delivered 576 00:39:30,100 –> 00:39:32,800 into their hands they’re praising Dagon 577 00:39:32,800 –> 00:39:34,479 and they’re throwing this wild and 578 00:39:34,479 –> 00:39:36,419 lavish party and they decide that it 579 00:39:36,419 –> 00:39:37,919 would be great to bring out chain 580 00:39:37,919 –> 00:39:40,959 Samson and to have some sport with him 581 00:39:41,439 –> 00:39:45,000 and rather like a circus or a sideshow 582 00:39:45,000 –> 00:39:46,879 at a fair no doubt they gave him some 583 00:39:46,879 –> 00:39:49,000 iron and bits and pieces to try and show 584 00:39:49,000 –> 00:39:50,879 his strength and to laugh at what he 585 00:39:50,879 –> 00:39:54,560 could not do and here’s Samson can you 586 00:39:54,560 –> 00:39:56,800 imagine anything lower or darker than 587 00:39:56,800 –> 00:39:59,000 this to be in the command-and-control 588 00:39:59,000 –> 00:40:02,600 headquarters of the enemy a temple to 589 00:40:02,600 –> 00:40:07,760 Dagon? to be a prisoner? to be surrounded 590 00:40:07,760 –> 00:40:10,600 by this cacophony of laughter and of 591 00:40:10,600 –> 00:40:13,800 mocking and of jeering from this crowd 592 00:40:13,800 –> 00:40:18,800 of reveling drunken leaders of the enemy 593 00:40:18,800 –> 00:40:21,159 the top brass of their military? 594 00:40:23,280 –> 00:40:26,239 it’s the lowest moment of Samson’s life 595 00:40:26,239 –> 00:40:28,879 He is utterly helpless humiliated and 596 00:40:28,879 –> 00:40:31,820 hopeless and in the utter darkness of 597 00:40:31,820 –> 00:40:34,300 Dagon’s temple whoever would have 598 00:40:34,300 –> 00:40:36,800 imagined that God’s hero could come here 599 00:40:36,860 –> 00:40:39,340 He cries out to God 600 00:40:40,219 –> 00:40:42,860 Chapter 16 verse 28 601 00:40:43,199 –> 00:40:47,840 Sovereign Lord he prays remember me 602 00:40:48,179 –> 00:40:52,840 strengthen me just one more time 603 00:40:53,719 –> 00:40:56,760 and God heard him 604 00:40:57,260 –> 00:41:00,459 and God did strengthen him 605 00:41:00,459 –> 00:41:02,719 Samson said to the one who had brought 606 00:41:02,719 –> 00:41:04,739 him to the temple Oh take me to the 607 00:41:04,739 –> 00:41:06,419 pillar he said so I can lean against 608 00:41:06,580 –> 00:41:09,840 it and rather naively the servant did 609 00:41:10,820 –> 00:41:13,540 and feeling the two main support pillars 610 00:41:13,540 –> 00:41:15,060 of this vast temple 611 00:41:16,139 –> 00:41:18,820 Samson pushes with all his might and 612 00:41:18,820 –> 00:41:21,560 he literally brings the house down 613 00:41:22,100 –> 00:41:25,479 the command and control center of the 614 00:41:25,479 –> 00:41:28,360 enemy with all the top brass gathered 615 00:41:28,360 –> 00:41:30,899 together on that occasion and the whole 616 00:41:30,899 –> 00:41:33,080 lot comes tumbling down 617 00:41:34,080 –> 00:41:36,719 Samson dies in the event 618 00:41:37,840 –> 00:41:40,280 he goes out as a martyr and as a 619 00:41:40,280 –> 00:41:43,679 courageous hero he dies in a blaze of 620 00:41:43,679 –> 00:41:48,679 Glory and in his death the very control 621 00:41:48,679 –> 00:41:50,760 and command center of the enemy that 622 00:41:50,760 –> 00:41:53,080 has oppressed the people of God for 40 623 00:41:53,080 –> 00:41:55,360 years comes tumbling down 624 00:41:56,520 –> 00:41:57,120 now, of course, 625 00:41:57,120 –> 00:41:59,560 all that points us forward 626 00:42:00,280 –> 00:42:05,040 to a deliverer of greater gift and of 627 00:42:05,040 –> 00:42:09,320 nobler character than Samson who in his 628 00:42:09,320 –> 00:42:12,760 death pulled down the entire command and 629 00:42:12,760 –> 00:42:15,919 control center of our great enemy the 630 00:42:15,919 –> 00:42:20,120 devil and on the third day rose again to 631 00:42:20,120 –> 00:42:25,139 lead all his people out of oppression to 632 00:42:25,139 –> 00:42:28,800 the power of passion and into a 633 00:42:29,800 –> 00:42:34,320 victory that Jesus Christ makes possible 634 00:42:34,320 –> 00:42:37,020 Samson story leaves us saying, Oh we need 635 00:42:37,020 –> 00:42:39,199 a better deliverer than you Samson and 636 00:42:39,199 –> 00:42:42,300 Jesus Christ is the answer to that cry 637 00:42:42,300 –> 00:42:45,719 he can deliver you. And maybe there are 638 00:42:45,719 –> 00:42:47,399 some as we come to the end this morning 639 00:42:47,399 –> 00:42:49,760 and as we’ve listened to the story you’ve 640 00:42:49,760 –> 00:42:52,919 said I’ve made such wretched choices in 641 00:42:52,919 –> 00:42:56,600 my life if I could go back 20 years and 642 00:42:56,600 –> 00:43:00,179 undo what I did I’ve gone on a track 643 00:43:00,179 –> 00:43:02,219 that is different from what I wanted 644 00:43:02,219 –> 00:43:07,399 I’ve played the fool but whatever you’ve 645 00:43:07,399 –> 00:43:09,939 done and whatever the dark place it may 646 00:43:09,939 –> 00:43:14,179 have brought you to today there is a 647 00:43:14,179 –> 00:43:20,500 Redeemer there is grace Christ can 648 00:43:20,500 –> 00:43:23,959 restore you he may not restore you to 649 00:43:23,959 –> 00:43:26,540 where you would have been if it had not 650 00:43:26,540 –> 00:43:29,199 been for these choices but he can 651 00:43:29,199 –> 00:43:31,840 restore you to more usefulness in his 652 00:43:31,840 –> 00:43:34,100 kingdom than you will ever be able to 653 00:43:34,100 –> 00:43:37,659 imagine the grace of God cannot only 654 00:43:37,659 –> 00:43:40,899 restore you but the grace of God can 655 00:43:40,899 –> 00:43:45,500 keep you it can teach you to say no to 656 00:43:45,500 –> 00:43:48,899 worldly passions and you need that 657 00:43:48,899 –> 00:43:55,500 grace and it is offered to you in Jesus 658 00:43:55,500 –> 00:44:01,620 Christ. Let’s come and pray as we feel 659 00:44:01,620 –> 00:44:07,219 our need of him today Lord apart from 660 00:44:07,219 –> 00:44:11,780 your grace we are at the mercy of 661 00:44:11,780 –> 00:44:16,639 worldly passions that would sweep us to 662 00:44:16,639 –> 00:44:22,620 disaster and so we thank you that you 663 00:44:22,620 –> 00:44:24,780 have not left us at the mercy of our 664 00:44:24,780 –> 00:44:29,879 passions but you have sent Jesus Christ 665 00:44:29,879 –> 00:44:34,739 the Great Deliverer into the world. Only 666 00:44:34,739 –> 00:44:38,620 you know the intensity of the struggles 667 00:44:38,620 –> 00:44:41,620 the battles the defeats failures 668 00:44:41,620 –> 00:44:45,979 victories there are represented as we 669 00:44:45,979 –> 00:44:50,800 bow before you you know all our private 670 00:44:50,800 –> 00:44:52,520 lives and all of our private thoughts 671 00:44:52,540 –> 00:44:58,540 all of our secret habits you know the 672 00:44:58,540 –> 00:45:07,699 pull of the passion of every heart and 673 00:45:07,699 –> 00:45:09,580 we ask that we may be able to receive 674 00:45:09,580 –> 00:45:17,300 and believe your Word today. Christ can 675 00:45:17,300 –> 00:45:21,699 restore you some of us feel right now 676 00:45:21,719 –> 00:45:26,500 such wretched failures some of us wish 677 00:45:26,500 –> 00:45:28,760 we could undo the stupid things we did 678 00:45:28,760 –> 00:45:33,620 and we thank you that even our most 679 00:45:33,620 –> 00:45:39,500 stupid mistake our most reckless folly 680 00:45:39,500 –> 00:45:48,060 cannot overturn your purpose to use us 681 00:45:49,060 –> 00:45:51,760 and to make our lives count for your 682 00:45:51,760 –> 00:45:59,300 kingdom so take us dear Lord as we offer 683 00:45:59,300 –> 00:46:04,000 ourselves to you asking that you will 684 00:46:04,000 –> 00:46:07,600 make us what you want us to be and put 685 00:46:07,600 –> 00:46:10,000 us on a path in which we can genuinely 686 00:46:10,000 –> 00:46:11,840 become useful in the work of your 687 00:46:11,840 –> 00:46:17,340 Kingdom and then as you restore us 688 00:46:17,820 –> 00:46:21,399 thank you that you can keep us thank you 689 00:46:21,399 –> 00:46:25,320 that there’s no need to fall and where 690 00:46:25,320 –> 00:46:27,699 we have for us not to fall in the same 691 00:46:27,699 –> 00:46:32,120 way again thank you that your grace 692 00:46:32,120 –> 00:46:34,179 teaches us that we can learn that we 693 00:46:34,179 –> 00:46:38,679 can grow thank you that you have made a 694 00:46:38,679 –> 00:46:43,679 Godly life possible and even as the 695 00:46:43,679 –> 00:46:46,080 devil screams in our minds that that’s 696 00:46:46,100 –> 00:46:50,399 not true help us by your grace to 697 00:46:50,399 –> 00:46:55,899 believe it and then to act upon it 698 00:46:55,899 –> 00:47:00,179 hear our prayers and make this a turning 699 00:47:00,179 –> 00:47:06,419 point for many for these things we ask 700 00:47:06,419 –> 00:47:11,100 in Jesus name and God’s people said 701 00:47:11,100 –> 00:47:14,100 amen