Building Strong Hearts, Cultivating Deep Life! Judges 16:4 – 31

Building Strong Hearts, Cultivating Deep Life!

Judges 16:4 – 31 Judges 16:4 – 31

Let’s look at Samson &

the last woman of his life…

means…

• “delicate”

• “devoted”

• “coquettish” (flirtist)

• “amorous” (full of sexual desires)

• “delicate”

• “devoted”

• “coquettish” (flirtist)

• “amorous” (full of sexual desires)

“Some time later, he fell

in love with a woman

in the Valley of Sorek

whose name was Delilah.”

[TNIV]

“Some time later, he fell

in love with a woman

in the Valley of Sorek

whose name was Delilah.”

[TNIV]

Judges 16:4….Judges 16:4….

The Valley of Sorek was“the place of thechoice red grape”

The Valley of Sorek was“the place of thechoice red grape”

connotesconnotes

(sensuality)(sensuality)

One author writes….

“[Delilah] was presumably

a Philistine, though that is not

expressly stated, only that she

belonged to the valley of Sorek.

She is not spoken of as

Samson’s wife, …

“[Delilah] was presumably

a Philistine, though that is not

expressly stated, only that she

belonged to the valley of Sorek.

She is not spoken of as

Samson’s wife, …

…. though many have

understood the account in

that way. The text simply says

that he loved her (verse 4).

The Philistines paid her a very

high price for her services:

eleven hundred pieces of silver

[each]. …

…. though many have

understood the account in

that way. The text simply says

that he loved her (verse 4).

The Philistines paid her a very

high price for her services:

eleven hundred pieces of silver

[each]. …

…. The account indicates that

for mental ability, self-

command,

and nerve, she was a

remarkable woman.

Unfortunately,

she put her gifts to an evil use

by exploiting Samson’s love.”

…. The account indicates that

for mental ability, self-

command,

and nerve, she was a

remarkable woman.

Unfortunately,

she put her gifts to an evil use

by exploiting Samson’s love.”

“The rulers of the Philistines

went to her and said,

‘See if you can lure him into

showing you the secret of

his great strength and how

we can overpower him ….

Judges 16:5….Judges 16:5….

…. so we may tie him up

and subdue him. Each one

of us will give you eleven

hundred shekels of silver.’”

[TNIV]

Judges 16:5….Judges 16:5….

The Hebrew word

“lure” means…

“to find an opening”

– a point of vulnerability.

“But each of you is tempted

when you are dragged away

by your own evil desire

and enticed (lure).”

[TNIV]

“But each of you is tempted

when you are dragged away

by your own evil desire

and enticed (lure).”

[TNIV]

James 1:14….James 1:14….

For Samson,the enticement is

the lure of the

“unattainable” woman….

… illustrates that there is

pleasure in sexual sin

– grapes are quick

to ferment and sour.

When we’re aware of our weaknesses and turn them over to the Lord, He can use us more fully (see 2 Corinthians 12:9).

When our weaknesses are blind spots, however, we’re in trouble.

What is your weaknesses? What is your weaknesses?

The Philistines could

see Samson’s weakness. The Philistines could

see Samson’s weakness.

Why don’t you ask a few friends, your spouses or

parents/children for a candid film review

of your life?

“Faithful are the

wounds of a friend,

but deceitful are

the kisses of an

enemy.”[NASB]

“Faithful are the

wounds of a friend,

but deceitful are

the kisses of an

enemy.”[NASB]

Proverbs 27:6….Proverbs 27:6….

Judges 16:6-14 records

Delilah’s attempts to

unravel the mystery of

Samson’s strength

in order to weaken him

for the Philistines.

“Then she said to him,

‘How can you say,

'I love you,' when you

won't confide in me?….’ ”[TNIV]

“Then she said to him,

‘How can you say,

'I love you,' when you

won't confide in me?….’ ”[TNIV]

Judges 16:15….Judges 16:15….

• Judges 16:16…. • Judges 16:16….

Samson reveals his

secret to Delilah.

Samson finally fell under

pressure.

• Judges 16:17…. • Judges 16:17….

Judges 16:17….Judges 16:17….

“So he told her everything.

‘No razor has ever been used on my head,’ he said,

‘because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God

from my mother's womb. ….

…. If my head were

shaved, my strength

would leave me, and I

would become as weak as

any other man.’ ”

[TNIV]

Samson’s hair … an outward symbol of his INWARD COMMITMENT to God.

In reality, Samson’s

superhuman strength lay not in

his uncut hair, but in the

mighty presence of God in

his life.

The fall ofcan be traced to 2 things….

He did not know his

WEAKNESS.

He did not know his

STRENGTH.

He did not know his

WEAKNESS.

He did not know his

STRENGTH.

Mistakenly, Samson

did not realize that

God is the real source

of his strength.

God allows Samson’s

strength to be taken

from him so that

in painful circumstances

he will learn that without

the omnipotent God,

he is impotent.

Samson had grown to

depend on his ownstrength instead of God’s.

God sometimes removesour crutches – gently,but suddenly and without warning.

“10 The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. 11 The

wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it

a wall too high to scale.”[TNIV]

“10 The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. 11 The

wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it

a wall too high to scale.”[TNIV]

Proverbs 18:10-11….Proverbs 18:10-11….

During Samson’s dark

experience in the dungeon,

God’s gracebegins to glimmer.

Samson’s hair starts

growing back.

During Samson’s dark

experience in the dungeon,

God’s gracebegins to glimmer.

Samson’s hair starts

growing back.

Judges 16:22….Judges 16:22….

“But the hair on his head

began to grow again

after it had been shaved.”

[TNIV]

And as his hair grows,

so does his strength

and his relationship

with the Lord.

Now humbled and completely dependent

on God,

Samson turns his thoughts and heartback to his Father.

In a final, momentous act of

courage and self-denial,

Samson fulfills his

destiny and begins

“to deliver Israel from the

hands of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5).

With beggar’s hands of faith,

Samson reaches out to

touch the feet of his God.

He said, “Sovereign LORD,

remember me....”(Judges 16:28).

If you’re an unbeliever,

you can pray with

the thief on the cross

– “Remember me” –

you will be with Jesus in

paradise (Luke 23:42-43).

If you’re a believer

With a burden, you can

pray with Hannah

– “Remember me” –

His compassionate love to help

you cope with your difficult

circumstances (1 Samuel 1:1-

20).

If you’re a believer

who has blown it in life,

you can pray with Samson

– “Remember me” –

God’s strength can help you

overcome your defeated past

(Judges 16:28-30).