Superman? Supergod!Judges 13:1-5, 16:23-31

Samson

• The storyWith (almost) all the ugly details

• Superman?Samson’s potential and how he squandered it

• Supergod!God uses flawed people to keep his promise

The Story

• Israel hadn’t fully driven out all the foreign nations – they became a problem for them.

• God sent judges to free them again

• “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself “ 2.Tim. 2:13

The Story

• Philistines were ruling in Israel

• Nazirite vow: – Don’t cut hair– Don’t eat/drink

anything from grapevine

– Don’t touch any dead body

The Story – Episode 1

• Samson wants to marry a Philistine girl • His parent’s oppose but eventually give in• At the wedding he gives his companions a

riddle• His wife-to-be betrays him• Samson kills 30 Philistines• His wife is given to someone else

The Story – Episode 1

Burns wheat crop

Kills many Philistines

Is delivered to the Philistines

Kills 1000 Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone

Burn Samson’s wife

Besiege cities

Want to kill Samson

The Story – Episode 2

• Samson spends the night with a Philistine prostitute in Gaza

• The Philistines plan an ambush• Samson tears out the city gates and

carries them away

The Story – Episode 3

• Delilah is offered much money for finding Samson’s secret

• Samson doesn’t tell her the full truth at first

• She keeps pestering him• He finally tells her• The Philistines capture

and blind him• He is thrown in prison

The Story – Episode 3

Samson brings down the temple and kills more than 3000 Philistines including

many of their leaders

Superman?

• Samson had great potential– Miraculous birth like Isaac (Sarah), Esau & Jacob

(Rebecca), Josef & Benjamin (Rachel), Samuel (Hannah), John the Baptist (Elizabeth), Jesus (Mary)

– Blessed from birth– Godly parents– Special calling - Nazirite vow– Special gifts - physical strength)

Snowballfight!

Superman?

• Samson’s Kryptonite:– Indifference to sin– Indifference to what had been given to him

• Plays with sin instead of avoiding it• Doesn’t care much about his vow• Has questionable motives when using his

special gift• He squandered his potential

Superman?

• I’m NOT like Samson… or… am I?• Our talents are God’s gifts to us and what we

make of them is our gift to God

Supergod!

• God does not tempt us (James 1.13)• The “Hall of Fame” in Hebrews 11• “And what more shall I say? I do not have time

to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised”

Supergod!

• God makes promises and keeps them• He sometimes uses strange people or

circumstances to carry out his plan• Don’t judge too quickly• God uses who he wants how he wants, in past,

present and future

A Twofold Message:

• Take sin serious and use your potential• God is sovereign and faithful – he will

keep his promise