WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.400 So tonight we are carrying on with our series and judges and tonight and for the next two weeks 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:10.359 and we're going to look at Samson 00:00:11.160 --> 00:00:18.760 The last judge in the book, but maybe the first one that comes to mind when we think of the judges and from Sunday school all the way up and 00:00:19.719 --> 00:00:22.519 His life story is a favorite and it's a story 00:00:23.240 --> 00:00:26.300 Although being a favorite that I think maybe 00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:32.859 Confuses us ahead the older that we get and the more that we read it and his relationship with his parents and his wife 00:00:33.179 --> 00:00:40.859 His relationship with Delilah and his superhuman strength and the riddles that he tells he's he's one of the more 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:47.380 unforgettable and figures in the Bible, so in chapter 13 which we have just read and 00:00:48.140 --> 00:00:52.260 We are at the beginning of a new cycle the Israelites are 00:00:52.259 --> 00:00:54.259 Worshipping false gods 00:00:55.019 --> 00:00:58.299 They're worshiping foreign idols left right in center and 00:00:59.259 --> 00:01:05.340 They are again oppressed and made slaves, but again God raises a judge 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:12.979 And he raises a savior a deliverer who is going to come and deliver them from their enemy and in this case 00:01:13.739 --> 00:01:20.539 Tonight we're not really introduced to Samson. We're just introduced to his his parents. They are childless 00:01:20.540 --> 00:01:24.580 and but the angel of the Lord appears in this chapter and 00:01:25.540 --> 00:01:32.740 Tells his mother that she will soon have a son who will live by a certain code who will live by certain rules and 00:01:33.580 --> 00:01:38.980 Who will save the people from the Philistines who are ruling over them? She tells her husband about it 00:01:39.380 --> 00:01:44.020 He praised the gods that this this mysterious figure would appear again 00:01:44.540 --> 00:01:48.900 and the angel does come back tells him to make a burnt offering and 00:01:48.900 --> 00:01:52.340 When they make this offering the angel disappears in the flames 00:01:52.940 --> 00:01:57.820 Up into heaven and it's not until all of that is passed that we are at last 00:01:58.540 --> 00:02:01.180 introduced to Samson the judge 00:02:02.100 --> 00:02:06.420 If you've been here for the rest of the series or you even read this book yourself 00:02:07.140 --> 00:02:09.980 Looking back over the past 12 chapters 00:02:10.819 --> 00:02:12.819 one of the recurring themes is 00:02:13.620 --> 00:02:15.860 Is the people of God crying out? 00:02:15.860 --> 00:02:21.060 Whenever the enemy oppresses them so they worship false idols 00:02:21.620 --> 00:02:28.380 God gives them over to the enemy. They cry out and then God comes and saves them through through a judge 00:02:28.620 --> 00:02:31.740 That doesn't that doesn't happen in chapter 13 and 00:02:32.580 --> 00:02:34.180 No one cries out 00:02:34.180 --> 00:02:41.860 It says in verse 1 that they were ruled over by the Philistines for 40 years. They live in misery and they live in trouble 00:02:41.860 --> 00:02:45.700 And they are not free, but they do not ask God 00:02:46.580 --> 00:02:48.580 to save them 00:02:49.140 --> 00:02:55.460 There is very much a sense that this is the way it is and so the problem in chapter 13 the problem in 00:02:56.220 --> 00:02:59.300 Samson's day is that the people are self-dependent 00:03:00.340 --> 00:03:03.380 When they are dealing and facing trouble 00:03:04.100 --> 00:03:07.060 They look everywhere apart from God to have their needs met 00:03:07.060 --> 00:03:14.740 They give all their attention to idols that they have made for themselves and they are self-dependent and inward-looking 00:03:15.539 --> 00:03:17.539 When life really gets miserable 00:03:18.259 --> 00:03:20.259 They don't cry out 00:03:20.500 --> 00:03:23.099 And yet God in chapter 13 00:03:23.860 --> 00:03:28.860 Sends Samson. He sends the judge. He sends the deliverer still a 00:03:29.699 --> 00:03:31.699 question and you can ask yourself 00:03:31.699 --> 00:03:36.339 when reading judges 13 a question that we can ask ourselves tonight is 00:03:37.780 --> 00:03:39.780 Are we self-dependent? 00:03:42.500 --> 00:03:48.019 Even if you're a Christian you can ask this question. Am I am I self-dependent and the answer 00:03:48.739 --> 00:03:54.019 likely at times is going to be yes. It's got to be yes if we are being honest 00:03:54.579 --> 00:03:58.259 When I am upset and even miserable. Am I the first port of call? 00:03:58.259 --> 00:04:01.859 Do I have the answers to my trouble? 00:04:03.539 --> 00:04:08.019 Am I the one who will conquer my fear and worry about the next week month? 00:04:08.819 --> 00:04:10.819 year 00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:17.139 If your relationships with your friends and family bring pain if if you dread going into the workplace 00:04:17.779 --> 00:04:23.939 And every every week if you find that the plans you want to work out are not working out 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:32.420 Are you self-dependent in that situation? Are you the one who will fix it? If you ask yourself that and the answer is yes 00:04:34.100 --> 00:04:38.100 God gives you relief in chapter 13 to the self-dependent 00:04:39.699 --> 00:04:41.779 God still brings hope 00:04:42.659 --> 00:04:46.100 That is what happens in chapter 13. And so just two ways 00:04:46.740 --> 00:04:53.060 Tonight to think about how he does that to the self-dependent God still promises to bring hope 00:04:53.060 --> 00:04:55.060 He does that firstly 00:04:55.459 --> 00:04:57.459 by taking the initiative 00:04:57.780 --> 00:05:00.579 He God moves first before anyone else does 00:05:01.300 --> 00:05:03.620 in the day of trouble and then secondly 00:05:04.420 --> 00:05:06.420 God he reveals himself 00:05:07.060 --> 00:05:09.060 And not necessarily his plans 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:15.939 So firstly God he takes he takes the initiative if you're a Christian and and you 00:05:16.819 --> 00:05:18.819 get up every morning 00:05:18.819 --> 00:05:25.060 And wondering if you could fix your circumstances or if for this past week 00:05:25.139 --> 00:05:29.540 You've just been accepting that that life is just the way it is and there's no getting about it 00:05:30.019 --> 00:05:34.019 And the truth is that God takes the initiative 00:05:34.980 --> 00:05:36.980 God moves towards you 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:41.699 To bring joy into your life look at verse two there was a certain man of Zora 00:05:42.339 --> 00:05:46.659 Of the tribe of the Danites whose name was Manoa and his wife was barren 00:05:46.660 --> 00:05:48.660 And had no children 00:05:51.220 --> 00:05:54.500 Manoa and the father here is a nobody 00:05:55.700 --> 00:05:58.980 And his wife she doesn't even get named. She's even more of a nobody 00:05:59.860 --> 00:06:05.060 In in this chapter and all we're told about her is the fact that she cannot have children 00:06:05.700 --> 00:06:10.900 It says that she is barren the only two people we meet in this chapter apart from God himself 00:06:11.460 --> 00:06:13.460 Are of really little significance 00:06:13.860 --> 00:06:15.540 and 00:06:15.540 --> 00:06:18.420 They have their status or their role completely 00:06:19.220 --> 00:06:23.379 Minimised when you when you look at every scene that Manoa appears in in this chapter 00:06:24.020 --> 00:06:25.379 and 00:06:25.379 --> 00:06:31.860 The commentaries have different views in this but some some would say and it's quite likely that the writer 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:34.500 of the book of judges 00:06:35.300 --> 00:06:37.300 He minimizes Manoa's 00:06:38.340 --> 00:06:40.340 Character he shrinks his character 00:06:40.339 --> 00:06:45.539 Deliberately in this chapter so in verse two he's only a certain man. It's not that important 00:06:46.339 --> 00:06:49.139 And then when he eventually meets the angel of the Lord 00:06:50.899 --> 00:06:54.339 Everything he says is downplayed or rejected 00:06:54.899 --> 00:07:00.339 And in verse 12 he asks the angel what his son's mission is going to be the angel 00:07:00.739 --> 00:07:07.219 Dismisses that question completely and just talks about Manoa's wife instead in verse 15 00:07:07.220 --> 00:07:11.380 It seems that Manoa wants to cook for the angel that that offer is declined 00:07:11.940 --> 00:07:13.940 Verse 17 he wants to know the angel's name 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:21.620 The angel doesn't give it or not directly at least and then when the angel disappears in the flames up to heaven 00:07:22.820 --> 00:07:24.820 He is in complete fear 00:07:25.540 --> 00:07:27.540 And it's his wife that talks him 00:07:28.340 --> 00:07:34.020 Back to his senses his fear is lacking her faith. So in the little we know about Manoa 00:07:34.019 --> 00:07:38.740 And in the little we know about Samson's father and his failed attempts 00:07:39.620 --> 00:07:42.819 At having some control over what is happening in this chapter 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:47.459 And Manoa is very much a diminished or a dwindling 00:07:48.419 --> 00:07:50.419 Figure in this story 00:07:50.899 --> 00:07:53.060 And then there's his wife. She's not even named 00:07:53.859 --> 00:07:55.539 and 00:07:55.539 --> 00:07:59.060 We don't she is completely unknown and the most the most agonizing 00:07:59.060 --> 00:08:05.300 aspect to her life the most agonizing aspect to their lives in this story is that 00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:13.620 She is bad and she cannot she cannot have children and in this time in history and this ancient history and 00:08:14.180 --> 00:08:15.779 in this culture 00:08:15.779 --> 00:08:18.980 Being unable to have children is very shameful 00:08:19.540 --> 00:08:21.459 and 00:08:21.459 --> 00:08:26.660 It wasn't until the likes of sara or rebecca and genesis or manoa's wife here 00:08:26.660 --> 00:08:31.540 It's not until they are able to have children that they have any sense of honor 00:08:32.180 --> 00:08:34.180 In the culture that they are living in 00:08:34.899 --> 00:08:38.019 So the role or the status that manoa and his wife hold 00:08:38.740 --> 00:08:44.660 Is completely reduced in chapter 13. That's that's what the writer here is getting at for 40 years 00:08:45.700 --> 00:08:49.700 And this land that is being controlled by the philistines 00:08:49.700 --> 00:08:59.140 Their hands are in the lives of their enemy for most of their lives if not all of it they're living every day in trouble 00:09:01.540 --> 00:09:07.140 And they are part of the self dependent inward looking people and it's in that very moment 00:09:07.940 --> 00:09:09.940 In that very place 00:09:10.340 --> 00:09:13.300 Where we have to ask how does god bring deliverance? 00:09:13.299 --> 00:09:23.059 Well, he takes the initiative it's it's him who works before they could even think of how that would happen 00:09:23.059 --> 00:09:25.059 It's him who moves to bring joy 00:09:25.620 --> 00:09:28.500 Before it's even a thought in their minds 00:09:30.099 --> 00:09:33.459 One writer says this god often begins precisely there 00:09:34.019 --> 00:09:39.939 And human obscurity and hopelessness where there is no human energy or ability to serve as a starter 00:09:39.940 --> 00:09:44.580 God will bring salvation out of nothingness 00:09:45.460 --> 00:09:48.500 In in that nothingness twice the angel says 00:09:49.380 --> 00:09:56.660 To manoa's wife behold you shall conceive and bear a son words that were impossible yesterday 00:09:57.860 --> 00:09:59.860 Are absolute certainty today 00:10:01.060 --> 00:10:07.380 For manoa's wife where manoa and his wife are nobody's god begins to work right in that place 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:13.700 In that situation he moves to give joy and hope to his people he moves first 00:10:15.299 --> 00:10:17.299 To bring peace to them 00:10:18.100 --> 00:10:20.100 The outcome for you 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:22.899 The outcome for us 00:10:22.899 --> 00:10:27.139 Is that god still works he still moves in the same way 00:10:29.779 --> 00:10:35.299 You might be anxious that how the next three months of summer are going to look for you you could be 00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:42.179 unhappy in your job despite having to spend five out of seven days in that place 00:10:43.139 --> 00:10:48.019 You might be finding your relationships with your friends or family extremely difficult 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:52.500 To work out to the point that maybe you do not know what to do 00:10:53.219 --> 00:10:56.740 If you find that you are self dependent in in that place 00:10:58.019 --> 00:11:02.500 If you find that you are the one who who can fix your trouble god says no 00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:06.580 He says that's his job in your life 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:15.220 He is the one who moves to bring joy paul says this in in romans 15 it's the god of hope 00:11:16.179 --> 00:11:18.179 uh who brings peace 00:11:18.820 --> 00:11:23.860 To your soul the truth is that whether there is no hope where you look forward 00:11:24.820 --> 00:11:26.820 And see no joy whatsoever 00:11:26.820 --> 00:11:34.340 But it's in that situation that god moves first god takes the initiative he is the one who moves 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:39.460 For the self dependent and judges 13 for the self dependent today 00:11:40.180 --> 00:11:41.379 and 00:11:41.379 --> 00:11:43.379 god comes to you 00:11:44.820 --> 00:11:51.060 He creates hope out of nothing he frees you he brings joy he takes the initiative when you can do 00:11:52.100 --> 00:11:54.100 Nothing 00:11:54.100 --> 00:11:57.300 So god god moves first secondly 00:11:58.019 --> 00:12:00.019 and god god reveals himself 00:12:01.300 --> 00:12:07.060 To manoa and his wife and not not his plans not down to the finest detail 00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:09.139 so 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:11.139 When we are looking at manoa 00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:14.580 And the way in which he tries to control this interaction with the angel 00:12:15.060 --> 00:12:19.860 And the writer uses that to show us how insignificant this man is really 00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:25.700 Um and in verse 12 is this question that he asks the angel which which gets ignored it gets completely 00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:30.659 Bypassed the angel comes to his wife tells her how her son is supposed to live 00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:36.100 He tells her that our child will eventually free the people or begin to free them 00:12:37.060 --> 00:12:40.980 How that is done the specific details of that? 00:12:41.539 --> 00:12:43.700 And that's the question that manoa has 00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:47.860 He says in verse 12 now when your words come true 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:51.700 What is to be the child's manner of life and what is his mission? 00:12:52.580 --> 00:12:54.580 and the angel's answer to that 00:12:55.300 --> 00:13:02.180 Is to talk about manoa's wife the angel's answer to that is not to answer it at all 00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:07.700 And you can ask why not you can ask why that is the case 00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:11.700 Until you see what he does reveal 00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:18.340 God reveals himself not completely but he reveals something of himself 00:13:19.780 --> 00:13:22.500 And who he is and what he is like so 00:13:23.540 --> 00:13:28.980 The main point here is that it's the angel of the Lord who appears to the couple 00:13:29.540 --> 00:13:31.540 um 00:13:31.540 --> 00:13:34.180 It's the angel of the Lord and the the keyword 00:13:35.460 --> 00:13:39.140 In the Hebrew the keyword in the original language is messenger 00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:46.659 The messenger of the Lord so in one way this is a messenger sent from God and in another way this messenger this angel 00:13:47.460 --> 00:13:49.460 is unlike any other angel 00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:54.980 Um in the bible he first appears in Genesis 16 to haigar a slave woman 00:13:55.539 --> 00:13:58.179 Who who falls pregnant by her master Abraham? 00:13:59.059 --> 00:14:01.779 and she is treated awfully by 00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:06.740 Abraham's wife sara and so she runs away she flees she has to get away 00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:10.659 And the angel of the Lord appears to her and tells her that 00:14:11.700 --> 00:14:18.100 Her descendants from from this from this time of trouble her descendants are going to be more than she could ever number 00:14:20.659 --> 00:14:24.180 He tells her that good will come from this and after the angel says this 00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:26.980 She asks the question 00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:28.980 Have I really seen him? 00:14:29.539 --> 00:14:31.539 Who sees me 00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:36.579 Is she's asking if she's actually seen God physically? 00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:41.059 Is the messenger divine is the question has he been sent by God? 00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:46.819 Or is this God appearing in physical form to manoa's wife? What what is vague? 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:49.379 um in the old testament 00:14:50.099 --> 00:14:51.539 becomes clearer 00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:57.379 When jesus appears in the new in john's gospel. He says what I say 00:14:57.379 --> 00:15:01.059 Therefore I say as the father has told me 00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:05.779 Jesus the son of God who is God 00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:09.539 Speaks as he has been sent by God the father 00:15:10.179 --> 00:15:18.100 It's high it's highly likely it's it's it's most likely in the early church and the church throughout history has supported this view 00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:21.620 That the angel of the lord who appears in the old testament 00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:25.460 Who appears in judges 13 is is jesus? 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:30.980 He is pre-incarnate. This is the physical the visible existence of jesus 00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:34.100 Before he became human 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:41.620 God the father sends out the message and god the son brings it to the people he is the messenger 00:15:44.740 --> 00:15:49.379 Manoa and his wife meet with god who reveals himself 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:56.820 To them so when Manoa asks god what his plan is for the unborn son. He doesn't answer it. He just shows 00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:59.460 who he is 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:05.539 When Manoa asks the angel his name he doesn't give it. He just says that it's wonderful 00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:14.659 And all he is saying is that it is it is too much to take in his name encompasses too much about him 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:16.659 And 00:16:18.819 --> 00:16:28.100 He is far too holy and just and yet far too kind and gentle that this couple will ever fully understand it 00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:34.419 God's concern and love towards nobody 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:42.419 Like Manoa and his wife and every other human is impossible to fully understand Manoa doesn't get his name 00:16:42.419 --> 00:16:45.459 But he begins to work out who he's speaking to 00:16:47.299 --> 00:16:51.299 He will not be fed but he asks for the sacrifice. He doesn't tell him his name 00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:54.979 In other words, they can never fully know his character 00:16:56.339 --> 00:17:02.659 And he disappears in the flames of the sacrifice and Manoa says in verse white two we have seen god 00:17:06.659 --> 00:17:08.659 God god does not tell them 00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:13.700 How the next 20 years of their lives are going to work out looking after this child 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:22.580 He doesn't tell them how their son will begin to save the people from the enemy. He tells them that it's far more important that they know him 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:30.740 And what he is like and know what the future is if if you are desperately trying to work out 00:17:32.580 --> 00:17:37.140 How the rest of the year is going to look at if if you want the answers right now god 00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:40.259 God calls you to be satisfied and knowing him 00:17:42.100 --> 00:17:44.100 And not 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:47.540 Simply his plans it's far more important 00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:55.060 That you wake up in the morning and remind yourself that god is so gentle and so caring towards you that they 00:17:55.620 --> 00:17:57.620 That you will never fully understand it 00:17:59.380 --> 00:18:03.780 The next few weeks and months of your life are completely outside of your control 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:08.259 But god thinks so much of you in that place 00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:14.660 And he loves you so much that he protects you in ways that you will never know 00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:20.819 To the self-dependent god says it's far more important that you know him 00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:23.779 than know his plans 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:27.460 And so the question is the question from that is 00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:30.099 Do you know him? 00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:35.459 And not just know about him not just know often, but do you actually know him? 00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:44.500 It is his love and gentleness real real towards you or do you reject it because you are the one who's in charge 00:18:45.219 --> 00:18:47.219 of your life 00:18:47.219 --> 00:18:53.459 Are you so self-dependent that it's enough to know about god and not really know him? 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:58.579 God calls you to trust in him so that you can really know him 00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:01.860 And not just about him 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:10.819 When you prepare for the rest of the week when when you want to fix the trouble that's in it 00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:18.340 God says be satisfied and knowing him rather than his plans see how gentle and loving he is towards you 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:24.099 Towards those who trust in him so loving and so gentle that it's too wonderful 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:27.619 for us to fully understand 00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:30.980 So to the self-dependent 00:19:31.459 --> 00:19:35.139 God moves first he brings hope where there is nothing 00:19:35.939 --> 00:19:37.939 And he wants you to know him 00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:43.939 Before you know his plans. Lastly, this is a sound that I want to hear from you 00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:48.900 Before you know his plans lastly this this is a samsung series 00:19:48.900 --> 00:19:56.420 So we should we should probably say something about samsung. There are so many parallels here between the sending of samsung 00:19:57.380 --> 00:19:59.380 and the sending of jesus 00:20:00.100 --> 00:20:06.180 And at the end of the chapter samsung is born and it says that god blessed him as he grew up and the spirit of god 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:07.779 stirred him 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:14.339 And and it's just telling us that his character is being molded from a young age. Maybe even as he's growing up 00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:19.859 He realizes that he begins to realize this this gift of strength and health that he has 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:23.460 so much so much in this chapter 00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:29.940 It points us to to believing that samsung really is going to be the greatest judge 00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:35.299 Where all the other judges appear and deliver the people in some way 00:20:35.299 --> 00:20:40.579 Their stories usually end in failure of some kind. We think surely not with samsung 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:46.819 His birth is announced by the angel god himself who appears twice 00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:53.619 The angel gives his mother strict instructions how to raise her son. He's supposed to be a nazarite 00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:55.220 um 00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:57.700 Which just means well it comes from number six 00:20:58.259 --> 00:21:04.180 Where there is a code or rules given to people who want to live especially close to god 00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:06.660 Who want to have a more intense communion with him? 00:21:07.220 --> 00:21:12.900 And so they're not allowed to drink from the vine. They're not allowed to have the haircut. They're not allowed to touch any dead body 00:21:13.860 --> 00:21:19.460 and everything about this chapter tells us that samsung is the judge that we are waiting for at last 00:21:21.060 --> 00:21:24.180 We are supposed to be excited when we read this chapter because 00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:27.220 Because finally here is a true judge 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:30.740 Who is going to save the people properly 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:37.539 And yet we read the next three chapters and we are let down in almost every way 00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:40.740 When we look at him 00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:48.420 Maybe possibly more so than every judge before him samsung fails it just about every turn 00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:54.660 Even even thing of the rules that he's supposed to live by the rules that are given to his mother 00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:57.059 um 00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:58.819 He he kills a lion 00:21:58.819 --> 00:22:03.700 He kills a 30 men and then a thousand men and then thousands at the end of his life 00:22:04.419 --> 00:22:06.419 His head is cut 00:22:06.899 --> 00:22:09.619 Who knows what he did when he walked through the vineyard? 00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:18.500 One writer summarizes samsung quite helpfully he says samsung will prove to be the judge who is the least interested 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:22.579 In being a delivery that the last hope of israel in judges is 00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:28.259 a judge delivery who chases women instead of enemies and who avenges 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:34.579 And who avenges personal grievances instead of delivering his nation from the oppression 00:22:37.379 --> 00:22:39.379 Because he fails 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:44.259 Because he only begins to save his people from the philistines 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:52.660 Because he only partly saves them from their trouble another judge needs to be sent and 1400 years later one is sent 00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:56.900 And his birth is announced by an angel too many 00:22:58.819 --> 00:23:01.619 And she is told that he will really be the savior 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:06.819 Offer people who are oppressed and where samsung was controlled by his impulses 00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:09.940 Where he chased every woman who came across his way 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:17.940 And killed out of rage jesus walks into the wilderness and though he is tempted he gives up all the power in the world 00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:26.500 Where samsung gets so angry and kills jesus asks the father to forgive those who are torturing him 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:37.779 Samson is supposed to deliver these self dependent people who have no problem living with the philistines and yet he fails and he dies 00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:42.980 jesus went to the cross and he died not out of rage 00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:46.259 Not out of revenge 00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:54.180 But to deliver to save to really save everyone who would believe in him 00:23:54.740 --> 00:24:00.899 Are you are you self dependent? Do you get up in the morning and immediately think how you're going to fix your trouble? 00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:03.619 God took the initiative 2000 years ago 00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:05.619 When he sent jesus 00:24:06.739 --> 00:24:14.339 When you go into this week your hope the hope that god gives you this week is the fact that the perfect judge died and yet rose again 00:24:16.419 --> 00:24:19.779 God took the initiative and the hope that he gives you 00:24:20.739 --> 00:24:26.339 Is the fact that jesus died and rose again for all who would believe no matter how weak they are 00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:29.139 Just to finish two things you could do this week 00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:32.099 After after reading judges 13 00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:40.339 We at times tend towards being self dependent if we're being honest we think we can fix our trouble when really we we cannot 00:24:41.459 --> 00:24:43.459 And yet god promises deliverance 00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:46.259 For that very pain 00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:49.299 God promises to relieve us from that 00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:52.339 And we can't do that 00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:57.859 Pain and god promises to relieve us from that two things you can do 00:24:58.740 --> 00:25:00.740 Do not do not be passive 00:25:01.699 --> 00:25:03.699 the the opposite 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:05.779 of self dependency 00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:13.059 Or self dependency is one extreme being passive is the other extreme and pro proverbs 16 9 answers that 00:25:13.379 --> 00:25:15.379 The heart of man plans his way 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:17.779 But the lord establishes his steps 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:20.899 You can plan you can prepare for 00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:22.900 How this week is going to look 00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:30.420 You can think and pray about how to be active in your trouble, but you need to do that in a way that pleases god 00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:38.420 In a way that acknowledges that his way is best his way is so much better than yours 00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:41.220 That he might redirect your steps 00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:48.019 Do not be self dependent going on what you think is best do not be passive either 00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:53.619 And and said watch that your ways align with him secondly 00:25:55.940 --> 00:26:03.139 Pray pray really specifically what what we read earlier or what we quoted earlier from paul and romans 15 00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:06.819 Pray that the god of hope would give you peace 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:16.180 Pray that god would make jesus resurrection your greatest hope god takes the initiative he moves first he did it by sending his son 00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:23.460 Your greatest hope is the resurrection telling you that nothing in your life is going to separate you from the life 00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:25.940 that you have with jesus 00:26:27.620 --> 00:26:36.259 And telling you that everything broken will be fixed so paul encourages us in romans 15 13 to pray that we would be filled with peace 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:43.860 The simplest the the best thing you can do this week is pray that god would fill you with peace 00:26:43.859 --> 00:26:45.859 in the day of trouble 00:26:47.219 --> 00:26:52.819 If you're self dependent pray and realize like samson's parents did 00:26:54.500 --> 00:27:01.219 That your hope comes from someone else who someone who took the initiative someone who chooses to reveal himself to you every day 00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:04.099 Though not necessarily his plans 00:27:04.979 --> 00:27:06.979 Let's pray 00:27:06.979 --> 00:27:10.419 Our lord and god we thank you for your word 00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:15.140 We pray this week as we head into that we would be satisfied knowing you 00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:20.580 And maybe not necessarily knowing the specifics of how it will look 00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:25.380 But even in trouble even in our self dependency lord we pray 00:27:26.340 --> 00:27:28.340 That we would turn to you and 00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:41.459 Find hope in the fact that your son came and died for us so help us we ask for jesus' sake amen