WEBVTT

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 All right, Judges chapter 16, and we're going to read just a few verses here at the beginning,

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 and then we'll work our way through the whole story, probably doing less reading today and

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 more summarizing, just as you know, and I'll do my best to give the appropriate references as we go.

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 Okay, Judges chapter 16, let's begin reading at verse 23.

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 Now, the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon, their God, and to rejoice.

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 And they said, our God has given Samson, our enemy, into our hand.

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 And when the people saw him, they praised their God.

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 For they said, our God has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.

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 This is the gospel of Dagon, the gospel of the Philistines.

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 And when their hearts were merry, they said, call Samson, that he may entertain us.

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 So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them.

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 They made him stand between the pillars, and Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand,

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 let me fill the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.

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 Now, the house was full of men and women.

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 All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof, there were about 3,000 men and women

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 who looked on while Samson entertained.

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 Have you ever hit a low point in your life?

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 Like a legitimately low point in your life, and stop to ask yourself, how did it all come to this?

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 What went wrong for my life to be in such a mess now?

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 It wasn't always this way.

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 There were good days before.

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 There were passionate days before.

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 There was joy before.

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 But at that particular moment, all of that is gone.

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 You've hit rock bottom, and you're just trying to figure out how did it all come to this?

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 How did we get here?

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 How did we get here with Samson?

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 Samson, we left him at the end of chapter 13 last week as a young man, chosen, blessed, empowered by God.

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 But we pick up the story here in chapter 16.

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 20 years have passed.

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 Samson is captured, and he's now the object of entertainment for the enemy.

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 And even worse, it's apparent that whatever Samson has done to get to this point has given the Philistines a reason to worship and glorify Dagon.

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 He is the cause for their worship.

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 The people of God, they're supposed to declare and display the glory of Yahweh, the one true God.

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 Samson has given them a reason further to reject the Lord and to actually make a mockery of Him.

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 Everything about this scene that we just read, it shows Samson as a miserable failure because that's exactly what Samson was.

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 His life was supposed to be devoted to the Lord so that all would know that Yahweh is God, but he failed miserably,

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 living in such a way as to bring shame to the name of the Lord instead.

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 And once again, it becomes clear, as we've seen so many times in the book of Judges,

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 that this narrative really isn't ultimately about Samson fighting against the Philistines.

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 This is about Yahweh's war against false worship, not only among his people, but in the world itself.

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 Well, how did it come to this for Samson?

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 What went wrong for him to be in this position?

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 And is there actually any hope that the situation can change and to be improved?

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 Whether we're asking those questions of Samson or maybe we're even asking those questions this morning of our own lives,

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 there are answers to be found in this particular story and in these three chapters.

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 So what I want to do is work our way kind of quickly through the story itself to see what went wrong

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 and then to see if any of it can actually be redeemed.

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 And so, as I said, it's three chapters that we're going to go through.

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 I'm probably not going to do as much reading as normal.

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 We'll do some summarizing, but I'll note those things as we go, okay?

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 The big thing that this boils down to, we're asking the question, what went wrong for Samson?

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 Is Samson essentially, at the heart of it all, resisted the call of God on his life?

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 And that's what I want you to see in these chapters, resisting God's call.

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 Now, one major thing that comes very clear as we read through the narrative is this.

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 Samson is the nation of Israel epitomized in a single individual.

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 Samson is the nation of Israel epitomized in a single individual.

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 Like the nation itself, he was chosen by God from conception.

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 He was empowered by God.

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 He was set apart from everyone else to be a man devoted to the Lord.

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 God gave the nation of Israel his law.

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 He gave Samson the Nazarite vow.

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 Both things were to separate them, cause them to stand out as uniquely devoted to the true God.

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 And Samson's vow was not for a limited amount of time.

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 His life from conception to death was to be a life that exemplified the glory of God and the zeal of the Lord.

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 But while he enjoyed the benefits and the blessings of being God's man,

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 Samson mostly just wanted to do what was right in his own eyes.

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 That's the very language of the passage.

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 If you set your eyes on chapter 14 and verse 7,

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 then he went down and talked with the woman for she was right in Samson's eyes.

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 Over and over through the story, Samson sees what he wants and he goes after what he wants,

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 no matter what it costs him.

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 He just wants to do what's right in his own eyes.

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 Fact is that living devoted to God as a sinner in a fallen world can be quite a burden.

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 And like Israel, Samson seemed to continually resist, maybe even resent the call of God on his life.

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 So whenever what he wanted went against what God said,

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 Samson, along with the nation of Israel, did what was right in their own eyes.

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 Let's just see it in the narrative.

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 First, though God said not to marry the people of the land,

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 Samson demanded that his parents allow him to marry a nameless Philistine woman.

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 When enjoying a bit of honey meant touching a dead animal and breaking his Nazarite vow,

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 Samson took the honey anyways.

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 He then again despised his Nazarite vow

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 when he threw his wedding feast by the vineyards of Timnah,

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 where he and his Philistine friends indulged in drunkenness as, quote,

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 the young men used to do.

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 And all of that's just the first 10 verses.

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 Samson was supposed to be the one to deliver Israel from Philistine control.

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 But chapter 14 suggests that he much preferred to live among the Philistines

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 and to behave like the Philistines instead.

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 He was an Israelite who desperately wanted to be a Philistine.

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 And like many of us,

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 Samson wanted to be part of the world

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 that God had called him to separate from.

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 But it didn't take very long for him to discover

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 that the world wasn't nearly as interested in him

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 as he was in it.

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 So after this bizarre drinking game

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 that involved the riddle of the lion that he had killed,

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 Samson was betrayed by his friends,

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 betrayed by his new wife,

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 betrayed by his father-in-law,

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 and so he retaliated.

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 He went and he killed 30 men

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 and then he tied up a bunch of foxes

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 and lit their tails on fire

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 in order that he could destroy

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 all of the Philistines' crops.

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 Now that, in Samson's mind at that point,

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 is not zeal for the Lord.

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 It's zeal for his own vengeance.

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 They had taken away his future

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 by taking his new wife

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 and given it to his best friend.

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 So Samson retaliates

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 by robbing them of their future,

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 by destroying all of their supply of food.

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 You can read all about it

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 in 1411 through 158.

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 But here's the truth about Samson.

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 Just like Israel,

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 Samson was on the downward spiral

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 of apostasy,

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 moving closer and closer and closer

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 to fully abandoning

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 all devotion to the Lord.

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 But what we find in the midst of that

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 is that God still

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 was abundantly merciful

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 and patient

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 toward his carnal servant.

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 Even using Samson's sin

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 as an opportunity

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 to fight against the Philistines.

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 Samson doesn't care about God's zeal

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 in killing those 30 men

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 at Ashkelon.

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 He doesn't care about

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 the zeal of the Lord

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 in destroying the crops

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 with the foxes.

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 Yet God uses even his sin

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 to fight against those people.

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 Samson's over here

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 doing what's right

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 in his own eyes

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 and God's over here

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 even using what's right

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 in Samson's eyes

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 to accomplish his work,

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 to accomplish his will

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 in fighting against the Philistines.

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 But after his own people

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 even turned against him,

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 the men of Judah,

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 they turned him over

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 to the Philistines

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 to be executed,

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 God still empowered him

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 to kill a thousand men.

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 An amazing feat.

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 Probably his greatest feat

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 until the end of his life.

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 And you know,

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 God even used him

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 as he was breaking

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 the Nazarite vow.

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 He killed them all

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 with the jawbone,

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 the fresh jawbone,

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 the text says,

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 of a donkey,

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 another carcass,

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 another thing Samson

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 wasn't supposed to touch

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 to begin with.

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 And that's what he grabs

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 as his instrument of war.

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 And God doesn't say,

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 never mind.

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 God uses him

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 even though he's a sinner,

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 even though

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 in the act of using him,

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 he's sinning against the Lord.

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 But there is a bright spot

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 here at the end

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 of chapter 15.

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 Look with me

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 at chapter 15,

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 verse 18.

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 This is after he's

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 just defeated those men

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 and he's on the brink

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 of death,

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 physical death.

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 He was very thirsty

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 and he called upon

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 the Lord,

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 Yahweh,

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 and said,

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 you have granted

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 this great salvation

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 by the hand

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 of your servant.

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 And shall I now

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 die

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 of thirst

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 and fall into the hands

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 of the uncircumcised.

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 And look what God did.

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 This is amazing,

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 isn't it?

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 Samson isn't repenting here.

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 Just like Israel

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 never repented.

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 Samson's crying out

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 for help.

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 And God helps.

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 God split open

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 the hollow place

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 that is at Leahy

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 and water came out

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 from it.

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 And when he drank,

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 his spirit returned

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 and he revived.

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 Therefore,

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 the name of it

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 was called

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 En-Hakor,

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 which means

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 spring of him

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 who called.

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 It is at Leahy

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 to this day.

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 And he judged Israel

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 in the days

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 of the Philistines

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 20 years.

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 So Samson's

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 on the brink of death

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 and as Israel

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 had always done

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 when facing ruin,

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 he cried out

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 to God for help.

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 And the God of grace

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 heard his cry.

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 It's amazing.

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 Out of love

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 for his chosen one,

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 the Lord

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 supernaturally

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 sustained him.

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 Which was a crucial

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 experience for Samson

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 that will later

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 influence his actions

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 at the end of his life.

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 We'll come back to that.

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 Here's what God

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 was teaching him.

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 He was teaching Samson

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 in that moment

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 that if he cried out

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 in faith,

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 the Lord would save him.

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 That no matter

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 how far he'd run

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 from God's call,

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 the Lord would hear

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 the prayer of faith

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 and he would answer him

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 and he would help him

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 and he would restore him.

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 Well, chapter 16

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 is where Samson

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 hits rock bottom.

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 It begins

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 in the first three verses

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 by him taking a prostitute

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 in Gaza,

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 which was a major

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 Philistine city.

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 And the people,

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 of course,

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 when he gets to Gaza

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 in the night

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 to sleep with this prostitute,

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 they recognize him.

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 They set a trap

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 to kill the man

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 who had been such a pain

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 in their necks.

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 But again,

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 even though he was there

00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:49.720
 because of his own sin,

00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:51.280
 God delivers him.

00:14:52.420 --> 00:14:54.020
 He again strengthens him

00:14:54.020 --> 00:14:55.500
 to remove the gates

00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:56.080
 of the city

00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:56.980
 and escape

00:14:56.980 --> 00:14:59.340
 back to Israelite territory.

00:14:59.340 --> 00:15:00.860
 But still,

00:15:01.019 --> 00:15:02.580
 Samson's greatest sin

00:15:02.580 --> 00:15:04.540
 comes next.

00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.100
 Look at verse 4

00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:07.060
 in chapter 16.

00:15:08.560 --> 00:15:09.280
 After this,

00:15:09.320 --> 00:15:10.139
 he loved a woman

00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:11.440
 in the valley of Sorek

00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:13.360
 whose name was Delilah.

00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:15.399
 And the lords

00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:16.200
 of the Philistines

00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:17.019
 came up to her

00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:17.800
 and said to her,

00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:18.940
 Seduce him

00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:19.600
 and see where

00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:21.060
 his great strength lies

00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:22.580
 and by what means

00:15:22.580 --> 00:15:24.180
 we may overpower him

00:15:24.180 --> 00:15:26.860
 that we may bind him

00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:27.639
 to humble him.

00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:29.860
 And we will each give you

00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:31.980
 1,100 pieces of silver.

00:15:32.939 --> 00:15:34.319
 That is an enormous

00:15:34.319 --> 00:15:35.059
 amount of money.

00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:37.259
 We've seen pieces

00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.340
 of silver offered

00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:39.100
 for wickedness

00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:39.659
 once before

00:15:39.659 --> 00:15:40.580
 in the book of Judges.

00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:42.159
 It was with Abimelech.

00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:43.799
 He was given money

00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:45.340
 in order that he could

00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:46.740
 hire worthless fellows

00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:47.960
 to go and fight

00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:49.679
 against all of Gideon's sons.

00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:52.519
 He received 70 pieces

00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.039
 of silver.

00:15:54.299 --> 00:15:56.100
 There were five lords

00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:57.779
 of the Philistines historically.

00:15:58.800 --> 00:15:59.620
 Five lords

00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.440
 of the Philistines

00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:01.519
 telling this one woman,

00:16:01.700 --> 00:16:02.759
 each of us will give you

00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:05.019
 1,100 pieces of silver

00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:06.360
 for you to do

00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.200
 this thing for us.

00:16:07.259 --> 00:16:08.180
 This is an enormous

00:16:08.180 --> 00:16:08.840
 amount of money.

00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:11.460
 Verse 6,

00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:12.899
 So Delilah said to Samson,

00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:14.060
 Please tell me

00:16:14.060 --> 00:16:15.899
 where your great strength lies

00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:17.659
 and how you might be bound

00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:19.519
 that one could subdue you.

00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:21.779
 Samson said to her,

00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:23.019
 If they bind me

00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:24.679
 with seven fresh bow strings

00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:25.960
 that have not been dried,

00:16:26.319 --> 00:16:28.120
 then I shall become weak

00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.340
 and be like any other man.

00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:31.179
 Then the lords

00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:32.019
 of the Philistines

00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:34.879
 brought up to her

00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:36.860
 seven fresh bow strings

00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:37.919
 that had not been dried

00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:39.199
 and she bound him with them.

00:16:40.059 --> 00:16:41.059
 Now she had men lying

00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:41.620
 in ambush

00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:42.759
 in an inner chamber.

00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:44.120
 And she said to him,

00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.319
 The Philistines

00:16:45.319 --> 00:16:46.639
 are upon you, Samson.

00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:48.299
 But he snapped

00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:49.120
 the bow strings

00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.899
 as a thread of flax snaps

00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:52.399
 when it touches the fire.

00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:54.299
 So the secret of his strength

00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:55.399
 was not known.

00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:59.179
 Now surely you would expect

00:16:59.179 --> 00:17:00.980
 that any reasonable man

00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:01.519
 would say,

00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.519
 I don't think this woman

00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:04.680
 has my best interest

00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:05.180
 at heart.

00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:08.279
 But notice what he does.

00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.799
 Delilah said to Samson,

00:17:10.859 --> 00:17:12.119
 Behold, you have mocked me

00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:14.059
 and told me lies.

00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:16.079
 Please tell me

00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:17.119
 how you might be bound.

00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:19.359
 And he said to her,

00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:20.180
 If they bind me

00:17:20.180 --> 00:17:21.019
 with new ropes

00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:22.099
 that have not been used,

00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:24.420
 then I shall become weak

00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:26.220
 and be like any other man.

00:17:27.300 --> 00:17:29.040
 So Delilah took new ropes

00:17:29.040 --> 00:17:30.180
 and bound him with them

00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:30.840
 and said to him,

00:17:31.100 --> 00:17:31.860
 The Philistines

00:17:31.860 --> 00:17:33.280
 are upon you, Samson.

00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:35.800
 And the men lying in ambush

00:17:35.800 --> 00:17:36.880
 were in an inner chamber,

00:17:37.040 --> 00:17:38.420
 but he snapped the ropes

00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:39.200
 off his arms

00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:40.519
 like a thread.

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:42.759
 Then Delilah said to Samson,

00:17:42.820 --> 00:17:43.380
 Until now,

00:17:43.560 --> 00:17:44.420
 you have mocked me

00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:45.380
 and told me lies.

00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:47.340
 Tell me how you might be bound.

00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:48.980
 And he said to her,

00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:50.900
 If you weave the seven locks

00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:51.620
 of my head

00:17:51.620 --> 00:17:52.759
 with the web

00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:54.140
 and fasten it tight

00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:54.779
 with the pen,

00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:56.599
 then I shall become weak

00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:58.259
 and be like any other man.

00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.579
 So while he slept,

00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:03.120
 Delilah took the seven locks

00:18:03.120 --> 00:18:03.680
 of his head

00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:04.480
 and wove them

00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.539
 into a web.

00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:06.640
 Can we just appreciate

00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:07.960
 his ability to sleep

00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:08.799
 at this moment?

00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:12.379
 And she made them tight

00:18:12.379 --> 00:18:13.139
 with the pen

00:18:13.139 --> 00:18:13.859
 and said to him,

00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:14.859
 The Philistines

00:18:14.859 --> 00:18:16.180
 are upon you, Samson.

00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:18.440
 But he awoke from his sleep

00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:19.519
 and pulled away the pen,

00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:20.599
 the loom, and the web.

00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:22.919
 And she said to him,

00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:25.940
 How can you say I love you

00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:27.180
 when your heart

00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:28.119
 is not with me?

00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:29.480
 That's ironic, isn't it?

00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:32.079
 You have mocked me

00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:33.159
 these three times

00:18:33.159 --> 00:18:34.639
 and you have not told me

00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:36.180
 where your great strength lies.

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:38.680
 And when she pressed him hard

00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.340
 with her words

00:18:39.340 --> 00:18:40.259
 day after day

00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:41.019
 and urged him,

00:18:41.340 --> 00:18:43.000
 his soul was vexed to death.

00:18:43.820 --> 00:18:44.720
 And he told her

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.299
 all his heart.

00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:47.259
 And he said to her,

00:18:47.620 --> 00:18:49.080
 A razor has never come

00:18:49.080 --> 00:18:50.019
 upon my head,

00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:52.180
 for I have been a Nazarite

00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:52.900
 to God

00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:54.680
 from my mother's womb.

00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:56.960
 If my head is shaved,

00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:58.400
 then my strength

00:18:58.400 --> 00:18:59.080
 will leave me

00:18:59.080 --> 00:19:00.920
 and I shall become weak

00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:04.420
 and be like any other man.

00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:07.400
 For the first time

00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:08.240
 in the whole narrative,

00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:09.200
 we meet a woman

00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:10.039
 with a name,

00:19:11.080 --> 00:19:11.500
 Delilah.

00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:13.880
 She was in league

00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:15.140
 with the Philistine rulers,

00:19:16.140 --> 00:19:17.500
 but Samson gave her

00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:18.560
 his heart.

00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:22.180
 But Delilah doesn't love Samson.

00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:24.160
 She loves money

00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:25.779
 far more than she loves Samson.

00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:28.000
 And the Philistines,

00:19:28.100 --> 00:19:28.799
 as I said before,

00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:29.740
 were prepared to make her

00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.820
 a very rich woman

00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:32.619
 in order for her

00:19:32.619 --> 00:19:34.859
 to expose the secret

00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.500
 of his strength

00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:36.339
 so that they may get

00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:37.419
 some kind of advantage

00:19:37.419 --> 00:19:39.319
 over the ravager

00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:40.899
 of their people.

00:19:42.419 --> 00:19:43.960
 And after a few blatant

00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:45.179
 yet failed attempts,

00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.799
 Samson eventually tells her

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:49.439
 all of his heart.

00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:53.539
 The truth is that

00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.240
 his strength

00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:55.779
 didn't come from his hair.

00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:59.399
 There's no point

00:19:59.399 --> 00:20:00.039
 in the text

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:00.700
 anywhere

00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:02.619
 in the whole text

00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:04.139
 until now

00:20:04.139 --> 00:20:05.440
 that connects

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:07.019
 Samson's strength

00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:08.420
 to his hair.

00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.779
 His hair didn't give him strength.

00:20:11.639 --> 00:20:12.940
 God gave him strength.

00:20:14.399 --> 00:20:15.799
 But Samson makes

00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:18.220
 a correct theological judgment

00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:19.960
 here with Delilah.

00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:23.279
 His hair was the only sign

00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.639
 of devotion to God

00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:25.840
 that he had not

00:20:25.840 --> 00:20:27.080
 already violated.

00:20:27.600 --> 00:20:28.520
 He's violated

00:20:28.520 --> 00:20:29.380
 everything else.

00:20:29.820 --> 00:20:30.600
 He's tried to marry

00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:32.020
 a woman that's not Israelite.

00:20:33.100 --> 00:20:33.820
 He has,

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:35.140
 on multiple occasions,

00:20:35.400 --> 00:20:37.160
 touched dead bodies,

00:20:38.100 --> 00:20:39.460
 the carcasses of animals.

00:20:40.780 --> 00:20:41.980
 Implicit in the text

00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:43.660
 is his own drunkenness

00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:44.680
 at his wedding feast.

00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:47.080
 There's nothing left

00:20:47.080 --> 00:20:48.140
 for him to do

00:20:48.140 --> 00:20:49.680
 in violating his devotion

00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:50.220
 to God

00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:51.660
 except bring a razor

00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:52.440
 to his head.

00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:53.940
 And he correctly

00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:55.039
 makes that judgment.

00:20:56.080 --> 00:20:56.779
 He knew that

00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.559
 cutting his hair

00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:59.600
 would be a final step

00:20:59.600 --> 00:21:00.940
 toward apostasy.

00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:03.960
 And though he didn't

00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:04.799
 do it himself,

00:21:04.860 --> 00:21:06.180
 and I think that's significant,

00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:08.200
 he chose to drink,

00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:09.420
 he chose to touch

00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:09.920
 the lion

00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:11.000
 and the jawbone

00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:11.519
 of the donkey,

00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:12.860
 he chose to go

00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:13.640
 after the other woman,

00:21:13.820 --> 00:21:14.940
 he does not choose

00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:15.779
 to cut his own hair.

00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:17.000
 Though he does not

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:17.580
 do it himself,

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:19.480
 I think he knew full well

00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:22.759
 that Delilah was going

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.200
 to do it.

00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:25.240
 Samson's not an idiot.

00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:28.599
 After three times

00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:30.640
 of him telling her one thing

00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.440
 and her immediately

00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.420
 doing that thing,

00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:34.920
 that's when he tells her

00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:35.440
 the truth?

00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:38.339
 Isn't it as if he

00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:39.720
 kind of wants

00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:41.599
 this strength to be gone

00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:42.299
 at this point?

00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:44.160
 Seems that way,

00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:44.599
 doesn't it?

00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:46.719
 Why would he want her

00:21:46.719 --> 00:21:47.299
 to do this?

00:21:49.459 --> 00:21:50.419
 I think the answer

00:21:50.419 --> 00:21:50.919
 is he just,

00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:51.980
 as he said,

00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:53.179
 simply wanted to be

00:21:53.179 --> 00:21:55.519
 like any other man.

00:21:57.639 --> 00:21:59.000
 But God had not called him

00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:00.119
 to be like any other man.

00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.959
 God had not called him

00:22:02.959 --> 00:22:05.119
 to live like any other man.

00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:07.500
 But all he wanted

00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:09.199
 was to just be

00:22:09.199 --> 00:22:10.759
 like everybody else.

00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:13.480
 And his sin

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.839
 had deceived him such

00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.859
 that he believed

00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:17.059
 that if he could

00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:18.500
 just be ridden

00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.640
 of the burden

00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:20.680
 of God's call

00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.480
 on his life,

00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:23.000
 that he would then

00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:23.819
 be able to find

00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:25.099
 true satisfaction

00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:26.359
 and true fulfillment

00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:27.259
 in the way

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.240
 that he wanted to live

00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.259
 and at the same time

00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.299
 he'd be able to have

00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:31.379
 the love of his life.

00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:34.539
 Which was a foolish judgment.

00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:38.000
 Because the pleasures

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.559
 of sin never live up

00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:40.539
 to what they promise.

00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.759
 And the consequences

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:44.299
 are always worse

00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:46.240
 than what we ever

00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.180
 imagined them to be.

00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:49.339
 Look at verse 18.

00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:52.480
 When Delilah saw

00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.700
 that he had told her

00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:54.519
 all his heart,

00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:56.519
 she sent and called

00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.579
 the lords of the Philistines

00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:57.859
 saying,

00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:58.940
 Come up again

00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.980
 for he has told me

00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:00.740
 all his heart.

00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:01.859
 Make sure to bring

00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:02.400
 the silver.

00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:04.579
 Then the lords

00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:05.279
 of the Philistines

00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:05.980
 came up to her

00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:07.059
 and brought the money

00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:08.180
 in their hands

00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:08.839
 and she made him

00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:09.980
 sleep on her knees

00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:11.539
 and she called

00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.059
 a man

00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:13.559
 and had him shave

00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:14.700
 off the seven locks

00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:15.380
 of his head.

00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.380
 Then she began

00:23:17.380 --> 00:23:18.460
 to torment him

00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:20.799
 and his strength

00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:21.360
 left him.

00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:23.879
 And she said,

00:23:23.959 --> 00:23:24.659
 the Philistines

00:23:24.659 --> 00:23:25.419
 are upon you,

00:23:25.479 --> 00:23:25.819
 Samson.

00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:26.819
 And he awoke

00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:27.459
 from his sleep

00:23:27.459 --> 00:23:27.839
 and said,

00:23:27.979 --> 00:23:28.899
 I will go out

00:23:28.899 --> 00:23:29.679
 as other times

00:23:29.679 --> 00:23:30.899
 and shake myself free.

00:23:31.139 --> 00:23:32.599
 But he did not know

00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:33.899
 that the Lord

00:23:33.899 --> 00:23:35.059
 had left him.

00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:38.159
 And the Philistines

00:23:38.159 --> 00:23:38.859
 seized him,

00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:41.179
 gouged out his eyes,

00:23:42.159 --> 00:23:43.000
 brought him down

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:44.159
 to Gaza,

00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:45.919
 bound him

00:23:45.919 --> 00:23:47.200
 with bronze shackles

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.839
 and he ground

00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:49.460
 at the mill

00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:50.980
 in the prison.

00:23:52.899 --> 00:23:54.319
 When Samson awoke

00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:54.940
 from his sleep

00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:55.700
 on that night,

00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:57.299
 the situation

00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:58.059
 was worse

00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:59.220
 than he probably

00:23:59.220 --> 00:23:59.659
 ever thought

00:23:59.659 --> 00:24:00.139
 it would be.

00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:03.940
 sin always promises

00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:04.540
 more than it

00:24:04.540 --> 00:24:05.400
 can actually deliver.

00:24:06.360 --> 00:24:07.600
 It never actually

00:24:07.600 --> 00:24:08.259
 comes through.

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.520
 The Lord

00:24:11.520 --> 00:24:12.160
 had left him.

00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:15.520
 He didn't even know it.

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.980
 He awakens

00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:20.180
 knowing

00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:21.680
 that he's just

00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:22.580
 told her all his heart.

00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:25.060
 Yet he still expects

00:24:25.060 --> 00:24:25.920
 that the strength

00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:26.420
 will be there.

00:24:27.020 --> 00:24:27.720
 Another sign

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.500
 that it really wasn't

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.640
 about the hair itself.

00:24:30.820 --> 00:24:31.680
 Even Samson

00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:32.980
 thinks he'll still

00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:33.600
 have the strength

00:24:33.600 --> 00:24:34.060
 but then

00:24:34.060 --> 00:24:35.940
 there's no strength.

00:24:37.300 --> 00:24:38.240
 There's no strength

00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:38.720
 to fight.

00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:40.280
 Not because

00:24:40.280 --> 00:24:41.140
 his hair was gone

00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:42.460
 but because

00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:43.280
 the consequences

00:24:43.280 --> 00:24:43.980
 of his sin

00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:44.860
 had caught up to him.

00:24:46.340 --> 00:24:47.440
 So the Philistines

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.060
 captured him,

00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:49.000
 they took his eyes

00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:50.720
 and they imprisoned him

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.640
 in Gaza

00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:52.580
 until it was time

00:24:52.580 --> 00:24:53.300
 to celebrate

00:24:53.300 --> 00:24:54.759
 what they thought

00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.440
 was a victory

00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:56.000
 for Dagon.

00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:58.220
 In reality,

00:24:59.220 --> 00:24:59.700
 Samson

00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.640
 wasn't the victim

00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:01.900
 of Dagon's judgment

00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:04.740
 but Yahweh's

00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.680
 judgment.

00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:08.100
 But there's still

00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:09.299
 a glimmer of hope.

00:25:09.559 --> 00:25:10.480
 Look at verse 22.

00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:13.340
 But the hair

00:25:13.340 --> 00:25:14.259
 of his head

00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:15.799
 began to grow

00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:16.440
 again

00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:17.580
 after it had been

00:25:17.580 --> 00:25:17.920
 shaved.

00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:21.240
 True to the book

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:21.819
 of Judges,

00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:22.720
 though Samson

00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:24.039
 sinned against the Lord

00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:25.460
 again and again

00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:26.160
 and again

00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:26.800
 and again.

00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:28.840
 God's limitless mercy

00:25:28.840 --> 00:25:29.940
 shines through here.

00:25:31.600 --> 00:25:32.779
 An encouragement

00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:34.040
 to those of us

00:25:34.040 --> 00:25:35.540
 who live more

00:25:35.540 --> 00:25:36.460
 like Samson

00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:38.160
 than we do

00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:38.920
 like Jesus.

00:25:42.100 --> 00:25:43.360
 Barry Webb said,

00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:44.259
 Samson may

00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:45.060
 want to be

00:25:45.060 --> 00:25:45.779
 as other men

00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.600
 but God

00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:47.600
 won't let him

00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:48.380
 be so.

00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:50.580
 There in the

00:25:50.580 --> 00:25:51.019
 dank,

00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:51.940
 miserable,

00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:53.400
 degrading prison,

00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:54.900
 God reclaims

00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:55.820
 his wayward

00:25:55.820 --> 00:25:56.320
 child.

00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:57.120
 But we're left

00:25:57.120 --> 00:25:57.580
 wondering

00:25:57.580 --> 00:25:58.620
 how much more

00:25:58.620 --> 00:25:59.740
 glorious of a

00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.800
 servant of God

00:26:00.800 --> 00:26:01.720
 he might have been

00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:03.300
 if only he had

00:26:03.300 --> 00:26:04.620
 embraced his calling

00:26:04.620 --> 00:26:05.980
 rather than

00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:07.400
 resisting it.

00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:09.580
 I think Samson

00:26:09.580 --> 00:26:09.980
 would have

00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:10.940
 quite loved

00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:12.200
 to sing the song

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:13.140
 that we often

00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:13.720
 sing here.

00:26:14.060 --> 00:26:14.780
 When I fear

00:26:14.780 --> 00:26:15.920
 my faith will fail,

00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:17.720
 Christ will hold

00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:18.460
 me fast.

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.440
 When the tempter

00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:21.200
 would prevail,

00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:22.340
 he will hold

00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:22.899
 me fast.

00:26:23.139 --> 00:26:24.199
 I could never

00:26:24.199 --> 00:26:25.099
 keep my hold

00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:26.980
 through life's

00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:28.119
 fearful path

00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:29.339
 for my love

00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:30.199
 is often cold.

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.599
 He must hold

00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.139
 me fast.

00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:33.500
 If I will be held,

00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:34.839
 it must be him

00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:35.579
 that does it.

00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:38.099
 The regrowth

00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:39.240
 of Samson's hair

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:40.359
 is a sign

00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:40.859
 of God's

00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.439
 relentless

00:26:41.439 --> 00:26:42.679
 pursuit

00:26:42.679 --> 00:26:43.740
 of his people.

00:26:45.459 --> 00:26:46.459
 Although Samson

00:26:46.459 --> 00:26:47.359
 continually

00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:48.759
 failed the Lord,

00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:49.619
 the Lord

00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:50.439
 would not

00:26:50.439 --> 00:26:51.459
 abandon him.

00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:53.699
 And what a glorious

00:26:53.699 --> 00:26:54.720
 thought that is

00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.819
 for those

00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.639
 who belong

00:26:56.639 --> 00:26:57.259
 to God

00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.619
 cannot

00:26:58.619 --> 00:27:00.039
 out sin

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:01.459
 his grace.

00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:03.539
 It can't

00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:04.179
 be done.

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.259
 Here is Samson

00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.259
 doing everything

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:08.099
 he could possibly

00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:09.359
 do to get away

00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:09.959
 from the call

00:27:09.959 --> 00:27:10.359
 of God

00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:11.399
 in a similar way

00:27:11.399 --> 00:27:12.119
 to Jonah

00:27:12.119 --> 00:27:13.299
 and yet God's

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:14.139
 grace is still

00:27:14.139 --> 00:27:14.459
 there.

00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:15.139
 He will not

00:27:15.139 --> 00:27:16.079
 let him go.

00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:18.220
 So his hair

00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:18.939
 begins to grow

00:27:18.939 --> 00:27:19.379
 again.

00:27:19.380 --> 00:27:21.180
 He'll not

00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:22.020
 let my soul

00:27:22.020 --> 00:27:22.800
 be lost.

00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.760
 His promises

00:27:24.760 --> 00:27:26.300
 shall last.

00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.540
 Bought by him

00:27:28.540 --> 00:27:30.120
 at such a cost,

00:27:30.560 --> 00:27:32.500
 he will hold

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.240
 me fast.

00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:36.120
 That's resisting

00:27:36.120 --> 00:27:36.680
 the call.

00:27:37.600 --> 00:27:38.120
 Now let's look

00:27:38.120 --> 00:27:39.120
 at experiencing

00:27:39.120 --> 00:27:40.780
 God's grace.

00:27:41.600 --> 00:27:42.140
 Experiencing

00:27:42.140 --> 00:27:42.700
 God's grace.

00:27:43.060 --> 00:27:43.560
 You're in chapter

00:27:43.560 --> 00:27:44.080
 16.

00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:45.120
 Now jump down

00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:45.820
 to verse 28.

00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:48.919
 Now we're

00:27:48.919 --> 00:27:49.679
 back in Gaza.

00:27:50.659 --> 00:27:51.159
 Samson has

00:27:51.159 --> 00:27:51.639
 been brought

00:27:51.639 --> 00:27:52.399
 out for the

00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:53.119
 people to mock

00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:53.659
 him and to

00:27:53.659 --> 00:27:54.240
 mock the Lord.

00:27:55.619 --> 00:27:56.519
 Verse 28,

00:27:56.919 --> 00:27:57.399
 then Samson

00:27:57.399 --> 00:27:58.000
 called to the

00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.259
 Lord.

00:27:59.240 --> 00:27:59.679
 Remember he's

00:27:59.679 --> 00:28:00.159
 done that once

00:28:00.159 --> 00:28:00.559
 before?

00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.700
 You think he

00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.279
 learned something

00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:02.559
 there?

00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:03.819
 Yeah, I think

00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:04.299
 he did.

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.519
 Because he's

00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.039
 doing it again

00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.339
 here.

00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:08.299
 He calls to

00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:08.599
 the Lord,

00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:10.079
 oh Lord God,

00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:11.740
 please remember

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:13.319
 me and please

00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:14.220
 strengthen me

00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:15.299
 only this once,

00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:15.880
 oh God,

00:28:16.620 --> 00:28:17.339
 that I may be

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:18.180
 avenged on the

00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:18.940
 Philistines for

00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:19.740
 my two eyes.

00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:22.079
 Samson grasped

00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:23.180
 the two middle

00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:24.059
 pillars on which

00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:25.120
 the house rested

00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:26.279
 and he leaned

00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:27.160
 his weight against

00:28:27.160 --> 00:28:28.160
 them, his right

00:28:28.160 --> 00:28:28.900
 hand on one,

00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:30.120
 his left hand on

00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:30.500
 the other.

00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:31.960
 And Samson said,

00:28:32.059 --> 00:28:33.079
 let me die with

00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:33.880
 the Philistines.

00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:35.980
 Then he bowed

00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.600
 with all his

00:28:36.600 --> 00:28:37.319
 strength and the

00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:39.059
 house fell upon

00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:40.180
 the Lord's and

00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:40.880
 upon all the

00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:41.500
 people who were

00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:41.839
 in it.

00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:42.900
 So the dead

00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:43.640
 whom he killed

00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:44.500
 at his death

00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:45.759
 were more than

00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.880
 those whom he

00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:47.620
 had killed during

00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.240
 his life.

00:28:49.400 --> 00:28:50.040
 Then his

00:28:50.040 --> 00:28:50.880
 brothers and all

00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:51.759
 his family came

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.480
 down and took

00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:53.620
 him and brought

00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:54.240
 him up and

00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:55.220
 buried him between

00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:56.780
 Zorah and

00:28:56.780 --> 00:28:58.560
 Eshtail in the

00:28:58.560 --> 00:28:59.680
 tomb of Manoah,

00:28:59.800 --> 00:29:00.380
 his father.

00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:01.800
 He had judged

00:29:01.800 --> 00:29:03.740
 Israel 20 years.

00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:06.360
 For all Samson

00:29:06.360 --> 00:29:06.980
 did wrong,

00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:09.300
 he understood

00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:10.240
 and he

00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:11.559
 acknowledged that

00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.259
 his strength

00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:13.740
 did not come

00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:14.319
 from within

00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:14.619
 him.

00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:16.559
 It came from

00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:16.899
 God.

00:29:18.899 --> 00:29:19.639
 And you have

00:29:19.639 --> 00:29:20.180
 to dig through

00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:20.859
 a lot of sin

00:29:20.859 --> 00:29:21.500
 to get to it,

00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:22.319
 but underneath

00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:23.759
 all the foolishness

00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:24.539
 of Samson's

00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.579
 life was a

00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:26.759
 sinner who

00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.819
 believed God.

00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:31.399
 We can even

00:29:31.399 --> 00:29:32.599
 still discern a

00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:33.659
 vengeful motive

00:29:33.659 --> 00:29:34.559
 in his prayer,

00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:36.379
 but it was

00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:37.220
 indeed a prayer

00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:38.920
 of faith for

00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:39.839
 God to save

00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:41.380
 his people by

00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:42.720
 defeating the

00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.380
 Philistines,

00:29:43.660 --> 00:29:45.640
 which is exactly

00:29:45.640 --> 00:29:46.360
 why the author

00:29:46.360 --> 00:29:46.920
 of Hebrews

00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:47.900
 named Samson

00:29:47.900 --> 00:29:49.039
 as a man of

00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:50.360
 faith whose

00:29:50.360 --> 00:29:51.579
 life encourages

00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:52.640
 us to look to

00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:54.120
 Jesus who is

00:29:54.120 --> 00:29:55.100
 the founder and

00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:56.059
 perfecter of our

00:29:56.059 --> 00:29:56.400
 faith.

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.400
 That's Hebrews

00:29:57.400 --> 00:29:58.380
 11 and Hebrews

00:29:58.380 --> 00:29:58.779
 12.

00:29:59.160 --> 00:30:00.059
 Samson's there.

00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.620
 Of all the

00:30:01.620 --> 00:30:02.059
 people in the

00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:02.700
 book of Judges

00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:03.259
 that we were to

00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:03.839
 say there's no

00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:05.000
 way they're saved.

00:30:05.299 --> 00:30:06.019
 There's no way

00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:06.720
 they made it.

00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:07.900
 Samson's probably

00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:08.480
 at the top of

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.019
 the list,

00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:10.980
 and yet he

00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:11.720
 made it.

00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:14.039
 Why?

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:15.980
 Not because he

00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.400
 had his life

00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:18.839
 together, but

00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:19.539
 because he was a

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.019
 man of faith.

00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:20.680
 He believed

00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:21.019
 God.

00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:22.440
 He believed

00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:22.720
 God.

00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:25.620
 There is irony

00:30:25.620 --> 00:30:26.799
 in his final cry

00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:27.240
 though, isn't

00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:27.420
 there?

00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:29.100
 Please remember

00:30:29.100 --> 00:30:29.819
 me, Samson

00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:30.200
 prayed.

00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:32.019
 He asked for

00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:33.279
 God to do for

00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:34.519
 him what he

00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.140
 and all of

00:30:35.140 --> 00:30:35.720
 Israel had

00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:36.900
 repeatedly failed

00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:37.400
 to do.

00:30:37.900 --> 00:30:38.700
 Remember the

00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:39.180
 Lord their

00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:39.600
 God.

00:30:41.280 --> 00:30:42.320
 Yet no amount

00:30:42.320 --> 00:30:43.660
 of sin will

00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:44.380
 turn God's

00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:45.460
 ear away from

00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:46.620
 the one who

00:30:46.620 --> 00:30:47.700
 cries to him

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.680
 in faith.

00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:51.580
 Though we are

00:30:51.580 --> 00:30:52.280
 unfaithful to

00:30:52.280 --> 00:30:53.780
 him, he is

00:30:53.780 --> 00:30:55.060
 ever faithful

00:30:55.060 --> 00:30:56.680
 to those who

00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:57.680
 call upon

00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:58.040
 him.

00:30:58.980 --> 00:30:59.740
 So Jesus

00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:01.000
 says, come to

00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:02.180
 me then, all

00:31:02.180 --> 00:31:02.820
 who labor

00:31:02.820 --> 00:31:03.160
 and are

00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:03.799
 heavy laden

00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:04.560
 and I

00:31:04.560 --> 00:31:05.920
 will give

00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:06.539
 you rest.

00:31:07.660 --> 00:31:08.100
 And then he

00:31:08.100 --> 00:31:09.180
 says, whoever

00:31:09.180 --> 00:31:10.120
 does come to

00:31:10.120 --> 00:31:11.420
 me, I will

00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:12.140
 never cast

00:31:12.140 --> 00:31:12.680
 out.

00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:14.519
 Which is why

00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:15.240
 Paul is so

00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:15.960
 confident to

00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:17.360
 say, everyone,

00:31:17.860 --> 00:31:18.880
 whoever calls

00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:19.720
 upon the name

00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:20.299
 of the Lord

00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:21.519
 will be

00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.080
 saved.

00:31:24.820 --> 00:31:25.880
 Samson shows

00:31:25.880 --> 00:31:26.240
 us that

00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.360
 salvation is

00:31:27.360 --> 00:31:27.940
 not earned

00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:28.560
 by what we

00:31:28.560 --> 00:31:28.960
 do.

00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:30.220
 Even the

00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:30.860
 good that

00:31:30.860 --> 00:31:31.500
 Samson did

00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.180
 was tainted

00:31:32.180 --> 00:31:33.140
 by his sin.

00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.340
 All of it

00:31:34.340 --> 00:31:34.720
 was.

00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:35.880
 Even in his

00:31:35.880 --> 00:31:36.799
 dying moment,

00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:37.759
 he's crying out

00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:38.259
 for vengeance

00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.279
 for himself.

00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:41.100
 It's all

00:31:41.100 --> 00:31:42.019
 touched by his

00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:42.960
 own depravity.

00:31:43.340 --> 00:31:43.600
 And yet

00:31:43.600 --> 00:31:44.900
 despite that,

00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:47.059
 God is

00:31:47.059 --> 00:31:47.539
 gracious.

00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.279
 Why?

00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:50.640
 Why is God

00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:51.200
 so gracious?

00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:53.440
 Because salvation

00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:54.380
 is received by

00:31:54.380 --> 00:31:56.420
 faith in the

00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:57.360
 gracious and

00:31:57.360 --> 00:31:58.380
 merciful God

00:31:58.380 --> 00:31:59.600
 whose steadfast

00:31:59.600 --> 00:32:01.100
 love endures

00:32:01.100 --> 00:32:01.520
 forever.

00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.700
 And for us,

00:32:03.800 --> 00:32:04.340
 it is through

00:32:04.340 --> 00:32:05.580
 faith in the

00:32:05.580 --> 00:32:06.500
 person and the

00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.200
 work of our

00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:08.080
 Lord and Savior,

00:32:08.560 --> 00:32:09.400
 Jesus Christ,

00:32:09.540 --> 00:32:10.040
 whom the writer

00:32:10.040 --> 00:32:11.000
 of Hebrews says,

00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:12.420
 for the joy that

00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:13.440
 was before him

00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:14.900
 endured the

00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:15.380
 cross,

00:32:16.140 --> 00:32:17.060
 despising the

00:32:17.060 --> 00:32:17.460
 shame,

00:32:17.800 --> 00:32:18.860
 and is seated

00:32:18.860 --> 00:32:19.700
 at the right

00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:20.840
 hand of the

00:32:20.840 --> 00:32:21.540
 throne of God.

00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:24.560
 God heard

00:32:24.560 --> 00:32:25.440
 Samson's prayer

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.440
 and answered

00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:27.020
 him accordingly.

00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:29.279
 knowing it

00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:29.839
 would take

00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:30.480
 his death

00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:31.740
 to deliver

00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:32.160
 his own

00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:32.599
 people,

00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:33.980
 God

00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:34.599
 strengthens

00:32:34.599 --> 00:32:35.279
 Samson one

00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:36.139
 final time,

00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:37.259
 which just

00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:37.740
 remembers,

00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:38.700
 which just

00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.559
 reminds us

00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:42.420
 that we can

00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:44.400
 escape the

00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:45.240
 ultimate penalty

00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:46.079
 for our sin,

00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:47.720
 but that

00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:48.440
 doesn't mean

00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:49.359
 that we'll

00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:50.119
 escape the

00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:50.900
 immediate

00:32:50.900 --> 00:32:51.960
 consequences of

00:32:51.960 --> 00:32:52.359
 our sin.

00:32:52.359 --> 00:32:52.659
 Samson.

00:32:53.659 --> 00:32:54.359
 Don't mistake

00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:54.939
 that.

00:32:57.359 --> 00:32:58.099
 Samson pulled

00:32:58.099 --> 00:32:58.639
 down the two

00:32:58.639 --> 00:32:59.059
 pillars,

00:32:59.240 --> 00:32:59.979
 resulting in the

00:32:59.979 --> 00:33:01.159
 destruction of

00:33:01.159 --> 00:33:02.259
 all the Philistine

00:33:02.259 --> 00:33:03.259
 governing officials,

00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:06.079
 which was also a

00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:06.819
 clear statement

00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:08.859
 of Yahweh's power

00:33:08.859 --> 00:33:09.439
 over Dagon.

00:33:11.659 --> 00:33:13.039
 And tragically,

00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:14.879
 Samson dies

00:33:14.879 --> 00:33:15.419
 with them.

00:33:15.420 --> 00:33:18.400
 he was crushed

00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:20.960
 so that his

00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:21.580
 people might

00:33:21.580 --> 00:33:21.920
 live.

00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:25.019
 And there's

00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:25.720
 beauty to the

00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:26.560
 last verse there,

00:33:26.620 --> 00:33:27.019
 isn't there?

00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:30.460
 Samson might have

00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:31.120
 died with the

00:33:31.120 --> 00:33:31.720
 Philistines,

00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:32.680
 but he was

00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:33.320
 buried with his

00:33:33.320 --> 00:33:33.740
 family.

00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:35.080
 Now think about

00:33:35.080 --> 00:33:35.400
 that.

00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:36.840
 Israelites

00:33:36.840 --> 00:33:37.660
 buried their

00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:38.779
 dead rather

00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:39.320
 than burned

00:33:39.320 --> 00:33:39.480
 them.

00:33:40.279 --> 00:33:41.039
 They buried

00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:41.640
 them as a

00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:42.320
 sign of

00:33:42.320 --> 00:33:43.920
 preparation for

00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:44.300
 what they

00:33:44.300 --> 00:33:44.820
 believed would

00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.480
 be a future

00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:46.240
 resurrection.

00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:49.519
 God used

00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:50.139
 Samson to

00:33:50.139 --> 00:33:50.839
 deliver Israel

00:33:50.839 --> 00:33:51.319
 for 20

00:33:51.319 --> 00:33:51.740
 years,

00:33:52.139 --> 00:33:52.859
 but in the

00:33:52.859 --> 00:33:53.220
 end,

00:33:54.139 --> 00:33:54.659
 Samson's

00:33:54.659 --> 00:33:55.240
 body was

00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:55.759
 laid to

00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:57.159
 rest in

00:33:57.159 --> 00:33:57.819
 anticipation

00:33:57.819 --> 00:33:59.179
 of a

00:33:59.179 --> 00:34:00.019
 greater Savior

00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:01.019
 who would

00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:01.740
 bring him

00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:02.720
 true and

00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:03.119
 eternal

00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:03.679
 salvation.

00:34:04.839 --> 00:34:05.579
 It's all

00:34:05.579 --> 00:34:06.139
 right there.

00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.440
 Yeah,

00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:10.139
 God used

00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:10.500
 him to

00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:10.900
 help,

00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:12.319
 but even

00:34:12.319 --> 00:34:13.119
 Samson needed

00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:13.539
 a greater

00:34:13.539 --> 00:34:13.940
 Savior.

00:34:14.820 --> 00:34:15.660
 Even

00:34:15.660 --> 00:34:16.120
 Samson

00:34:16.120 --> 00:34:16.420
 died.

00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:16.660
 Even

00:34:16.660 --> 00:34:17.140
 Samson

00:34:17.140 --> 00:34:17.660
 needed a

00:34:17.660 --> 00:34:18.220
 resurrection.

00:34:20.600 --> 00:34:21.320
 And that

00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:21.960
 Savior is

00:34:21.960 --> 00:34:22.340
 Jesus,

00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:24.080
 who Paul

00:34:24.080 --> 00:34:24.440
 wrote to

00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:24.580
 the

00:34:24.580 --> 00:34:25.000
 Corinthians

00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:25.539
 in 1

00:34:25.539 --> 00:34:25.920
 Corinthians

00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:26.500
 15,

00:34:26.860 --> 00:34:27.220
 has been

00:34:27.220 --> 00:34:27.880
 raised from

00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:28.460
 the dead,

00:34:28.760 --> 00:34:29.320
 the first

00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:30.320
 fruits of

00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:30.920
 those who

00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:31.400
 are fallen

00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:31.960
 asleep.

00:34:32.720 --> 00:34:33.260
 For as in

00:34:33.260 --> 00:34:33.860
 Adam all

00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:34.360
 die,

00:34:34.700 --> 00:34:35.760
 so also in

00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:36.360
 Christ shall

00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:37.180
 all be made

00:34:37.180 --> 00:34:37.600
 alive,

00:34:38.280 --> 00:34:38.860
 but each in

00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.200
 his own

00:34:39.200 --> 00:34:39.519
 order.

00:34:40.519 --> 00:34:41.120
 Christ the

00:34:41.120 --> 00:34:41.800
 first fruits,

00:34:41.800 --> 00:34:42.880
 then at

00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:43.420
 his coming,

00:34:44.260 --> 00:34:44.780
 those who

00:34:44.780 --> 00:34:46.000
 belong to

00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:46.380
 Christ.

00:34:47.340 --> 00:34:47.820
 It's an

00:34:47.820 --> 00:34:48.440
 experience of

00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:50.200
 grace, a

00:34:50.200 --> 00:34:50.660
 grace that I

00:34:50.660 --> 00:34:51.280
 believe Samson

00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:52.860
 enjoys today

00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:55.019
 with Jesus

00:34:55.019 --> 00:34:56.280
 in heaven.

00:34:58.440 --> 00:34:59.000
 How do we

00:34:59.000 --> 00:34:59.620
 see Jesus

00:34:59.620 --> 00:35:01.360
 through the

00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:02.160
 Samson cycle?

00:35:03.260 --> 00:35:04.060
 There's a few

00:35:04.060 --> 00:35:04.960
 elements of

00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:05.640
 Samson's story

00:35:05.640 --> 00:35:06.019
 that do

00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:07.100
 foreshadow the

00:35:07.100 --> 00:35:07.640
 gospel of

00:35:07.640 --> 00:35:08.240
 Jesus, and

00:35:08.240 --> 00:35:08.860
 of course we're

00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:09.600
 always looking for

00:35:09.600 --> 00:35:10.060
 that in the

00:35:10.060 --> 00:35:10.360
 Bible.

00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:11.180
 All of the

00:35:11.180 --> 00:35:11.820
 Bible is about

00:35:11.820 --> 00:35:12.180
 Jesus.

00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:12.820
 It doesn't

00:35:12.820 --> 00:35:13.340
 matter if we're

00:35:13.340 --> 00:35:13.680
 in the Old

00:35:13.680 --> 00:35:14.160
 Testament or

00:35:14.160 --> 00:35:14.420
 New.

00:35:14.620 --> 00:35:15.240
 We get to

00:35:15.240 --> 00:35:15.880
 Jesus in the

00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:16.680
 scriptures because

00:35:16.680 --> 00:35:17.380
 the scriptures are

00:35:17.380 --> 00:35:18.079
 ultimately about

00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:18.480
 Jesus.

00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:20.019
 And the

00:35:20.019 --> 00:35:20.559
 Samson story,

00:35:20.680 --> 00:35:21.039
 really to be

00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:21.599
 honest, is not

00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:22.519
 that difficult to

00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:22.940
 find the

00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:23.380
 connections.

00:35:24.400 --> 00:35:24.780
 There's been

00:35:24.780 --> 00:35:25.620
 other stories in

00:35:25.620 --> 00:35:26.000
 the book of

00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:26.440
 Judges that

00:35:26.440 --> 00:35:26.960
 have been much

00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:27.420
 more difficult

00:35:27.420 --> 00:35:28.079
 to see it.

00:35:28.800 --> 00:35:29.160
 It's pretty

00:35:29.160 --> 00:35:29.720
 clear here.

00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:30.400
 There's a few

00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:30.680
 of them.

00:35:31.360 --> 00:35:31.900
 Both of their

00:35:31.900 --> 00:35:33.059
 births were

00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:34.680
 miracles, showing

00:35:34.680 --> 00:35:35.660
 God's purpose and

00:35:35.660 --> 00:35:36.559
 using them in

00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.320
 particular to

00:35:37.320 --> 00:35:38.539
 bring a

00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:39.320
 salvation to

00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:39.760
 his people.

00:35:40.360 --> 00:35:42.160
 Like Samson,

00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:43.460
 Jesus was

00:35:43.460 --> 00:35:44.420
 arrested by his

00:35:44.420 --> 00:35:45.460
 own people and

00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:46.240
 turned over to

00:35:46.240 --> 00:35:46.940
 the enemy for

00:35:46.940 --> 00:35:47.480
 execution.

00:35:49.180 --> 00:35:50.000
 But of course,

00:35:50.180 --> 00:35:51.539
 at the end of

00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:52.200
 the day, only

00:35:52.200 --> 00:35:52.920
 Jesus is

00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:53.240
 Jesus.

00:35:55.240 --> 00:35:56.000
 Samson's only

00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:56.620
 pointing us

00:35:56.620 --> 00:35:57.240
 forward to

00:35:57.240 --> 00:35:57.460
 him.

00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:00.720
 Samson was a

00:36:00.720 --> 00:36:01.280
 sinner like the

00:36:01.280 --> 00:36:01.880
 rest of us.

00:36:03.140 --> 00:36:03.880
 Jesus is the

00:36:03.880 --> 00:36:04.800
 eternal God who

00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:05.460
 Peter said

00:36:05.460 --> 00:36:06.539
 committed no

00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:07.539
 sin, neither

00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:08.440
 was deceit found

00:36:08.440 --> 00:36:08.980
 in his mouth.

00:36:10.380 --> 00:36:11.099
 But it's

00:36:11.099 --> 00:36:12.179
 Samson's death

00:36:12.179 --> 00:36:13.559
 that most

00:36:13.559 --> 00:36:14.179
 points us to

00:36:14.179 --> 00:36:14.460
 Jesus.

00:36:16.900 --> 00:36:17.679
 Both brought

00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:19.360
 salvation through

00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:21.360
 self-sacrificing

00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:22.159
 deaths.

00:36:23.019 --> 00:36:24.039
 But there is an

00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:25.139
 important distinction

00:36:25.139 --> 00:36:25.760
 that needs to be

00:36:25.760 --> 00:36:26.059
 made.

00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:28.720
 Samson got

00:36:28.720 --> 00:36:29.559
 himself into

00:36:29.559 --> 00:36:30.280
 that position

00:36:30.280 --> 00:36:31.840
 because he was

00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:32.460
 unfaithful to

00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:32.659
 God.

00:36:33.700 --> 00:36:34.200
 You know why

00:36:34.200 --> 00:36:35.639
 Samson was in

00:36:35.639 --> 00:36:36.720
 Gaza tied to two

00:36:36.719 --> 00:36:37.299
 pillars being

00:36:37.299 --> 00:36:37.959
 mocked without

00:36:37.959 --> 00:36:38.519
 his eyes?

00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:40.480
 Because Samson

00:36:40.480 --> 00:36:41.099
 blew it.

00:36:41.959 --> 00:36:42.659
 That was the

00:36:42.659 --> 00:36:43.199
 result of his

00:36:43.199 --> 00:36:43.739
 own sin.

00:36:45.259 --> 00:36:46.619
 He was crushed

00:36:46.619 --> 00:36:47.839
 for his sin.

00:36:49.139 --> 00:36:50.000
 Jesus was

00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:51.379
 crushed for

00:36:51.379 --> 00:36:53.039
 our sin.

00:36:54.179 --> 00:36:54.899
 That's the

00:36:54.899 --> 00:36:55.639
 distinction that

00:36:55.639 --> 00:36:56.359
 must be made.

00:36:57.519 --> 00:36:58.399
 Hear the words

00:36:58.399 --> 00:36:58.939
 of the prophet

00:36:58.939 --> 00:37:00.059
 from Isaiah 53.

00:37:01.359 --> 00:37:02.159
 Surely he has

00:37:02.159 --> 00:37:03.059
 borne our griefs

00:37:03.059 --> 00:37:03.699
 and carried our

00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:04.259
 sorrows.

00:37:05.159 --> 00:37:05.939
 Yet we esteemed

00:37:05.939 --> 00:37:06.539
 him stricken,

00:37:06.539 --> 00:37:07.579
 smitten by God

00:37:07.579 --> 00:37:08.259
 and afflicted.

00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:09.079
 But he was

00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:10.099
 pierced for our

00:37:10.099 --> 00:37:10.980
 transgressions.

00:37:11.619 --> 00:37:12.719
 He was crushed

00:37:12.719 --> 00:37:14.000
 for our

00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:14.699
 iniquities.

00:37:15.659 --> 00:37:16.579
 Upon him was

00:37:16.579 --> 00:37:17.480
 the chastisement

00:37:17.480 --> 00:37:18.119
 that brought us

00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:18.559
 peace.

00:37:18.840 --> 00:37:19.559
 And with his

00:37:19.559 --> 00:37:20.900
 wounds we are

00:37:20.900 --> 00:37:21.279
 healed.

00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:23.599
 All we like

00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:24.300
 sheep have gone

00:37:24.300 --> 00:37:24.739
 astray.

00:37:25.380 --> 00:37:26.340
 We have turned

00:37:26.340 --> 00:37:28.099
 everyone to his

00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:28.779
 own way.

00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:30.119
 Just like

00:37:30.119 --> 00:37:30.559
 Samson.

00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:33.000
 And the Lord

00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:33.940
 has laid on

00:37:33.940 --> 00:37:35.219
 him the

00:37:35.219 --> 00:37:35.819
 iniquity of

00:37:35.819 --> 00:37:36.519
 all of us.

00:37:37.480 --> 00:37:38.099
 He was

00:37:38.099 --> 00:37:38.799
 oppressed and

00:37:38.799 --> 00:37:39.000
 he was

00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:40.019
 afflicted yet

00:37:40.019 --> 00:37:40.480
 he opened

00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:40.879
 not his

00:37:40.879 --> 00:37:41.179
 mouth.

00:37:41.799 --> 00:37:42.439
 Like a

00:37:42.439 --> 00:37:43.019
 lamb that

00:37:43.019 --> 00:37:43.679
 is led to

00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:44.219
 the slaughter.

00:37:44.599 --> 00:37:44.939
 Like a

00:37:44.939 --> 00:37:45.500
 sheep that

00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:46.139
 before its

00:37:46.139 --> 00:37:46.980
 shearers is

00:37:46.980 --> 00:37:47.959
 silent he

00:37:47.959 --> 00:37:48.639
 opened not

00:37:48.639 --> 00:37:49.239
 his mouth.

00:37:50.259 --> 00:37:51.379
 By oppression

00:37:51.379 --> 00:37:52.500
 and judgment

00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:53.219
 he was taken

00:37:53.219 --> 00:37:53.659
 away.

00:37:54.099 --> 00:37:54.739
 And as for

00:37:54.739 --> 00:37:55.619
 his generation

00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:56.959
 who considered

00:37:56.959 --> 00:37:57.539
 that he was

00:37:57.539 --> 00:37:58.679
 cut off out

00:37:58.679 --> 00:37:59.199
 of the land

00:37:59.199 --> 00:37:59.839
 of the living

00:37:59.839 --> 00:38:00.859
 stricken for

00:38:00.859 --> 00:38:01.619
 the transgression

00:38:01.619 --> 00:38:02.839
 of my people.

00:38:03.839 --> 00:38:04.259
 And they

00:38:04.259 --> 00:38:04.599
 made his

00:38:04.599 --> 00:38:05.099
 grave with

00:38:05.099 --> 00:38:05.460
 the wicked.

00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:06.819
 With a rich

00:38:06.819 --> 00:38:07.400
 man in his

00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:07.779
 death.

00:38:08.420 --> 00:38:09.039
 Although he

00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:09.779
 had done no

00:38:09.779 --> 00:38:11.019
 violence and

00:38:11.019 --> 00:38:11.659
 there was no

00:38:11.659 --> 00:38:12.519
 deceit in his

00:38:12.519 --> 00:38:12.920
 mouth.

00:38:14.319 --> 00:38:15.179
 Yet it was

00:38:15.179 --> 00:38:15.900
 the will of

00:38:15.900 --> 00:38:17.480
 Yahweh to

00:38:17.480 --> 00:38:18.339
 crush him.

00:38:20.279 --> 00:38:21.980
 He has put

00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:22.380
 him to

00:38:22.380 --> 00:38:22.719
 grief.

00:38:24.500 --> 00:38:25.420
 And when his

00:38:25.420 --> 00:38:26.239
 soul makes an

00:38:26.239 --> 00:38:26.900
 offering for

00:38:26.900 --> 00:38:28.699
 guilt he shall

00:38:28.699 --> 00:38:29.219
 see his

00:38:29.219 --> 00:38:29.619
 offspring.

00:38:29.619 --> 00:38:31.339
 He shall

00:38:31.339 --> 00:38:32.039
 prolong his

00:38:32.039 --> 00:38:32.380
 days.

00:38:32.500 --> 00:38:32.779
 This is

00:38:32.779 --> 00:38:33.400
 resurrection.

00:38:33.639 --> 00:38:34.460
 The will of

00:38:34.460 --> 00:38:35.279
 the Lord shall

00:38:35.279 --> 00:38:36.059
 prosper in his

00:38:36.059 --> 00:38:36.380
 hand.

00:38:36.819 --> 00:38:37.099
 Out of the

00:38:37.099 --> 00:38:37.900
 anguish of

00:38:37.900 --> 00:38:38.759
 his soul he

00:38:38.759 --> 00:38:39.559
 shall see and

00:38:39.559 --> 00:38:40.299
 be satisfied.

00:38:40.940 --> 00:38:41.339
 By his

00:38:41.339 --> 00:38:42.199
 knowledge shall

00:38:42.199 --> 00:38:42.719
 the righteous

00:38:42.719 --> 00:38:43.299
 one my

00:38:43.299 --> 00:38:44.480
 servant make

00:38:44.480 --> 00:38:45.279
 many to be

00:38:45.279 --> 00:38:45.679
 accounted

00:38:45.679 --> 00:38:46.199
 righteous.

00:38:47.219 --> 00:38:47.539
 And he

00:38:47.539 --> 00:38:48.099
 shall bear

00:38:48.099 --> 00:38:49.039
 their iniquities.

00:38:49.900 --> 00:38:50.679
 Therefore I

00:38:50.679 --> 00:38:51.559
 will divide him

00:38:51.559 --> 00:38:52.380
 a portion with

00:38:52.380 --> 00:38:53.199
 the many and

00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:54.099
 he shall divide

00:38:54.099 --> 00:38:55.019
 the spoil with

00:38:55.019 --> 00:38:56.159
 the strong because

00:38:56.159 --> 00:38:57.019
 he poured out

00:38:57.019 --> 00:38:57.960
 his soul to

00:38:57.960 --> 00:38:59.159
 death and was

00:38:59.159 --> 00:38:59.920
 numbered with

00:38:59.920 --> 00:39:01.019
 the transgressors.

00:39:01.379 --> 00:39:02.359
 Yet he bore the

00:39:02.359 --> 00:39:04.579
 sin of many and

00:39:04.579 --> 00:39:05.639
 makes intercession

00:39:05.639 --> 00:39:06.679
 for the

00:39:06.679 --> 00:39:07.559
 transgressors.

00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:09.339
 Samson was

00:39:09.339 --> 00:39:10.239
 crushed for his

00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:10.819
 own sin.

00:39:11.679 --> 00:39:12.359
 Jesus was

00:39:12.359 --> 00:39:13.879
 crushed for

00:39:13.879 --> 00:39:14.480
 our sin.

00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:16.699
 And the

00:39:16.699 --> 00:39:17.799
 resurrection bit

00:39:17.799 --> 00:39:19.059
 is perhaps the

00:39:19.059 --> 00:39:19.699
 most important

00:39:19.699 --> 00:39:20.039
 bit.

00:39:21.500 --> 00:39:22.519
 Death had no

00:39:22.519 --> 00:39:23.119
 claim on

00:39:23.119 --> 00:39:25.099
 Jesus because

00:39:25.099 --> 00:39:25.879
 Jesus never

00:39:25.879 --> 00:39:26.599
 sinned.

00:39:26.599 --> 00:39:27.599
 sin.

00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:28.940
 How could he

00:39:28.940 --> 00:39:29.619
 never sin?

00:39:31.559 --> 00:39:32.440
 Because he's

00:39:32.440 --> 00:39:34.339
 God who

00:39:34.339 --> 00:39:35.179
 cannot sin.

00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:37.699
 And his

00:39:37.699 --> 00:39:38.579
 crucifixion

00:39:38.579 --> 00:39:40.380
 absorbed the

00:39:40.380 --> 00:39:41.259
 wrath of God

00:39:41.259 --> 00:39:41.980
 that was meant

00:39:41.980 --> 00:39:43.219
 for us.

00:39:44.579 --> 00:39:45.799
 He lived the

00:39:45.799 --> 00:39:46.559
 life we were

00:39:46.559 --> 00:39:47.299
 meant to live.

00:39:47.539 --> 00:39:48.239
 He lived the

00:39:48.239 --> 00:39:49.319
 life Samson was

00:39:49.319 --> 00:39:50.099
 meant to live.

00:39:51.380 --> 00:39:52.659
 And he died the

00:39:52.659 --> 00:39:53.199
 death we

00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:54.219
 deserve to die.

00:39:54.219 --> 00:39:57.500
 And then God

00:39:57.500 --> 00:39:58.119
 raised him.

00:39:59.119 --> 00:39:59.959
 And why did

00:39:59.959 --> 00:40:00.739
 God raise him?

00:40:01.239 --> 00:40:03.279
 To show that

00:40:03.279 --> 00:40:04.599
 his sacrifice on

00:40:04.599 --> 00:40:05.919
 the cross was

00:40:05.919 --> 00:40:07.679
 sufficient to

00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:08.279
 forgive our

00:40:08.279 --> 00:40:08.799
 sins.

00:40:10.399 --> 00:40:11.639
 And then Christ

00:40:11.639 --> 00:40:12.339
 graciously,

00:40:12.859 --> 00:40:14.379
 lovingly, the

00:40:14.379 --> 00:40:14.959
 Lord of all

00:40:14.959 --> 00:40:15.539
 creation,

00:40:16.339 --> 00:40:17.939
 turns and he

00:40:17.939 --> 00:40:19.799
 invites you to

00:40:19.799 --> 00:40:21.219
 receive this life

00:40:21.219 --> 00:40:22.559
 through faith in

00:40:22.559 --> 00:40:23.420
 what he's done.

00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:27.619
 Not to earn it

00:40:27.619 --> 00:40:28.980
 by being the

00:40:28.980 --> 00:40:29.880
 anti-Samson.

00:40:30.940 --> 00:40:32.199
 To receive it in

00:40:32.199 --> 00:40:33.019
 the same way that

00:40:33.019 --> 00:40:34.159
 Samson received it.

00:40:35.659 --> 00:40:36.619
 As a sinner

00:40:36.619 --> 00:40:38.259
 with no hope.

00:40:39.119 --> 00:40:40.320
 But with faith in

00:40:40.320 --> 00:40:42.059
 the one who is

00:40:42.059 --> 00:40:42.799
 the true Savior.

00:40:43.860 --> 00:40:45.139
 Who has done what

00:40:45.139 --> 00:40:45.960
 no other Savior

00:40:45.960 --> 00:40:46.659
 could ever do.

00:40:48.119 --> 00:40:49.279
 And he invites us

00:40:49.279 --> 00:40:49.940
 to it freely.

00:40:49.940 --> 00:40:52.599
 come to me

00:40:52.599 --> 00:40:54.559
 and I will

00:40:54.559 --> 00:40:54.980
 give you

00:40:54.980 --> 00:40:55.700
 rest

00:40:55.700 --> 00:40:57.300
 and I will

00:40:57.300 --> 00:40:58.119
 never cast you

00:40:58.119 --> 00:40:58.400
 out.

00:40:59.700 --> 00:41:00.260
 Sin against me

00:41:00.260 --> 00:41:00.860
 every day of your

00:41:00.860 --> 00:41:01.179
 life.

00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:02.200
 I won't let you

00:41:02.200 --> 00:41:02.420
 go.

00:41:03.139 --> 00:41:04.059
 I won't cast you

00:41:04.059 --> 00:41:04.320
 out.

00:41:05.159 --> 00:41:05.860
 Because you're

00:41:05.860 --> 00:41:06.119
 mine.

00:41:07.559 --> 00:41:08.320
 Because the

00:41:08.320 --> 00:41:09.360
 price that I

00:41:09.360 --> 00:41:09.900
 paid on the

00:41:09.900 --> 00:41:10.659
 cross was not

00:41:10.659 --> 00:41:11.360
 just the price

00:41:11.360 --> 00:41:11.900
 for the sins

00:41:11.900 --> 00:41:12.420
 you've committed

00:41:12.420 --> 00:41:13.220
 up to the

00:41:13.220 --> 00:41:14.039
 moment of your

00:41:14.039 --> 00:41:14.639
 faith.

00:41:15.440 --> 00:41:16.280
 But even for

00:41:16.280 --> 00:41:16.860
 the sins that

00:41:16.860 --> 00:41:17.300
 you commit

00:41:17.300 --> 00:41:17.639
 after.

00:41:17.639 --> 00:41:19.420
 And what a

00:41:19.420 --> 00:41:20.219
 glorious gospel

00:41:20.219 --> 00:41:20.699
 that is.

00:41:20.699 --> 00:41:20.699


00:41:20.699 --> 00:41:20.699