Lesson 21 :  Samson (Judges 13-16) 
 
Introduction: Time and again during the period of the Judges, Israel 
did evil in the sight of the Lord. "Again the children of Israel did 
evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the 
hand of the Philistines for forty years" (Judges 13:1).  "In those 
days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his 
own eyes." (Judges 21:25).  God chose Samson to deliver Israel out 
of the hand of the Philistines. 
 
 
I. Deliverer 
 
	A. Samson's parents were to take special care prior to and 
	   after his birth. He was to be a Nazarite (consecrated 
	   unto God) from the womb until his death (Jud. 13:7,13,14). 
	B. "So the woman bore a son, and called his name Samson; 
	   and the child grew and the Lord blessed him" (Jud. 13:24). 
	C. Samson was set apart as an instrument of the Lord to 
	   "begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Phil-
	   istines" (Jud. 13:5). 
 
	Principles:      
		1. Parents are to take special care in rearing 
		   their children. 
		2. The Lord has blessed us (Eph. 1:3). 
		3. From the beginning, men have been chosen and 
		   separated to serve the Lord.  It is so with 
		   Christians today. 
 
 
II. Character 
 
	A. Samson rejected the advice of his parents. "Then 
	   his father and mother said to him, 'Is there no woman 
	   among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my 
	   people, that you must go and get a wife from the un-
	   circumcised Philistines?' And Samson said to his 
	   father, 'Get her for me, for she pleases me well.'" 
	   (Jud. 14:3). 
	B. Yielding to the flesh, Samson went unto a harlot 
	   (Jud. 16:1). 
	C. Samson's uncontroled desire for women resulted in his 
	   downfall (Jud. 16:4-21). He loved Delilah, and she be-
	   trayed him for money. 
	D. Lacking in character as evidenced above, Samson did not 
	   respond favorably to the honor of being chosen by the Lord. 
 
       Principles:  
		1. We should heed sound advice especially that 
		   received from God- fearing parents. 
		2. God's children are to hear and obey Him. 
		3. Christians are to exercise self control (Gal. 5:23). 
		4. God hates a lying tongue (Prov. 6:17). 
 
 
III. Limited Success 
 
	A. Samson was a man of unbridled passion, lacking self 
	   control and as a result failed miserably in responding 
	   to the honor of being chosen by the Lord to deliver 
	   Israel from the Philistines. 
 
	Principle: Putting our own interests before those of the 
		   Lord will result in our failing to respond 
		   faithfully to the honor of being chosen by 
		   the Lord. 
 
Questions: 
 
 1. What can we do to ensure our children are set apart for God's 
    service? 
 2. Define consecration, sanctification, saint, holy, and hallowed. 
 3. How does God bless us? 
 4. Does God bless men through men?  Explain. 
 5. Are Christians sanctified? Cite scripture. 
 6. Was God responsible for Samson's tricks?  For the selection of 
    his Philistine wife? Explain. 
 7. Will we accomplish more if we remain holy, fit, sanctified?  
    Explain. 
 8. How might we compare Samson with Esau? 
 9. The life of a Christian is one of separation. Explain.