Capitol City Church
Samson: Desire, Destruction & Destiny
Thank you for joining us today as we conclude our series on the Life of Jonah.
Locations & Times
Capitol City Church
5990 NE 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50313, USA
Sunday 8:15 AM
Sunday 10:45 AM
Welcome to Capitol City
We know there are a lot of places you could be today, so we appreciate you joining us at Capitol City Church. If you are a guest, please take a minute to fill out the card in the seat back in front of you and turn it in to the Information Center for a free gift. We are so glad you joined us today.
We know there are a lot of places you could be today, so we appreciate you joining us at Capitol City Church. If you are a guest, please take a minute to fill out the card in the seat back in front of you and turn it in to the Information Center for a free gift. We are so glad you joined us today.
Three people sitting in your chair right now:
1. The person you are now
2. The one you could be - with God
3. The one the devil wants you to be
1. The person you are now
2. The one you could be - with God
3. The one the devil wants you to be
Judges
The period of the judges ran from the end of Joshua’s leadership to the ministry of Samuel.
About 3000 years ago, the land of Israel was ruled by a succession of judges, rather than kings. There were 15 people who served as judges:
1. Othniel
2. Ehud
3. Shamgar
4. Deborah
5. Gideon
6. Abimelech
7. Tola
8. Jair
9. Jephthah
10. Ibzan
11. Elon
12. Abdon
13. Samson
14. Eli
15. Samuel
The period of the judges ran from the end of Joshua’s leadership to the ministry of Samuel.
About 3000 years ago, the land of Israel was ruled by a succession of judges, rather than kings. There were 15 people who served as judges:
1. Othniel
2. Ehud
3. Shamgar
4. Deborah
5. Gideon
6. Abimelech
7. Tola
8. Jair
9. Jephthah
10. Ibzan
11. Elon
12. Abdon
13. Samson
14. Eli
15. Samuel
Samson's Story
Samson had superhuman strength and a sharp mind. He enjoyed riddles, and was passionate! However, he struggled with his temper, was motivated by lust and violated his Nazarite vows.
He was an enemy of the Philistines and proved to be an effective warrior, killing many enemies of the Jews.
Delilah captured Samson’s heart and her attempts to destroy Samson were ultimately effective. Samson never appeared to “catch on” or to care about her efforts. He followed his heart, was controlled by his passion and ignored his commitment to God
Ultimately he found himself weak, imprisoned and asking God for one more chance – literally dying to kill his enemies.
Samson had superhuman strength and a sharp mind. He enjoyed riddles, and was passionate! However, he struggled with his temper, was motivated by lust and violated his Nazarite vows.
He was an enemy of the Philistines and proved to be an effective warrior, killing many enemies of the Jews.
Delilah captured Samson’s heart and her attempts to destroy Samson were ultimately effective. Samson never appeared to “catch on” or to care about her efforts. He followed his heart, was controlled by his passion and ignored his commitment to God
Ultimately he found himself weak, imprisoned and asking God for one more chance – literally dying to kill his enemies.
Background on Samson
The story of Samson begins in Judges 13. His father, Manoah (from the southern tribe of Dan), is married to an unnamed woman who is unable to
have children. Through a visit from an angel, Samson’s mom learned she would become pregnant. She immediately told her husband, but Maniah did not believe her. He asked God for the angel to return and tell him personally. God grants his request and the angel returned with the same message (this time to both of them) and some additional prenatal instructions.
Samson was dedicated to God before he was born. He was going to be a Nazarite – a person with a high commitment to God. The vow of a Nazarite involved these three things: (1) abstinence from wine and strong drink, (2)
refraining from cutting the hair off the head during the whole period of the
continuance of the vow, and (3) the avoidance of contact with the dead.
Since Samson was assigned the vow of Nazarite, his mother had to abide by the vow while she was pregnant.
Judges 13:5 communicates Samson’s purpose. He was intended to “begin” to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines. The wording in the passage foreshadows Samson’s failure later in his life.
The Bible says that as Samson grew he was stirred by the Spirit of God. He showed all the signs of a faithful biblical leader but he had a fatal flaw. He was attracted to foreign (non-Christian) women.
The story of Samson begins in Judges 13. His father, Manoah (from the southern tribe of Dan), is married to an unnamed woman who is unable to
have children. Through a visit from an angel, Samson’s mom learned she would become pregnant. She immediately told her husband, but Maniah did not believe her. He asked God for the angel to return and tell him personally. God grants his request and the angel returned with the same message (this time to both of them) and some additional prenatal instructions.
Samson was dedicated to God before he was born. He was going to be a Nazarite – a person with a high commitment to God. The vow of a Nazarite involved these three things: (1) abstinence from wine and strong drink, (2)
refraining from cutting the hair off the head during the whole period of the
continuance of the vow, and (3) the avoidance of contact with the dead.
Since Samson was assigned the vow of Nazarite, his mother had to abide by the vow while she was pregnant.
Judges 13:5 communicates Samson’s purpose. He was intended to “begin” to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines. The wording in the passage foreshadows Samson’s failure later in his life.
The Bible says that as Samson grew he was stirred by the Spirit of God. He showed all the signs of a faithful biblical leader but he had a fatal flaw. He was attracted to foreign (non-Christian) women.
Background on The Philistines
The Philistines were sworn enemies and fiercest rivals of Israel. They were made up of people from Greece, the Aegean Islands and Eastern Anatolia. They migrated to Canaan about the same time that the Jews did.
The Philistines were organized into a series of city-states that dominated the Palestinian seacoast. There were five cities that controlled the area – Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron, Ashdod and Gath. Three of Samson’s favorite places were dominated by the Philistines – Timnah, Lehi and the Valley of Sorek.
The Philistines relied on their agricultural skills and were very successful in their new home. In addition to agriculture, they were skilled iron workers and aggressively expanded their borders by any means necessary.
The Israelites and the Philistines co-existed. Sometimes they were peaceful, but they were often in conflict. The Bible says that God allowed the Philistines to live in Canaan to test the Jew’s commitment to God (Judges 3:1-4). They lived among the Israelites from about 1250 BCE to 965 BCE when King David finally defeated them.
The Philistines worshipped Dagon. Dagon was a god associated with good weather and bountiful harvests. The Philistines offered sacrifices to their gods and worshipped in Gaza and Ashdod.
The Philistines were sworn enemies and fiercest rivals of Israel. They were made up of people from Greece, the Aegean Islands and Eastern Anatolia. They migrated to Canaan about the same time that the Jews did.
The Philistines were organized into a series of city-states that dominated the Palestinian seacoast. There were five cities that controlled the area – Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron, Ashdod and Gath. Three of Samson’s favorite places were dominated by the Philistines – Timnah, Lehi and the Valley of Sorek.
The Philistines relied on their agricultural skills and were very successful in their new home. In addition to agriculture, they were skilled iron workers and aggressively expanded their borders by any means necessary.
The Israelites and the Philistines co-existed. Sometimes they were peaceful, but they were often in conflict. The Bible says that God allowed the Philistines to live in Canaan to test the Jew’s commitment to God (Judges 3:1-4). They lived among the Israelites from about 1250 BCE to 965 BCE when King David finally defeated them.
The Philistines worshipped Dagon. Dagon was a god associated with good weather and bountiful harvests. The Philistines offered sacrifices to their gods and worshipped in Gaza and Ashdod.
Samson’s gifts:
1) Strength
2) Passion
3) Intelligence
Samson’s weaknesses:
1) Ego
2) Lust
3) Self-reliance
1) Strength
2) Passion
3) Intelligence
Samson’s weaknesses:
1) Ego
2) Lust
3) Self-reliance
Samson Went Away
- Away from God’s People
- Away from God’s Plan
Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. - Judges 14:1
- Away from God’s People
- Away from God’s Plan
Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. - Judges 14:1
What does "away" look like?
Wrong People: Philistines
So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife. - Judges 14:2
Wrong Places: Vineyard
So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. - Judges 14:5
Wrong Thoughts: Foreign women
7 Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. - Judges 14:7
Wrong Things: Carcass
After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. - Judges 14:8
Wrong People: Philistines
So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife. - Judges 14:2
Wrong Places: Vineyard
So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. - Judges 14:5
Wrong Thoughts: Foreign women
7 Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. - Judges 14:7
Wrong Things: Carcass
After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. - Judges 14:8
Away: Hurts the people closest to us and God holds us responsible
He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion. - Judges 14:9
He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion. - Judges 14:9
Vision: Seeing our purpose and “selling out” to God.
“Delaying gratification is a process of scheduling the pain and pleasure of
life in such a way as to enhance the pleasure by meeting and experiencing the pain first and getting it over with.” - The Road Less Traveled, Scott Peck
In addition to delaying gratification, vision demands that we make important decisions in advance.
For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. - 2 Chronicles 16:9
“Delaying gratification is a process of scheduling the pain and pleasure of
life in such a way as to enhance the pleasure by meeting and experiencing the pain first and getting it over with.” - The Road Less Traveled, Scott Peck
In addition to delaying gratification, vision demands that we make important decisions in advance.
For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. - 2 Chronicles 16:9
Give Online
We believe that giving is an expression of worship and thankfulness. It's our privilege to return to God a portion of what He's asked us to manage. Use the link below to visit the secure online giving page on our website.
http://capitolcitychurch.com/giveVacation Bible School
VBS is coming up July 17th - 21st from 6:00 - 8:30 pm. If you haven't registered your child/children yet, take a moment to visit the VBS web page to complete the registration.
It's going to take a lot of people to make this a successful event and we need your help. If you can volunteer to help out with VBS, please contact Bill@capcitymail.com.
http://www.capitolcitychurch.com/vbsIt's going to take a lot of people to make this a successful event and we need your help. If you can volunteer to help out with VBS, please contact Bill@capcitymail.com.