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.

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.

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.

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.

Samson’s Slide

SECRETS - Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

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

Samson’s Slide

SECRETS

PRIDE - A feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements.

Then Samson said to them, “Let me pose a riddle to you. If you can correctly solve and explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.
Judges 14:12

Samson’s Slide

SECRETS
PRIDE

REVENGE - The action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands.

And Samson said to them, “This time I shall be blameless regarding the Philistines if I harm them!”
Judges 15:3

Samson’s Slide

SECRETS
PRIDE
REVENGE

EXCUSES - An attempt to lessen the blame attached to a fault or offense; seek to defend or justify.

Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, “Do you not know that the Philistines rule over us? What is this you have done to us?” And he said to them, “As they did to me, so I have done to them.”
Judges 15:11

Two Ways to Live:

We can live to satisfy the superficial and temporary: secrets, pride, revenge and excuses

OR

We can live to find true happiness and our true selves



We can live for the approval of other people

OR

We can live from the approval of God

Two Things to Know:

- We serve a God who makes weak people strong and Satan wants
to make strong people weak.

- If we let our deepest needs drive us to God, God will meet our deepest needs.