Lesson#17

RETURN TO SYLLABUS
JUDGES 16
LESSON #17
SAMSON’S HAIRCUT

MEMORY VERSE: ROM 1:16

PROPHETIC MESSAGES AND FULFILLED EVENTS:

IN JDG 14:5-9 WE LEARNED ABOUT THE INCIDENT WHERE SAMSON KILLED A LION WITH HIS BARE HANDS AND LATER FOUND HONEY INSIDE THE DEAD LION.

IN OUR LAST LESSON, WE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A SPIRITUAL MESSAGE BEHIND THIS EVENT:

THE LION REPRESENTED SATAN WHO WOULD DEVOUR AND DESTROY WHILE THE HONEY REPRESENTED SWEET, WORLDLY PLEASURES.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE OTHER MESSAGES IN THIS EVENT WHICH HAVE PROPHETIC ASPECTS REGARDING THE TRIBES OF JUDAH AND DAN:

THE LION WAS A SYMBOL FOR THE TRIBE OF JUDAH THROUGH WHICH THE MESSIAH WOULD COME.
THE BEES THAT PRODUCED THE HONEY WERE A SYMBOL USED FOR THE TRIBE OF DAN FROM WHICH SAMSON CAME.

THERE WAS A RIVALRY BETWEEN THE TRIBE OF JUDAH AND THE TRIBE OF DAN AS TO WHICH TRIBE WOULD PRODUCE THE MESSIAH. IN OTHER WORDS THE MESSAGE IS THAT THE LIVING BEES (DAN) WOULD REPLACE THE DEAD LION (JUDAH) TO PRODUCE THE SWEETNESS OF THE MESSIAH’S KINGDOM.

HOWEVER, THE TRIBE OF DAN FAILED TO WRESTLE THE LAND AWAY FROM THE PHILISTINES, NEAR THE TRIBE OF JUDAH IN THE SOUTH, BECAUSE OF SAMSON’S FAILURE AGAINST THE PHILISTINES.

IT IS THOUGHT THAT JUDAS ISCARIOT WAS FROM THE TRIBE OF DAN (THOUGH NOT STATED IN SCRIPTURE). AND THAT THE ANTICHRIST OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD WOULD PROBABLY COME FROM THE TRIBE OF DAN.

THE BABYLONIAN SYMBOL OF A LION WITH A BEE IN ITS MOUTH ILLUSTRATED MYTHRA, THE BABYLONIAN SUN GOD.

THEREFORE, HONEY IN THE CARCASS OF A LION WAS A BABYLONIAN ILLUSTRATION THAT GIVES US THE MESSAGE OF A PRETENDER TO CHRIST’S THRONE, THE COMING ANTICHRIST.

THE ANTICHRIST AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH MYSTERY BABYLON IN REV 17 AND 18 TO GAIN WORLD POWER IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE HONEY IN THE DEAD LION.

READ JDG 16:1-3 SAMSON’S WEAKNESS

SAMSON WAS A WEAK MAN WHEN HE WAS NOT FOLLOWING GOD’S GUIDANCE. EVEN THOUGH GOD ANOINTED HIM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT FOUR TIMES, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS CALLED BY GOD, AND EVEN THOUGH HE WAS GIVEN GREAT PHYSICAL STRENGTH, MORALLY, HE WAS WEAK.

SAMSON’S SOURCE OF WEAKNESS WAS THAT HE WAS ALWAYS WANDERING INTO ENEMY TERRITORY.

AGAIN, HE SETS HIMSELF UP FOR FAILURE BY DOING THIS. (THIS WAS A REPEAT OF SET UP #1 THAT WE SAW IN LESSON #15).

SAMSON’S GREATEST WEAKNESS WAS HIS LUST FOR WOMEN.

=1= HE LUSTED AFTER A PHILISTINE WOMAN AND MARRIED HER. (14:1-3)
=2= HE LUSTED AFTER A PHILISTINE PROSTITUTE. (16:1)

THE GAZITES ARE THE PHILISTINES WHO LIVED IN THE CITY OF GAZA. (2)
SAMSON ESCAPED FROM THE PHILISTINES BY TEARING DOWN THE CITY GATES AND CARRYING THEM TO A HILL JUST OUTSIDE OF GAZA.

=3= HE LUSTED AFTER DELILAH, A PHILISTINE WOMAN. (16:4)

THE NAME, DELILAH, MEANS = A DEVOTEE, OR WITH LONG HAIR HANGING DOWN.

THIS IS A SEMITIC NAME THAT MAY INDICATE SHE WAS ALSO A PROSTITUTE.

READ JDG 16:4-17 SAMSON’S GREAT TEST

THE PHILISTINES BRIBED DELILAH IN ORDER TO GAIN INFORMATION ABOUT SAMSON’S GREAT STRENGTH. THE BRIBE AMOUNTS TO THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
THE NATURE OF TEMPTATION:

READ 1JOH 2:16-17

ALL TEMPTATIONS FALL INTO THREE CATEGORIES:

THE LUST OF THE FLESH.
THE LUST OF THE EYE.
THE PRIDE OF LIFE.

NOTICE SAMSON’S TEMPTATIONS ARE THREE-FOLD BEFORE HE GIVES HER THE ANSWER.

THE FIRST TEST: (6-7)

SEVEN GREEN CORDS

THESE WERE FRESH BOWSTRINGS MADE FROM THE INTESTINES OF ANIMALS.

THE SECOND TEST : (11)

NEW ROPES

THIS HAD ALREADY BEEN ATTEMPTED IN JDG 15:13.

THE THIRD TEST: (13)

SEVEN LOCKS OF HIS HAIR WOVEN INTO A FABRIC WITH A LOOM.

NOTICE THE NUMBER 7 IN TWO OF THE TESTS:

SEVEN IS A SYMBOLIC NUMBER INDICATING COMPLETENESS OR GOD’S PERFECT NUMBER.

READ JDG 16:18-22 SAMSON’S DOWNFALL

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SAMSON’S HAIR:

SAMSON’S POWER WAS NOT BECAUSE HE HAD LONG HAIR. THERE WAS NOTHING MAGIC ABOUT HIS HAIR. IN REALITY HIS HAIR HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS STRENGTH. HE WAS STRONG BECAUSE GOD WAS WITH HIM.

REMEMBER THAT THE NAZARITE VOW WAS A COMMITMENT OF A DEDICATED RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT HAD OUTWARD PHYSICAL RESTRICTIONS. THE THREE ASPECTS OF THE VOW ARE SYMBOLIC OF A COMMITMENT TO THE HOLY TRINITY, GOD, THE FATHER; JESUS, THE SON; AND GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT.

SAMSON HAD ALREADY BROKEN HIS NAZARITE VOW WHEN HE WENT TO A VINEYARD AND WHEN HE DRANK AT HIS FIRST WEDDING.
SAMSON HAD ALREADY BROKEN HIS NAZARITE VOW WHEN HE TOUCHED A DEAD LION TO OBTAIN HONEY FROM ITS CARCASS.
WHEN SAMSON’S HAIR WAS CUT, IT MEANT A FINAL AND COMPLETE CUTTING AWAY OF HIS COMMITMENT TO THE HOLY TRINITY.

THERE IS A PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE CONCERNING SAMSON’S HAIR AND EYES:

SAMSON IS A SYMBOL OR PREFIGURE OF THE HISTORY OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL.

SAMSON	THE NATION OF ISRAEL
SAMSON WAS CALLED BY GOD TO PERFORM A TASK FOR GOD.	ISRAEL WAS CALLED BY GOD TO PERFORM A TASK FOR GOD.
HE WAS TO BE A NAZARITE DEDICATED TO GOD TO FREE GOD’S PEOPLE FROM THE PAGAN GENTILES. (THE PHILISTINES)	THEY WERE TO BE A PEOPLE DEDICATED TO GOD TO BE A LIGHT TO THE PAGAN GENTILES.
HE FAILED IN HIS COMMITMENT TO KEEP THE VOW.	THEY FAILED IN THEIR COMMITMENT KEEP THEIR FAITH.
GOD PERMITTED HIS ENEMIES TO PUT OUT HIS EYES SO HE WOULD LIVE IN DARKNESS. (PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY)	GOD PERMITTED SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS TO COME UPON THE JEWS.
GOD PERMITTED HIS ENEMIES TO MAKE HIM A WEAK SLAVE.	GOD PERMITTED ISRAEL’S ENEMIES TO ENSLAVE THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR HISTORY.
GOD PERMITS SAMSON TO REGAIN HIS STRENGTH AND ANOINTING IN THE END.	ONE FUTURE DAY, GOD WILL PERMIT ISRAEL TO REGAIN HER STRENGTH, HER POSITION AND ANOINTING AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION.

HUMAN TEMPTATION FALLS INTO THREE CATEGORIES, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE. (1JOH 2:16)

REMEMBER THAT SAMSON’S GREATEST TEMPTATION WAS WOMEN.

IN PRISON, HIS LUST OF THE FLESH FOR WOMEN IS BROKEN.
IN PRISON, HIS LUST OF THE EYES IS BROKEN BECAUSE THEY BLINDED HIM.

NOW HE CAN NO LONGER SEE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN.

IN PRISON, HIS LUST OF THE PRIDE OF LIFE IS BROKEN.

HE WAS A SPOILED CHILD, AND ALL THROUGH HIS LIFE HE THOUGHT HE WAS SPECIAL, NOT BOUND BY GOD’S LAWS. HE THOUGHT HE COULD HAVE ANY WOMAN HE WANTED.

NOW HIS PRIDE IS BROKEN. HE IS LIKE ANY OTHER PRISONER.

UNABLE TO SEE PHYSICALLY, SAMSON CAN NOW PAY MORE ATTENTION TO SPIRITUAL SIGHT. HE HAS A MORE REPENTANT ATTITUDE.

IN PRISON, HIS HAIR BEGINS TO GROW AND HIS STRENGTH BEGINS TO RETURN.

REMEMBER THAT HIS STRENGTH IS NOT IN HIS HAIR BUT IN GOD. THE HAIR IS ONLY A SYMBOL OF HIS NAZARITE VOW RELATIONSHIP TO GOD.

READ JDG 16:23-31

THE PHILISTINES ATTRIBUTED THEIR VICTORY OVER SAMSON TO THEIR GOD, DAGON.

DAGON WAS A WEST SEMITIC GRAIN DEITY THAT THE PHILISTINES ADOPTED FROM THE AMORITES.
DURING A NATIONAL CELEBRATION DEDICATED TO DAGON IN DAGON’S TEMPLE, SAMSON SEES HIS OPPORTUNITY TO FULFILL GOD’S CALLING ON HIS LIFE.

REMEMBER THAT A JUDGE WAS SUPPOSED TO DELIVER ISRAEL FROM HER ENEMIES. THAT WAS WHAT GOD CALLED SAMSON TO DO. HE HAD DONE LITTLE FOR GOD UP TO THIS POINT.

SAMSON’S FINAL FEAT FOR GOD:

WITH A FINAL BURST OF STRENGTH, SAMSON KNOCKS DOWN THE WHOLE TEMPLE OF DAGON CAUSING THE DEATH OF ABOUT 3,000 WORSHIPERS. (IT IS RATHER SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE TWIN TOWERS IN NEW YORK.)

DISCUSSION: IF SUICIDE IS WRONG, WHY DID GOD BLESS SAMSON FOR DOING IT BY PUTTING HIS NAME IN THE HALL OF FAITH IN HEB 11:32?

GOD HONORED SAMSON FOR FINALLY FULFILLING HIS PURPOSE IN LIFE. SAMSON HAD KILLED APPROXIMATELY 2,000 PHILISTINES PREVIOUSLY. IN HIS DEATH HE KILLED APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MORE PHILISTINES.

GOD IS NOT PLEASED WITH A PERSON WHO TAKES HIS LIFE IN SUICIDE BECAUSE OF PERSONAL PROBLEMS OR PERSONAL DESIRES.
GOD IS THE LORD OF A BELIEVER’S LIFE. WHEN YOU GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST, YOU GIVE HIM CONTROL OF IT. THAT MEANS HE MAKES THE DECISION OF WHEN TO BRING YOU HOME TO HEAVEN.

TECHNICALLY, SAMSON DID NOT COMMIT SUICIDE. HE GAVE HIS LIFE IN SACRIFICE TO FULFILL GOD’S PURPOSE FOR HIM.

NOTICE THAT SAMSON PRAYED FOR GOD TO GIVE HIM THE STRENGTH TO BRING DOWN THE TEMPLE. IN GRANTING HIS REQUEST, GOD WAS IN CONTROL OF SAMSON’S LIFE.

AN EVALUATION OF SAMSON’S LIFE AS A PREFIGURE FOR CHRIST BY COMPARISON:

SAMSON	JESUS CHRIST
HIS BIRTH WAS ANNOUNCED BY A HEAVENLY MESSENGER	HIS BIRTH WAS ANNOUNCED BY A HEAVENLY ANGEL
HE WAS SEPARATED UNTO GOD FROM HIS BIRTH (DEDICATED TO SERVE GOD)	HE WAS SEPARATED UNTO GOD FROM HIS BIRTH (DEDICATED TO SERVE GOD)
SAMSON WAS A NAZARITE	JESUS CHRIST WAS A NAZARENE
HE MOVED IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT	HE MOVED IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
HE WAS REJECTED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE	HE WAS REJECTED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE
HE DESTROYED HIS ENEMIES	HE WILL DESTROY HIS ENEMIES AT THE SECOND COMING
HE PRAYED AT THE END OF HIS LIFE TO FULFILL GOD’S PURPOSE	HE PRAYED IN THE GARDEN FOR GOD TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE

AN EVALUATION OF SAMSON’S LIFE AS A PREFIGURE OF CHRIST BY CONTRAST:

SAMSON	JESUS CHRIST
HE LIVED A LIFE OF LUST AND SIN	HE LIVED A SINLESS LIFE
HE PRAYED AT THE END OF HIS LIFE FOR VENGEANCE AGAINST HIS ENEMIES	HE PRAYED AT THE END OF HIS LIFE FOR FORGIVENESS OF HIS ENEMIES
IN DEATH SAMSON’S ARMS WERE OUTSTRETCHED IN WRATH	IN DEATH JESUS’ ARMS WERE OUTSTRETCHED IN LOVE
SAMSON DIED	JESUS CHRIST LIVES

APPLICATION:

IF WE HOLD OUR LIVES UP TO THAT OF SAMSON AND TO THAT OF JESUS, WE CAN GAIN A GOOD PERSPECTIVE OF WHERE WE ARE IN LIVING UP TO OUR POTENTIAL AND PURPOSE IN GOD’S PLAN FOR OUR LIVES.

IF WE CONSIDER THAT STRENGTH AND POWER COME FROM GOD THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO TAKE HIS POWER FOR GRANTED AS SAMSON DID.

WE HAVE CONSIDERED HOW SAMSON SET HIMSELF UP FOR FAILURE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IN THIS CHAPTER WE SEE THE FINAL SETUP FOR FAILURE.

SAMSON SET HIMSELF UP FOR FAILURE WHEN PRIDE GOT THE BEST OF HIM. HE THOUGHT HE COULD GET AWAY WITH HIS IMMORAL COMPROMISES WITH SIN.

A REVIEW OF SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR FAILURE:

SET UP #1 = STAY AWAY FROM ENEMY TERRITORY AND GOD’S PERMISSIVE WILL.
SET UP #2 = KEEP YOUR COMMITMENT TO GOD AS YOUR TOP PRIORITY.
SET UP #3 = HEED GOD’S SPIRITUAL WARNINGS.
SET UP #4 = DON’T LET PRIDE CONVINCE YOU THAT YOU ARE EXEMPT FROM GOD’S CHASTISEMENT.

HOMEWORK
JUDGES 17 AND 18
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.

APPLICATION OF JDG 16

IN WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR FAILURE?
PRAY AND ASK GOD FOR FORGIVENESS AND STRENGTH TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE AND PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.

PREPARATION FOR JDG 17 AND 18

READ JDG 17:1-13

THIS PASSAGE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE THOUGHT PROCESSES AND PRACTICES OF THE PEOPLE DURING THE WHOLE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES.

WHAT SPECIFIC THINGS OF INTEREST DO YOU NOTICE THAT GIVES US THE DESCRIPTION OF THE WHOLE PERIOD?

READ JDG 18:1-31

WHAT SPECIFIC THINGS DO YOU NOTICE WHICH WERE A VIOLATION OF GOD’S COMMANDS IN THE MOSAIC LAW?

MEMORY VERSE: 2THE 2:3