UNCONSCIOUS LOSS

JUDGES 16:2

A. "AND SHE SAID, THE PHILISTINES BE UPON THEE, SAMSON. AND HE AWOKE OUT OF HIS SLEEP, AND SAID, I WILL GO OUT AS AT OTHER TIMES BEFORE, AND SHAKE MYSELF. AND HE WIST NOT THAT THE LORD WAS DEPARTED FROM HIM."
  1. The story of Samson must rank among the most colorful in sacred history:
    1. The announcement of his birth.
    2. Samson's childhood training.
    3. His exploits among his enemies.
  2. His tragic ending brings sadness to our hearts:
B. LET US CONSIDER THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SAMSON AND THE LESSON IT HAS FOR US
  1. Samson before:
    1. Samson had an exceptional background, equal to that of many other Bible heroes.
    2. We think of his birth - "Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death." Judg. 13:7
  2. Thus we see that his life had been planned before he was born:
    1. Definite responsibilities rested upon his parents in bringing him up according to God's plan.
    2. He received his early training in the God-fearing home of his parents - Prov. 22:6
    3. The Holy Spirit used him to do exploits for God.
  3. But Samson went down four times and came to a tragic end:
    1. "And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines" - Judg. 14:1
    2. He married a nonbeliever, contrary to his parents' wishes and God's counsel - Judg. 14:3; Deut. 7:4
    3. But he was destined to be bitterly disappointed.
  4. The Philistines gave him plenty company.
  5. Lost his wife to another - Judg. 14; 15
  6. He went down the second time:
    1. He saw an harlot at Gaza - Judg. 16:1
    2. That indicates how sin blinds a person progressively -- first step seems easy, but the second step leads into the mire of sin, deeper and deeper.
    3. He ignored his parents' instructions and the repeated snares the enemies had set for him.
  7. He went down the third and fourth times:
    1. He was untruthful to the Philistines and the harlot Delilah - Judg. 16:5-15
    2. He went down to his ruin when he gave away the secret of his strength - Judg. 16:16-21
C. UNCONSCIOUS LOSS
  1. This is the heart of my message:
    1. Because all of us are, as Samson was, in constant danger of being doped by sin.
    2. Satan is a master deceiver; he knows how to dope people - EXAMPLES -
      1. Achan was doped - Josh. 7:1-20
      2. Solomon was doped - Neh. 13:26
      3. David was doped - 2 Sam. 11:1-4
  2. Let us take a closer look at Samson:
    1. He imagined that his sins would not affect his relationship with his Maker.
    2. He forgot a natural law - Gal. 6:7, 8
    3. His playing with sin cost him the loss of moral power, his eyes, and finally his life.
  3. What a lesson for our young people today:
    1. The high and useful plans God has for our youth.
    2. The wonderful educational privileges at their disposal.
    3. The home surroundings -- the family altar, the services of the church.
  4. He wist not that the Lord had departed from him:
    1. Can it be possible that we are forsaken by God and not know it?
    2. Would it not be a travesty for us to make a profession and yet be forsaken by the Lord?


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