Samson the Ugly

To conclude this study on Judges, we are going to examine the story of a man named Samson. The other judges got to experience a twisted version of victory, but Samson faced inevitable defeat. He had all the potential in the world, but it was poisoned. We can identify three poisons that ruined Samson's life and can destroy ours too.

SETTING UP THIS TALK

• The Book of Judges has been a wild ride. Judges is not like a roller coaster with twists and turns. It's more like those vertical drop rides.

• It's straight down, not very fun, and makes you want to throw up.

• We have looked at the good with Deborah. We have looked at the bad with Jephthah. Now, to conclude this study, we are going to examine the ugly by exploring the story of a man named Samson.

• Samson was the last judge sent to rescue Israel. Their vicious cycle had repeated a dozen times at this point.

• Once again, they had turned from God, and their impending tragedy looked like the end.

• God's people were facing their most powerful foe yet — the Philistines.

• It was a massive army of skilled soldiers who were notorious for their conquests on horseback.

• Here's the kicker: they had God's people surrounded on every side.

• Samson was supposed to save Israel by defeating the Philistines.

• However, arrogance got in the way.

• Samson decided to fight the entire nation on his own with no help from his soldiers, generals, or even God.

• Towards the beginning of the story, it actually looked like he might pull it off. Like most tragic stories, heartbreak leads to havoc.

• After his beloved wife cheated on him (Judges 14), Samson took his anger out on random Philistine soldiers.

• He charged them while carrying an animal skull and began to slaughter them one at a time.

• All in all, Samson killed nearly a thousand skilled soldiers with the skull of a donkey (Judges 15:13-20).

• Yes, you heard that right.

• Samson was strong as an ox, but he was also as stubborn as a mule.

• He should have been a hero, but he ends up looking far more like a villain.

• I've seen people try to set Samson up to look like a Hebrew version of Hercules — tall, strong, and handsome.

• That's only true on the surface. Sure, his muscles had muscles. It's true that God blessed him with superhuman strength.

• However, he tragically let that blessing go to his head.

• He used his strength for evil.

• He was known to kill wild animals for fun, break building pillars in half, and throw grown men like baby dolls.

• Samson had one thing going for him. He had great parents.

• They loved God and encouraged their son to live the life of a Nazarite (Numbers 6).

• A Nazarite made a covenant with God that they would not cut their hair, touch the dead, or drink alcohol. It was a life of purity and focus.

• Unfortunately, as we are about to see, Samson broke every single part of the covenant. He was supposed to live a life of commitment, but he chose to live a life of chaos.

• Turn with me in your Bibles to Judges chapter 16.

• There you have it. The most powerful warrior in Israel's history was defeated by a pretty girl, a nap, and a haircut.

• The other judges got to experience a twisted version of victory, but Samson faced inevitable defeat.

• He had all the potential in the world, but it was poisoned.

• We can identify three poisons that ruined Samson's life and can destroy ours too.

One: Poisonous People

• Samson wasn't destroyed in the ways you'd think. It wasn't an army, tank, assassin, or bear-wrestling injury.

• Samson's life was ruined because he trusted the wrong person.

• He thought he was in love, but she was a spy.

• Delilah ultimately turned him into the Philistine army for some quick cash.

• Be very careful letting poisonous people into your life.

• We live in an era when poisonous people can get to you like never before. You don't even have to look for them; they can just appear in your direct messages.

• Be careful who you trust because poisonous people are everywhere. How do we find them?

• Here are some examples:

• Critical Crowds: Have people ever talked down to you over and over? They always have a critical thing to say, and you always leave a conversation feeling worse about yourself. Those people are poison. Some people want to help you live a better life by pointing out your mistakes, and you should hold on to those people. However, some simply seek to criticize. That's poisonous.

• Pressuring Peers: These folks are always trying to push you past your boundaries. Every exchange is an opportunity for them to pressure you into bad choices, change your mind about your convictions, or even hand you something you already refused. Those people are poison.

• Backstabbers: These are the people who are nice to your face, but you find out they are spreading rumors behind your back. They always seem so curious in a conversation, but they don't really care. They're just fishing for information. Please be careful because those people are likely poison.

• I get it. This seems awfully critical. Let's make this clear. Most people are not poisonous.

• Within your community, there are plenty of people who love you, cheer for you, and want the best for you. Embrace them!

• Don't go into every exchange suspicious and jaded, but don't ignore red flags either.

• Ask God for discernment and He will help you find the right people to cherish.

• Bad people can pollute your potential, but good friends will take you far.

• Yes, people shape you, but so does your perspective. Let’s look at another poison that polluted Samson.

Two: A Poisonous Perspective

• Samson's downfall didn't start in his bedroom. It started in his mind.

• He casually assumed that he knew better than God, so he did things his way.

• He ignored God's commands.

• He tried to do everything on his own.

• He ended up in chains that he was unable to break.

• Perspective is a powerful thing. Every single mistake you've ever made started in your mind.

• An obsession with popularity can make you lose track of who you really are.

• Worry can suck the joy out of life.

• A negative attitude will eventually seep into your relationships.

• Learn from Samson and pray for a purified perspective.

• But there is one toxic trait that reigned supreme in the book of Judges and it’s the perfect way to conclude our series. What’s the worst perspective of all? Pride.

Three: Pride

• What was the perspective that ultimately took down Samson? It was pride.

• He was a one-man show.

• He was arrogant. He was the kind of person who posted 3-4 selfies a day.

• His pride made him use God's gift of strength for evil.

• His pride made him use people instead of loving them.

• Samson put himself on a high pedestal just to cause more pain when he eventually fell.

• Ultimately, Samson's pride preluded his destruction. It sounds extreme, but it's Biblical.

• Solomon, one of Israel's kings, wrote it this way: "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).

• Watch out for pride because it is poison. It will make you isolate yourself, refuse to own up to your mistakes, and prevent you from celebrating someone else's success.

• Pride builds up walls and refuses to respond to constructive criticism.

• While pride makes us build barriers, humility helps us build bridges.

• Samson was supposed to save Israel, but he failed. He was a deeply flawed judge, but there is good news.

• While Samson struggled, God knew that a perfect judge was on the horizon.

• The perfect judge showed up on the scene a few hundred years later.

• Jesus was everything that Samson was not.

• He embodied love, peacefulness, mercy, and humility.

• Live like Jesus, not like a judge.

• Try to wrap your mind around His humility.

• Christ was God in the flesh, the King of all creation, but He came to earth as a servant.

• Jesus formed the oceans, but He still washed the disciples' feet.

• Jesus created the earth, but He lived a simple life.

• He thought of others before himself — all the way to His death on a Roman cross.

• Jesus is our perfect judge.

TALK IT OUT  Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

Ice Breaker: Go around your circle and share this week’s highs and lows. What was the best part of your week and what was the lowest part of your week?

What words come to mind when you think of Samson?

Samson had all the potential in the world, but he let different poisons pollute his potential. How have you seen this play out in people’s lives?

What are some ways to identify is a person is problematic for you?

Pride played a big part in Samson’s downfall. What can you do protect yourself against pride?

Application: Take an honest inventory of your potential in life and reflect on any poisons that are trying to pollute it. Let a few trusted friends know about them then encourage them to keep you accountable to living free of those poisons.

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

2 Corinthians 7:1 1

John 3:1-3 1

John 3:6-10

Psalm 119:1-9 1

Samuel 2:1-2

Psalm 51:10-12

Do the following with each passage: 

ASK– God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.

READ– the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT– on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and experiences?

RESPOND– to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered.