Sermon Notes 03/28/21 Palm Sunday

The Book of Judges Series – Revival in the Land 3/28/21 “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did
what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 17:6; 21:25 (NASB)
Introduction-“Who will go up for us…” (1:1-3)
I. Background of the period of the judges-The reason for Israel’s apostasy (1:4-3:6)
A. The political background-Hostilities between Israel and the Canaanites (1:4-36)
B. The spiritual background – Israel’s conduct and God’s response (2:1-3:6)
II. History of the period of the judges-The record of Israel’s apostasy (3:7-16:31)
A. 1st apostasy-Mesopotamian oppression-Othniel’s deliverance (3:7-14) B. 2nd apostasy-Moabite oppression-Ehud’s deliverance (3:12-30)
C. 3rd apostasy-Canaanite oppression-Deborah/Barak (4:1-5:31)
D. 4th Apostasy-Midianite oppression-Gideon’s deliverance (6:1-8:35)
Addendum: This “cycle” is different – “The Enemy Within” – Conspiracy (9:1-10:5) E. 5th apostasy-Ammonite oppression-Jephthah’s deliverance (10:6-12:7)
Addendum: Less well-known judges served between cycles of decline (12:8-15)
F. 6th apostasy-Philistine oppression-Samson’s deliverance (13:1-16:31)
Part 1: Samson’s early life – possibly most flawed of all the judges (13:1-14:20)

  1. The birth of Samson – A Nazarite “from the womb” (13:1-25) Introduction – The spiritual and moral climate produced the 6th cycle (v.1)
    a. The prophecy (promise) of Samson’s birth to a barren woman (vv.2-15)
    b. The identity of God’s “Angel” = “Messenger”- “THE angel” (vv.16-23) Conclusion – The fulfillment of God’s prophecy or promise (vv.24-25)
  2. The marriage of Samson – the story of Samson & Delilah (14:1-20) Part 2: Samson’s latter life (15:1-16:31)
  3. The exploits of Samson-His vengeance on the Philistines (15:1-20) 4. The fall of Samson-His final fatal victory (16:1-31)
    Key Verse(s) *The 6th cycle begins with spiritual apostasy—AGAIN!
    Judges 13:1 (NASB) *Once again the cycle of spiritual and moral decline is repeated “Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, so that the LORD gave them into the hands of the Philistines forty years.”
    Judges 13: 3-5 (NASB) *God’s promise of a Nazarite deliverer to a barren woman “Then the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, ‘Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son. Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
    “…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
    2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
    Judges 13:1-25 “Chosen (and Formed) for a Purpose”
    “Now the angel of the LORD…said…’I will never break My covenant…’”
    Judges 2:1 (NASB)
    Key Verses – Samson was seriously flawed even though he had God’s Spirit
    Judges 13:24-25 (NASB) *The fulfillment of God’s prophecy or promise
    “Then the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson; and the child grew up and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him…”
    Key x-References – The broader theological significance of Samson’s birth and life Numbers 6:1-8 (excerpts NASB) *The Nazirite Vow of separation to the LORD
    “Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to dedicate himself to the LORD, he shall abstain from wine and strong drink…All the days of his separation he shall not eat anything that is produced by the grape vine…All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall pass over his head. He shall be holy until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the LORD…All the days of his separation he is holy to the LORD.’ ”
    Luke 1:5-20 (excerpts NASB) *Similar birth in NT announced by AN angel of the Lord “In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias…and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. They were both right- eous in the sight of God…But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God…an angel of the Lord appeared to him…But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John…he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God…’ Zacharias said to the angel, ‘How will I know this for certain?…’ The angel answered and said to him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent…to bring you this good news. And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
    Jeremiah 1:5 (NASB) *Individuals chosen & formed for a purpose while in the womb! “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
    Isaiah 44:1-2 (NASB) *Nations also chosen and formed – He also helps those chosen! “But now listen, O Jacob, My servant, And Israel, whom I have chosen: Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you, ‘Do not fear, O Jacob My servant; And you Jeshurun whom I have chosen.’”
    Key Terms (most words have a ‘field of meaning’ —> various translations) “Nazirite” (vv.5,7; 16: 17) Hebrew #5139 (21x/ 6x Numbers 6/ 3x Judges 13,16), NASB nazir, from 5144a; one consecrated, devoted:– consecrated ones (1), Nazirite (9),Nazirites(2),onedistinguished(2),untrimmedvines(2);cf.Hebrew5144a, NASB nazar, a prim. Root (verb): to dedicate, consecrate:– e.g. devoted (1), separate* (2)
    “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”
    2 Timothy 2:13 (NASB)

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