The Book of Judges Series – Revival in the Land 4/11/21 “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 partial 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)
- Marriage of Samson- Samson “begins” (13:5) to deliver Israel (14:1-20)
Introduction – What was Samson doing in Timnah in the first place? (v.1) a. The “lust of the eyes”– the danger of being “unequally yoked” (vv.2-3)
- b. The sovereignty of God – He uses us in spite of our imperfections (v.4) c. Example of Samson’s great strength – killed lion with bare hands (v.5-9) d. Samson and father hold engagement dinner – poses a riddle (vv.10-14) e. Timnite men pressure Samson’s wife to get answer to riddle (vv.15-18) f. Samson’s violent response to the deceit of his wife and Timnites (v.19)
Conclusion – Samson’s wife given to another – The “occasion” (v.20, cf. v.4)
Part 2: Samson’s later life—His exploits, failure, and untimely death (15:1-16:31)
Key Verse(s) *We’re often own worst enemy – but God loves and uses us anyway!
Judges 14:1 (NASB) *The danger of “lust of the eyes” (cf. Gen. 3:4-6; 1 John 2:15-16) “Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines.” [Note: Samson knew better – Exodus 34:11-16; Deut. 7:1-10; ]
Judges 14:3 (NASB) *The danger of being “unequally yoked” (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14) “Then his father and his mother said to him, ‘Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you go to take a wife from the uncir- cumcised Philistines?’ But Samson said to his father, ‘Get her for me, for she looks good to me.’” [Note: Samson’s parents tried to warn him, cf. Abraham, Genesis 24:1-4]
“…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 14:1-20 “Chosen But Distracted from God’s 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 14:4 (NASB) *KEY: God planned to use Samson’s weaknesses for His purpose “However, his father and mother did not know that it was of the LORD, for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.” [Note: This does NOT mean God condoned his weakness!]
Judges 14:15 (NASB) *This was due to the fact that his wife was a Philistine woman “Then it came about on the fourth day that they said to Samson’s wife, ‘Entice your husband…’” [Note: “entice” (v.15) – “You only hate me, and you do not love me…” (v.16)]
Judges 14:20 (NASB) *This was the “occasion” that provoked Samson’s vengeance “But Samson’s wife was given to his companion who had been his friend.”
Key x-References – The broader theological significance of Samson’s birth and life 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NASB) *An important principle in marriage and business (cf. v.3) “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteous- ness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?”
Genesis 3:4-6 (NASB) *The eye-gate often opens us up the devastation of sin
“The serpent said to the woman, ‘You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”
1 John 2:15-16 (NASB) *The example in Genesis 3 is also specifically taught in the NT “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” [Note: We are “in the world” BUT NOT “of the world” (cf. John 17: 11, 16]
1 Timothy 2:13-14 (NASB) *Eve sinned first and drew Adam into her sin
“For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”
Romans 5:12 (NASB) *But as head of home (Gen. 3:16) God held Adam responsible! “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— ”
Job 42:1-2 (NAS) *“of the LORD” (v.4) implies this was all according to God’s purpose “Then Job answered the LORD and said, ‘I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.’” [This does NOT deny the reality of man’s free will]
Key Terms (most words have a ‘field of meaning’ —> various translations) “purpose” cf. “of the LORD” (v.4) Hebrew #4209 (23x), NASB mezimmah, from Hb.
2161; purpose, discretion, device:– devises evil (1), discretion (5), evil devices (1), intent (1), plans (1), plot (1), plots (1), purpose (2), purposes (1), schemer* (1), thoughts (1), vile deeds (1), wicked schemes (1), wickedly (1)
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”
2 Timothy 2:13 (NASB)