17 October, 2011

Text: Judges 16

CANDID DESCRIPTION OF SAMSON'S DEEDS

1. Visiting of a harlot in Gaza    Judges 16:1

2. Surrounded by the Philistines
Ambushed planned    Judges 16:2

3. Samson's formidable strength

a) Doors of the city gates pulled out

b) Carried the gate and the gateposts out of the city

c) No one could stand up to might

SAMSON AND DELILAH

1. Delilah was another Philistine woman    Judges 16:4

2. The offer of a significant monetary reward by the lords of the Philistines    Judges 16:4-5

3. Delilah attempts to find out the source of the strength of Samson

4. Samson offers 3 false answers

a) 7 Fresh bowstrings    Judges 16:7

b) New ropes    Judges 16:11

c) Weaving Samson's 7 locks into the web of the loom    Judges 16:13

5. Samson reveals the secret of his strength

a) The Nazarite vow

b) Hair had never been cut    Judges 16:16-17

SAMSON CAPTURED

1. Delilah betrayed Samson    Judges 16:18-19

2. The strength of Samson was gone    Judges 16:20

3. Samson was blinded    Judges 16:21

THE FINAL ACT

1. Special worship of Dagon planned    Judges 16:23-24

a) To celebrate Samson's capture

b) To praise Dagon

2. Samson was brought out to give them sport    Judges 16:25-27

3. Samson's prayer to the Lord    Judges 16:28

a) Remember me

b) Strengthen me

c) Vengeance (judgment of the Philistines)

d) He was prepared to die with the Philistines

4. Prayer answered

About three thousand Philistines were slain    Judges 16:27

5. Burial of Samson

a) Brothers of Samson risked their lives to search for Samson's body

b) They buried him in the tomb of his father Manoah    Judges 16:31