THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF SAMSON

 

THE LIFE & MINISTRY OF SAMSON

Introduction: Samson was the last major judge in Israel. In the story of Samson, the mighty judge did great exploits against the Philistines, who at that time ruled Israel for forty years. He was a type of our Lord Jesus Christ in some aspect.

When we study the character and works of Samson we know he was a man full of weaknesses (ordinary man) who fell in the flesh and needed help from God from time to time.

The birth of Samson - Judges 13:1-3, 24

“Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.

2 Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children. 3 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.”

Vs 24 “So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.”

A) Samson – The Strong Man of God

Samson had :

1.       A Wonderful Parents – Judges 13, 3,4, 19

2.       A Wonderful Name – meaning “Serving as the sun” – Judges 13:24

3.       A Wonderful Calling – “a Nazirite to God” – Judges 13:7

4.       A Wonderful Work to do – “begin to deliver Israel” – Judges 13:5

5.       A Wonderful Power to use – “the Spirit of the Lord upon him”  

             - Judges 13:25

1. A Wonderful Parents – Judges 13, 3,4, 19

 3 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. 5 For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

2. A Wonderful Name – meaning “Serving as the sun” – Judges 13:24

Samson means “sunshine” which speaks to us of the glory that comes from light. Samson’s name means in Hebrew “Shimshown” meaning “the strength of the sun” – his strength was tied to the strength and power of God.  Yet he was tempted as we are and yet God used him.

As the church cries out today for God’s power, God is going to release His strength and His Exceeding Grace to deliver many broken and empty people.

Likewise Samson like Jesus in the Gospel of John 1:14 says: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

3. A Wonderful Calling – “a Nazirite to God” – Judges 13:7

Samson was born a Nazirite to God from the womb and was instructed not to eat or drink anything unclean or from the vine. Samson was going to be a consecrated person right from his conception. He was going to be a holy Nazarite from the womb.

A Nazirite is one who separate himself to the Lord. He shall separate from wine and strong drink. He cannot shave off his hair but let it grow.

Sanctification means “to be made holy” in Hebrew. So holiness is not what you are, holiness is who you belong to. You are a holy people. You belong to God! So it is one thing to be made holy and it is another to walk in holiness.

Samson was a type of Christ, who was also holy from the moment he was conceived.

Likewise Christ in Luke 1:35

35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” Jesus was holy from the womb.

4. A Wonderful Work to do – “begin to deliver Israel” Judges 13:5

5 For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

5. A Wonderful Power to use – “the Spirit of the Lord upon him” – Judges 13:25

Samson was the mightiest and strongest of all judges of Israel. He had supernatural power with signs and wonders following his work as a judge. None of other judges had the supernatural strength that rested upon Samson.

Judges 14:6 – “And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.”

So the life of Samson was accompanied by many signs and wonders. The same can be said of the ministry of the Lord Jesus.

Matthew 4:23,24

23 “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed.

Conclusion: Though Samson spent his life pursuing other gods, in the end he at last acknowledged the source of his strength: “God . . . please strengthen me,” and he became strong again (Judg. 16:28).

Samson a man so weak in his flesh yet can be used by God so mighty to defeat the enemies in his days. Samson can be represented as the Church today! Jesus grace is sufficient when we are weak then God made us strong.