FAITH || Lesson 24 

FAITH

Text:  Hebrews 11

Lesson Twenty-four – V.32

Examples of the ancients who were commended for their faith: (Cont’d.)

SAMSON [Part 4]: V.32 – And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,

See Judges 16.

Judges 16:1 – One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.

Let us thank the Lord that He is instructing us to heed 1 Corinthians 6:14-20 – ¹⁴By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.  ¹⁵Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!  ¹⁶Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”  ¹⁷But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

¹⁸Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.  ¹⁹Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Judges 16:3 – But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.

Let us thank the Lord that, from this amazing feat by Samson, He is reminding us of Ephesians 3:20-21 – ²⁰Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Judges 16:4 – Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.

Let us thank the Lord that He leading us to heed 2 Corinthians 6:14 – Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

In contrast, let us ask the Lord to help us to love Him.  Note: John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will obey what I command.

1 John 5:3 – This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

(Judges 16:5-21) – These verses give the account of the schemes of the Philistines to conquer Samson.

Let us thank the Lord that He is hereby continuing to direct us to 1 Peter 5:8-9 – ⁸Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  ⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

See Ephesians 6:8-10.

Note James 1:13-15 – ¹³When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  ¹⁵Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Judges 16:20 – Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him.

But he did not know that the LORD had left him – Let us thank the Lord that He is pointing us to:

Ephesians 4:30 – And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 – Do not put out the Spirit’s fire;

Judges 16:21 – Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison.

Let us thank the Lord for continuing to urge us to avoid sin and its terrible consequence.  See Lesson 21, Judges 13:1 and the accompanying passages.

Let us ask the Lord to help us to abide by Psalm 32:9 – Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

Judges 16:22 – But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

It is inferred that this resulted from his repentance and God’s mercy.  2 Corinthians 1:3 (GNT) – Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father, the God from whom all help comes!

Let us therefore ask the Lord to help us to heed 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

(Judges 16:23-25) – In response, let us: (a) Pray in accordance with Psalm 25:1-2 – To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; ²in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

(b) Thank the Lord for the hope contained in: Romans 9:33 – As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

1 John 2:28 – And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

Judges 16:28 – Then Samson prayed to the LORD, “O Sovereign LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.”

Then Samson prayed to the LORD – Let us thank the Lord that He is again reminding us of the importance of prayer.  See Lesson 21, Judges 13:8 and the accompanying passages.

Judges 16:30 – Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.

Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” – Let us thank the Lord that, in contrast, He is leading us to:  Psalm 26:9 – Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with bloodthirsty men,

Psalm 28:3 – Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.