2. Hebrews 11:37-38 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
32. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—

3. Men of Whom the World was not Worthy
Hebrews 11:38

4. Judges 13:25- Samson is about 20 years old
The Spirit stirred him
Judges 14 - went down to Timnah & verse 3, fell in love

5. Weren’t Philistines Forbidden?
Canaanites
Amorites
Hivites
Perizzites
Hittites
Jebusites
6 forbidden nations listed 9x’s
Ex. 3:8, 17; 23:23; 32:2; Deut. 20:17; Josh. 9:1; 11:3; 12:8; Jud. 3:5
A seventh nation is added 3x’s
Deut. 7:1; Josh. 3:10; 24:1
Girgashites
The Philistines were an immigrant culture of blonde, white skinned people, not of the family of “Canaan,” the son of Ham, son of Noah.

6. Judges 13:25- Samson is about 20 years old
The Spirit stirred him
Jud went down to Timnah & v.3, fell in love
Had a run-in with a lion, shared honey
7 day feast, riddle, wife threatened...
Killed 30 men to pay off wager, left angry
Jud.15 - returned for his wife, gone!
Caught 300 foxes, tied tails together with torches
Burned standing grain, stacked grain, & orchards

7. Judges 13:25- Samson is about 20 years old
Verse 6 - Philistines burned wife/father in law
Verse 8 - Samson smote them “hip and thigh”
Verse 11 - betrayed by 3,000 fearful brethren
Verse 15- Samson slew 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey
Proceeded to “judge” Israel for next 20 years

8. Judges 16- Samson is near 40 years old
Went to Gaza, visited a prostitute (?)
Philistines set an ambush… till midnight
Samson carried off city gates and posts
16: later, fell in love with Delilah
She was wooed by Philistine lords, and money
Samson revealed the “secret” to his power was 7 fresh bowstrings, new ropes, weaving his 7 locks into a loom, and… a razor!

9. Judges 16- Samson is near 40 years old
16: gouged out his eyes
Put him to women’s work… grinding grain
Months later Philistines had a feast, to Dagon
Samson was the guest of honor
All the lords of the Philistines were there
3,000 just on the roof
Hair grown back, Samson leaning on pillars
Brought down the house, more killed…

10. Why Was Samson AMOWTWWN Worthy?
He was subject to his passions…
Temper, revenge, desire, love
He broke Israel’s law…
Marrying a Philistine
Touching a dead carcass

11. Why was the life of Samson a Positive thing? 8 reasons
His birth announcement was special
He was set apart from the womb
Kept his vow for forty years
His life was a living miracle of strength , blessing, responsibility, & loneliness
His mission was a tremendous success
He served God, & paid price for his sin
Personally empowered by HS more than any..
Hebrews 11:32 calls him a man of faith

12. Six Lessons for us to consider?
We need to give care to our judgment
All of God’s work is not done in a crowd
Success comes sometimes over time, not in a moment
Devotion and faithfulness is not perfection
Passion is not a plaything and there can be a high price to pay
God can work through anyone and their particular talents

13. We don’t have to be a “Samson” He had his misakes, and so will we, but he also had great victories over time. And so can we We need to be devoted and faithful.
Have you believed and been baptized? Mark 16:16