The Blinding, Binding, Grinding Effects of Sin

The Blinding, Binding, Grinding Effects of Sin
Judges 16:21
Sermon by Jack Nazary
Pleasant Hill Baptist - May 17, 1982

I found the tape of this actual sermon. I had to make a video to add the audio. It is classic Jack!

Introduction: Good to consider character and career of Samson - probably spoiled by parents.

I. The story of Samson
Letting him do as he pleased - about like letting him go to the devil - probably bossed his mother and father before he could speak plain - (kick) (hollow)

Pity that he did not have board of education applied to his seat of knowledge.

Greatest handicap was - a dad with no spine.

Got what he wanted - began to feel that he was the whole thing!

Went down to Timnah - associated with those who were enemies of his people.

Judges 14:1-2 - Wanted wife of Philistines - parents tried to reason with him - 14:3 "she pleases me well, get her for me." Parents went down to see his chosen.

Judges 14:5 - Tore lion
Judges 14:8 - Continued to go see her - bees and honey - marriage riddle
Judges 14:11-12 - learned to gamble
Judges 14:10 - lost bet, slew 30 men - in Eskelon, took raiment paid up, went home to mom and dad awhile

when returned 14:20 wife given to his best friend

caught 300 foxes, tied tails together in pairs with fire band between them - burned wheat

white capping went on - burned wife and her father with fire.

he went on war path - smote Philistines leg and thigh with great slaughter until they stampeded - went to top of Rock Etam

Philistine pitched in Judah - 3000 of Judah came to see him to bind him - he consented and delivered him to enemy at Lehi - with jawbone of donkey slew 3000 men

visited another girl friend in Gaza - took post of gate 16:1-3

Loved Delilah - sought his secret
-strings seven
-new ropes
-weave of locks of my hair
-shave my head 16:20

II. Lessons
1. Young man with no purpose
2. Knew his strength, but did not recognize his weakness. Evils of mixed marriages, laxity of sexual relations and playing with temptation.

NOW
1. Purpose for yourself
2. Have a goal
a. Know God
b. Love God
c. Glorify God
d. Serve and witness
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the way of death.

Recognize temptations to young man
1. opposite sex
2. Love of money
3. Laziness

Riddle - "out of the eater came forth mean, and out of the strong came forth sweetness." Judges 14:14-15

Deadly results of Samson's indulgence seen in this order -
Self-confidence - "I will go out" Judges 16:20
Self-ignorance - "he wist not" Judges 16:20
Self-weakness - "The Philistines laid hold on him" Judges 16:21
Self-darkness - "They put out his eyes" Judges 16:21
Self-degradation - "They brought him down to Gaza" Judges 16:1-3; 21
Self-bondage - "They bound him with fetters" Judges 16:21
Self-drudgery - "He did grind in the prison house" Judges 16:21
Self-humiliation - "Call for Samson that he may make sport" Judges 16:25-27

Samson - a man of contrasts
A sort of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde being
1. He was separated as Nazarite 13:5, yet tampered with evil associates. 14:1-3
2. Occasionally Spirit possessed 13:25; 15:14, yet yielded to carnal appetites 16:1-4
3. Childish in some of his plans 15:4, yet courageous in battle 15:1-4
4. Mighty in physical strength 16:3, 9, 13, 14, yet weak in resisting temptations 16:15-17
5. A noble beginning but sad end 16:30