Flannelgraph Faith: Samson – The Promise That Remains
2017-07-16
Pastor Jonathan Falwell
Memory Verse:
Judges 16:28
Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, “O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!”
We continue in our Flannelgraph series today focusing on the familiar story of a man named Samson. This is a story that children, especially young boys, love to hear and tell because it is a story of power and of strength.
This story takes place as Israel was still without a leader and had once again fallen into sin. Their judgement for this sin had begin and they find themselves in the hands of the Philistines.
Judges 13:1 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.
Manoah’s wife was visited by an angel who promised her a child. A child that would deliver the Israelites from the Philistines. (Verse 13:2 & 5).
This woman was given strict rules for this promise to come to be. Samson was born and grew to a strong young man (Verses 13:24-25). Then Samson found a woman but along the way, his first display of supernatural strength comes to light. (Verses 14:8)
Samson marries this young girl who begins to undermine him almost immediately. The Philistines try to destroy him but he shows them who is stronger (Verses 15:4-5).
Again, they attacked Samson and tied him to kill him. Once again, he shows his God-given strength and breaks the ropes, gets a jawbone and kills 1000 men. But they just keep coming after him. (Judges 15:14-15)
After losing his first wife, he finds a woman named Delilah. He falls for her, another massive mistake in the life of Samson. Like the first one, she begins to undermine him. She searches for his secret and finally discovers it is in his hair. They cut his hair and finally capture Samson and put out his eyes. The power of the Lord had left him.(Judges 16:15-20)
After his capture, the Philistines throw a massive party. They parade Samson to celebrate their “victory” but Samson had other plans. He prays for the power of God to return, one last time (Judges 16:23-28)
Judges 16:29-30
And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. 30 Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.
Application
1. God’s Promises Are Filled With Purpose (Verses 13:5)
– God has a specific plan for your life
2. God’s Promises Can Be Derailed By Our Actions
– Samson continually sought out the things of the world while retaining a portion of God’s plan
– Our future deliverance in His power is dependent on our obedience
3. God’s Promises Are Forever Promises
– When He speaks truth, the world cannot change the plan
Judges 16:28
Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, “O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!”