Samson and Delilah: Story Of Squandered Success

This preaching comes from Judges 14

Judges 14:1-3

New International Version (NIV)

Judges 14

Samson’s Marriage

 ¹ Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. ² When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.”

 ³ His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?”

   But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.”

Samson was distinguished

• his physical strength
• his spiritual title: Nazarite for life: cannot cut his hair and cannot drink wine; indication of God's blessing ea. John the Baptist
• his spiritual task - Judge - addressing songs in Israel 
• now immortalized by a song
• his early success was attributed to
  - good parents
  - good discipline as a Nazarite
  - fellowship with God (Judges 13:24-25)

From the time he started liking women, he stared losing his:

- Freedom..of movement

- Fellowship..with family and his people

- Future

The hair was a symbol of special relationship of Samson with God. Samson is a story of squandered success, stolen blessings and losses of gargantuan proportion.

So..How should we govern our lives?

1. Consult those who are spiritual or mature leaders (Judges 14:1)

- instead of consulting his Father he instructed him.

- this story reminds us of the prodigal son (Luke 15)

- this is a sign of disaster

- problem is we think that purities are old fashion when we know parents know what are disastrous.

"DO NOT GO WISE ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING"

2. Controlling our personal desire(na bawal/not allowed)

- Samson finds a harlot

3. We need to correct our attitude that lead us to narrow escapes.
- narrow escapes - situation that almost had us.
- muntik-muntik we forget and this leads to failure
- so, be wise! It is God's grace that should remind us that we should not repeat that mistake.