When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. - Genesis 3:6

Last Sunday morning we began a new sermon series titled “Reconciling Calvinism and Arminianism”. I introduced and summarized the 2 opposing theological systems, giving a brief history of their origin. I explained that both approaches were built upon 5 underlying points, which we would discuss individually. This morning, we will be that process.

Today’s message focuses on the 1st point of Calvinism. It is commonly known as the doctrine of “Total Depravity”. We will define what it means (and what it doesn’t mean), look at its Biblical support, and consider its implications.

I. WHAT IS TOTAL DEPRAVITY?

Total depravity is a term used to describe the dismal spiritual condition of fallen mankind. It states that every person, as the result of Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden, is born with a sinful nature and is completely corrupted by sin. This depravity affects all of our being - including our thoughts, our speech, and our actions - rendering us wholly tainted and utterly defiled. As such, we are as filthy rags before the LORD (Isaiah 64:6) who is, in contrast, perfectly holy and pure. We are vile sinners both by nature and by choice (Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:3). 

The Bible teaches the total depravity of man throughout. Our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). We are spiritually dead from the moment of our birth as the result of our sin and iniquity (Psalm 51:5, Psalm 58:3, Ephesians 2:1). Our corrupt nature captivates us with a love for sin (John 8:34), an affinity for darkness (John 3:19), and a willful desire to live a sinful lifestyle that seems right to us (Proverbs 14:12). We are completely perverted, lacking any spiritual good.

The wicked nature of man is described thoroughly in Romans 3:10-18, Psalm 14:1-3, and Psalm 51:1-3. These passages teach that all people are unrighteous sinners, that no one seeks or understands God, that no one does good, that everyone’s speech and actions are spoiled by sin, and that no one fears the LORD. As such, there is no one who does good - not even one.

II. WHAT ISN’T TOTAL DEPRAVITY?

Total depravity teaches that all people are wholly corrupted by sin, spiritually dead, and stand guilty before God. This does not mean, however, that we all behave as badly as we could. In other words, some people may act more wickedly than others. We see examples of this all the time. However, the excessive wickedness of some does not justify or excuse that of those who may appear less wicked from a human perspective. Think of it this way - rather than saying that some people are good and others are bad, recognize that we are all bad, though some behave worse than others.

Second, total depravity does not mean that people can’t or don’t have a conscience. You can be a moral person with a strong sense of right and wrong while still being spiritually dead. Third, total depravity doesn’t mean that a person cannot do good things as measured by an earthly standard - even things that superficially comply with the commands and will of God. But, though they may appear so outwardly, no human deed is of any good apart from saving faith (Romans 14:23; Hebrews 11:6). Jesus explained that a bad tree cannot bear good fruit, but only bad (Matthew 7:17-18).

There is no such thing as a “good” person. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Even Jesus, the sinless Son of God, refused to call Himself good while adorned in human flesh (Mark 10:18). Now if Jesus wouldn’t call Himself good during His earthly ministry, how arrogant would we have to be to think or even suggest that we are good?

III. THE IMPLICATIONS OF TOTAL DEPRAVITY

As stated previously, those who are totally depraved do not understand, seek, nor fear God. Being spiritually dead, they are simply unable to understand the things of God because such things are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). They regard the gospel as foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18) and suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). Their minds are totally hostile towards God and they will not submit to Him - in fact, they cannot (Romans 8:7).

Thus, a totally depraved person is unable to be saved apart from God’s divine intervention. Their desperate spiritual condition renders them completely hopeless and helpless apart from His grace. Sinners cannot approach God on their own prerogative following the inclination of their own free will. It is impossible. This hindrance is sometimes referred to as “Human Inability”. Rather, God must initiate the interaction and overcome a person’s spiritual depravity before he or she can see, recognize, and/or surrender to Him.

In the gospels, there is a scene in which Jesus speaks with a rich young ruler. After the young man departs, Jesus tells his disciples that it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Having assumed it would be easier for someone of his status and privilege, they are astounded and ask, “If not a rich man, who then can be saved?” Jesus answers, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” He is addressing the issue of human inability, and the truth that no person, by their own strength, can be saved. Only God can affect salvation (Matthew 19:25-26).

CONCLUSION

In my opinion, the doctrine of total depravity is arguably the strongest point of Calvinism. It is thoroughly and plainly taught in the Bible. The numerous scriptures given in today’s sermon are merely a sampling of the numerous verses and passages that teach this vital doctrine. I am in full and wholehearted agreement with the Calvinists on this issue. So is almost every Christian I’ve ever known. In fact, so were Jacob Arminius and the original Remonstrants. In the Arminian Articles of 1610, which we discussed last week, the Arminians agreed with John Calvin on the total depravity of man. They shared his views on the wretched state of sinners and their inability to seek God apart from His grace. Their dispute was on the manner by which God resolved man’s corrupt condition, not upon the condition itself.

To the Calvinist, God must - of necessity - be the catalyst for a person’s salvation. A depraved sinner cannot approach God or make a saving profession of faith unless the LORD acts first. Therefore, the Calvinists believe that the new birth, or regeneration, must precede an individual's confession of faith. Otherwise, how can a depraved person recognize their need? When a person is made spiritually alive by God saving grace, they are gifted with faith and the ability to see and know Him. Then their confession and conversion is expressed outwardly or visibly. In other words, a person’s procession of faith is a result of their new birth - not the impetus for it. We will explore the Arminian argument next week.

In closing, the doctrine of total depravity states that man is totally corrupted by sin and wholly incapable of knowing God apart from His divine and gracious intervention. This isn’t an absolute refutation of man’s free will, but rather an argument that man is simply unable to use his or her free will to attain salvation. Therefore, salvation is entirely an act of God’s grace.

John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.” - Luke 9:49-50

One of the major contentions within the church today is the ongoing debate between Calvinism and Arminianism. This has proven to be a divisive issue among Christians since the days of the Protestant Reformation which began in the 16th century. As it relates to us as Southern Baptists, our denominational confession of faith (The Baptist Faith & Message) allows for both perspectives - not firmly siding with one or the other. To that end, according to the most recent statistics I’ve seen, approximately 30% of Southern Baptist churches and pastors consider themselves to be Calvinistic while another 30% identify themselves as Arminian. Current trends suggest that Calvinism is on the rise within the SBC, especially among younger pastors and congregations. I would speculate that closer to 40% are now Calvinistic.

The same survey reveals that 61% of pastors are either strongly or somewhat concerned about the schism between Calvinism and Arminianism and its potentially damaging implications upon the SBC and its member churches in the areas of evangelism, missions, fellowship, and so forth. Several Southern Baptist churches, including some within our own Association, have wrestled with this issue and have experienced varying degrees of harm as a result. Some have even split over the debate. Considering this, it is important for us to understand and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches so as not to be ensnared by either of them.

The Early Church Fathers focused primarily on the issues of Christology and the nature of the Trinity, as these were the predominant questions of their day. Though they certainly discussed God’s sovereignty and man’s free will to varying degrees, it would be inappropriate and presumptuous to classify them as either Calvinist or Arminian, as their stances were not explicit. It wasn’t until the Reformation that the competing doctrinal systems of Calvinism and Arminianism were fully developed and formalized. Since that time, both have been sincerely embraced and faithfully taught by differing groups of Baptists (among others) - starting with the Particular Baptists (Calvinist) and the General Baptists (Arminian). This short series of sermons will not likely resolve or end the centuries-old debate.

My goal is not to convince you that either Calvinism or Arminianism is right or wrong. Rather, I intend to give a balanced presentation of both and let you draw your own conclusions. I believe, as is often the case, that there are elements of truth on both sides of the discussion and hope that this enduring debate will actually strengthen us a Christians rather than hinder us.

I. WHAT IS CALVINISM?

John Calvin was a French theologian and pastor who lived from 1509-1564. Along with Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli, Calvin was and is regarded as one of the leading reformers during the Protestant Reformation. He was originally trained to be a lawyer and was a brilliant teacher, debater, and critical thinker. Calvin also wrote extensively, and his pinnacle work was titled “Institutes of the Christian Religion”. In this book, which he updated, expanded, and re-released on multiple occasions throughout his lifetime, Calvin systematically laid out his theological beliefs on a wide range of topics. Many of his positions differed starkly from those long-held traditions accepted and promoted by the Catholic church. Calvin spent the majority of his ministry preaching in Geneva, Switzerland, and his followers ultimately founded the Presbyterian church, though his ideas have influenced several other denominations as well.

Calvin advocated doctrinal positions in numerous branches of the Christian faith including ecclesiology, eschatology, bibliology, and so forth. His views, as a whole, form the basis of Reformed Theology. However, perhaps his most well-known and controversial teachings deal specifically with soteriology - the study of salvation. These views have, in and of themselves, become known as Calvinism. Thus, it is possible to embrace Calvinism without accepting the broader aspects of Reformed Theology. In other words, it is possible to be a Calvinist without being Reformed. On the contrary, those who are Reformed are always Calvinists.

What exactly is Calvinism? Calvinism is a theological system that emphasizes God’s absolute sovereignty in the process of salvation. It argues that man is totally corrupted by sin and wholly incapable of knowing God apart from His divine intervention. To that end, God has arbitrarily and unconditionally chosen and predestined some to be saved and others to be condemned. The elect cannot neither resist the saving grace of God nor lose it once conferred, while the condemned cannot attain it by any means. Mankind plays no role in their salvation or condemnation other than to live out that which God has already preordained.

II. WHAT IS ARMINIANISM?

Jacob Arminius was a Dutch theologian and professor who lived from 1560-1609, a generation after Calvin. During his collegiate years at Leiden University, he began to question certain tenets of Calvin’s Reformed Theology that had gained wide-spread credibility and popularity throughout Europe. He later studied in Geneva directly under Theodore Beza, who had himself been a disciple of John Calvin. Nevertheless, Arminius continued to hold conflicting Scriptural interpretations on several points of Calvinism. For a time, he served as a preacher in Amsterdam where he taught and formalized his own theological perspective. In the final years of his life, Arminius returned to Leiden University and served as a professor. Like Calvin, Jacob Arminius wrote several books and papers expressing his religious opinions on various issues. His views were accepted and endorsed by many believers and his followers became known as the Remonstrants.

In the years following Jacob Arminius’ death, a series of meetings known as the Synod of Dort were held to address the growing controversy between Arminianism and Calvinism. These took place in 1618 and 1619. The Remonstrants had developed and published the Arminian Articles of 1610 (also known as the Remonstrance of 1610) based upon Arminius’ teachings. These articles consisted of 5 major points that served to encapsulate the Arminian doctrine on salvation which ran, in most respects, contrary to Calvinism. Ultimately, the minority delegation of Remonstrants were expelled from the Synod of Dort by the Reformed majority which oversaw and controlled the proceedings. The Synod concluded by drafting an official written judgment, called the Canons of Dort, which upheld the views of John Calvin. In the decades that followed, the 5 points of Calvinism were developed from the Canons of Dort to succinctly and directly refute those supported and bolstered by the Arminians.

What exactly is Arminianism? Arminiansim is a theological system that emphasizes man’s responsibility in the process of salvation. It argues that all people, though gravely corrupted by sin, have been endowed by God with free will and given the ability to choose whether or not to trust in Christ for salvation. Therefore, God predestines and conditionally elects for salvation only those whom He foreknows will accept Him. The Lord’s prevenient grace may be resisted or rejected, and - according to the most extreme Arminian position - a person can lose their salvation after having attained it and, subsequently, fall from God’s grace. Thus, each individual person plays a critical, determinative role in either their salvation or condemnation and is wholly accountable for it. Although God is sovereign, He does not dictate or compel the free decisions of any person.

CONCLUSION

As I see it, a leading reason for the fracture between Arminians and Calvinists is their oppositional approach to the debate itself. Both sides tend to think of this argument as an all-or-nothing, either-or proposition in which one side is wholly right and the other is wholly wrong. Thus, both camps defiantly and fiercely defend their position without giving any meaningful consideration to the opposing perspective. To this end, they often reduce or simplify the other’s argument to a single statement and then dismiss it outright.

In truth, both theological systems are based upon several underlying points, each of which may be accepted or rejected individually. In other words, a Christian might accept some aspects of Arminianism and others of Calvinism. Such a person would, as a result, maintain a hybrid or mixed point-of-view on the manner of salvation. What’s more, an individual believer might have an alternative view on certain points that differs from both Calvinism and Arminianism. Therefore, this discussion should not be regarded as a heads or tails debate, but rather as a spectrum with hyper-Calvinism on one end, hyper-Arminianism on the other, and plenty of room in the middle.  This is depicted in the diagram below.



Over the next several weeks, we are going to individually examine the 5 foundational points of Calvinism and the 5 corresponding points of Arminianism. We will read supporting verses for both perspectives, and compare and contrast the 2 systems. Along the way, I will share my opinions and personal stance on each issue. After evaluating the individual points, we will conclude the series by attempting to reconcile, to the extent possible, both schools of thought.

As we engage in this discussion, may we remember that both Calvinists and Arminians are first and most importantly Christians. Proponents of both positions have repented of their sins and accepted Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation. Though they differ on their interpretation of exactly how it occurred, both are born-again believers. As such, they are not adversaries and should not regard each other as such. Rather, as brothers and sisters in Christ, they should respect and appreciate one another as fellow members of His body. May this be our mindset as we move forward through these sermons. God bless you.

This morning I delivered the annual "State of the Church Address" at Calvary Baptist Church.  During the message, we reviewed and remembered several of the major happenings at our church in 2022.  We reflected on God's faithfulness to our congregation and celebrated the many specific ways He has used us to advance His Kingdom in our city and around the world this past year.  Sometimes it is good to reflect on such things, to remind us that God is indeed at work in our small church, and to encourage us to press on in the new year.  Jesus is alive and well, and is active at Calvary Baptist Church in the lives of our people.  The state of our church is strong.  He is building His church, and the gates of hell will not stand against it.  Starting next week we will resume our regular preaching services.  God bless you.  

Happy New Year! Today is the first day of 2023. I am looking forward to an exciting new year filled with many blessings and adventures for our church and family. Next Sunday, I will deliver our annual “State of the Church Address” during which we will look back over several events from this past year and look forward to the year ahead. This morning, however, I am going to preach on the topic of New Year’s Resolutions and to share one that we can all embrace.

What is a New Year’s Resolution? According to Wikipedia, it is “a tradition, most common in the Western World but also found in the Eastern World, in which a person resolves to continue good practices, change an undesired trait or behavior, accomplish a personal goal, or otherwise improve their behavior at the beginning of a calendar year.” According to recent statistics, approximately 38.5% of U.S. adults make 1 or more New Year’s Resolutions each year. Young adults tend to make resolutions more than older adults do.

What are the most popular New Year’s Resolutions? According to an online article I read this week, here are “The Top 10 Most Common New Year’s Resolutions”:

1. Exercise more
2. Lose weight
3. Get organized
4. Learn a new skill or hobby 
5. Live life to the fullest
6. Save more money / spend less money
7. Quit smoking
8. Spend more time with family and friends
9. Travel more
10. Read more

We can see in the list above a few recurring themes such as taking a more active approach to health and fitness, improving finances, and learning new things for personal and professional development. The article goes on to say that only 46% of those who make New Year’s Resolutions actually keep them throughout the year, meaning that over half who do so fail. According to a few other articles I read, the success rate is much lower.

For the remainder of our time together this morning, let’s focus on the most popular New Year’s Resolution. 48% of those surveyed wanted to exercise more. At the beginning of each year, new gym memberships soar across the country as people commit to working out regularly. Exercising more is a worthy goal, and something that would be good for all of us. But even more beneficial than physical exercise is spiritual exercise…

Did you know that the Bible instructs Christians - those of us who have been saved - to “work out” every day?

12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. - Philippians 2:12-13

What does it mean to work out your own salvation? Well… let’s start with what it doesn’t mean. The Bible clearly and repeatedly teaches that salvation comes by God’s grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not the result of works, and therefore no amount and/or quality of good works can ever bring about or sustain salvation. Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life, and no one comes to the Father but by Him.

Working out one’s salvation has nothing to do with becoming saved or staying saved. Physical exercise does not bring a dead person to life, nor does spiritual exercise bring about the regeneration of a sinner’s soul. Rather, just as physical exercise enhances one’s physical health, strength, and overall well-being, so also spiritual exercise improves one’s spiritual health and vitality.

This is what it means to “work out” our salvation - to obey and serve the LORD intently and continuously in order to develop and enhance the salvation that God is already working within us until it is made complete. This is known as the process of sanctification. Those who have accepted Jesus have been set apart for His purposes. They have been saved, are being saved, and will be saved. By “working out” our salvation, we become stronger and more effective Christians who are better equipped to face the struggles of this present life.

How do you work out your own salvation? First, let’s discuss the attitude we should have towards the “work out” process. If we are honest, most people don’t really like to work out. They do it because they know that it's good for them. In much the same way, working out spiritually is not always easy and comfortable, but it is extremely valuable. Spiritual exercise should be done in fear and trembling. This doesn’t mean that we should be afraid of God, but rather that we should have great reverence and respect for Him. The LORD is worthy of our obedience and submission. His desire is for our good. Psalm 2:11 sums it up perfectly: “Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.” 

Second, let’s discuss the manner in which you “work out”. Just as there are physical exercises, so also there are spiritual exercises. We sometimes refer to these as spiritual disciplines. There is no single list of spiritual disciplines found in the Bible, but here is a list of some common ones that I’ve used in the past:

1. Read, Study, and Memorize Scripture 
2. Prayer
3. Fasting
4. Confession and Repentance
5. Worship (Individual and Corporate)
6. Fellowship
7. Rest
8. Celebration
9. Service
10. Generosity
11. Chastity
12. Disciple-Making

By practicing these disciplines regularly, if not daily, you will improve your spiritual health and develop your spiritual muscle. Just like an exercise regimen, these spiritual disciplines will not happen on their own. We must approach them with intentionality and implement them into our lives, practicing them again and again until they become habitual. Who knows… perhaps we may even come to love and cherish these spiritual exercises. To help you with the first item on the list, I’ve distributed a daily Bible reading plan for you to follow this year. I will be referring to it each Sunday during 2023. Taking a few minutes to read the Bible each day and then praying about what you’ve read can literally transform your life.

So, as we kick off 2023, I challenge you to join me as we resolve together to “work out” more. That is, to work out our salvation in fear and trembling by practicing the spiritual disciplines. I trust that as we are faithful in our obedience and service, we will become healthier, stronger, and more fruitful in our Christian lives. Happy New Year!

When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took about four hundred and fifty years. After these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. - Acts 13:19-21

In our previous message, the Philistines defeated the Israelites in battle and took the Ark of the Covenant. They brought it back with them to Philistia and displayed it in various locations, starting with the temple of Dagon in Ashdod. God struck the Philistines with heavy afflictions in every city where the Ark was set up. They soon realized that they should return the Ark of the LORD to Israel… for their own good.

I. THE PHILISTINES RETURN THE ARK (1 Samuel 6:1-12)

The Ark of the Covenant had been in the land of Philistia for 7 months. Finally the Philistine leaders met with the priests and diviners to determine how to return it to Israel properly. They wanted to appease God’s wrath and end the curses that had befallen them. The priests advised the Philistines to include a guilt offering with the Ark. This offering should consist of 5 golden tumors and 5 golden mice - crafted to represent the plagues that God had stricken them with - 1 for each of the lords of the Philistines. The priests urged the Philistine rulers to humble themselves before the God of Israel and not to harden their hearts as the Egyptian Pharaoh had done almost 4 centuries earlier.

Following the priests’ instructions, the Philistines took and prepared a new cart with 2 milch cows that had never been yoked. They hitched the cows to the cart and took their young calves away from them so as not to be a distraction. Then they placed the Ark of the Covenant and a box containing the golden guilt offering on the cart. The priests told them to send the cart on its way without an escort to see where the cows went. If they took it to Beth-shemesh on the western edge of the tribal territory of Judah, then God had punished them. If not, the harsh afflictions that had ravished them were merely coincidental.

The Philistines loaded the cart and sent it away. Sure enough, the cows headed straight down the highway toward Beth-shemesh, neither turning aside to the right or left, lowing as they went. The Philistines followed the cart, watching closely as it came to the city limits of Beth-shemesh.

II. THE ISRAELITES RECEIVE THE ARK (1 Samuel 6:13-7:2)

The people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest when they saw the cart approaching. It came into and stopped in the field of a man named Joshua, where there was a large stone. The Levites were summoned to come and unload the cart. They placed the Ark of the Covenant and the box containing the guilt offering on the stone. Then the men split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. They were so thankful that the Ark had been returned to Israel. After seeing this, the Philistine lords who were looking on from a distance returned to their country. 

Unfortunately, some of the men of Beth-shemesh looked into the Ark. This was an egregious act of irreverence toward the LORD and was strictly forbidden by the Law. Because they had profaned the Ark, God struck down 50,070 men of Beth-shemesh. The survivors mourned deeply over the slaughter and sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim asking them to come and take the Ark.

So some men from Kiriath-jearim came and took the Ark of the Covenant. They brought it to the home of Abinadab, whose house was on a hill. They consecrated his son Eleazar to keep the Ark. And thus, it remained at Kiriath-jearim (about 12 miles west of Jerusalem) for 20 years during the judgeship of Samuel.

Notice that God’s anger toward the Philistines also struck the Israelites in Beth-shemesh. Just because they were descendants of Jacob did not exempt them from the LORD’s judgment. By violating His commands and disrespecting His holiness, the people of Beth-shemesh foolishly provoked the LORD. It is bad enough when God’s enemies do it, but you’d think that His own people would know better. Yet, oftentimes, we act no differently than they do.

III. SAMUEL JUDGES ISRAEL (1 Samuel 7:3-17)

Once the Ark had been returned, Samuel urged the people of Israel to repent of their idolatry and remove their foreign gods from among them. He told them to worship the LORD alone, that He might deliver them from the oppression of the Philistines. The sons of Israel obeyed Samuel’s plea and they put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth.

The Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered in Mizpah. They came up to do battle with them, and the Israelites were very afraid. Samuel told the people of Israel to cry out to God for salvation and deliverance. He offered a burnt offering and prayed on behalf of his people. When the Philistines drew near to attack, the LORD caused a great thunder which utterly confused them. The men of Israel routed the Philistines, pursuing and killing them from Mizpah all the way to Beth-car.

Samuel set up a memorial and named it Ebenezer because the LORD had helped Israel during the battle. The Philistines did not come up against Israel anymore during the days of Samuel. In fact, much of the territory they had taken was eventually restored to Israel. There was peace between the Philistines and Israel once again. So Samuel made an annual circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, ministering in each of these places. Then he’d return to his hometown of Ramah, where he had built an altar to the LORD. Thus Samuel judged Israel for the remainder of his life.

When the people of Israel turned to the LORD and sought His strength prior to the battle, they were victorious. He fought on their behalf and struck the Philistines with thunderous disarray. This is in sharp contrast to their behavior in last week’s message, when they sought the LORD’s help only after their efforts were failing. This is an important distinction that we would be wise to consider.

CONCLUSION

Following their victory over the Philistines, the elders of the 12 tribes of Israel decided to unite themselves into a single nation. Rather than continuing as a confederation of distinct, independent tribes led locally by regional judges, they desired to become a united kingdom like those around them. Though God warned them of the dangers that this change would bring, the tribes insisted. Therefore, in the years that followed, according to the LORD’s guidance, Samuel searched for, found, and crowned Israel’s first king. A new era in Israel’s history had begun, as the time of the judges (which had persisted for some 350 years) gave way to that of the kings.

Samuel continued judging in Israel until his death, although his authority was superseded by that of King Saul in his latter years. Samuel bravely stood up to and openly rebuked King Saul when he disobeyed God. This caused a fracture in their relationship. In the wake of the king’s disobedience, Samuel anointed a young boy named David to someday take Saul’s place. However, Samuel died before David ever became king. Samuel also wrote extensively, preserving the history of Israel during the age of the judges.

And so we have come to the end of our series on “The Conquering and Independent Church”. We have read as the people of God experienced seasons of victory and success followed by seasons of persecution and defeat. From the triumphs of Joshua, Deborah, Gideon, Samson, and others to the oppression of the Canaanites, Moabites, Ammonites, Philistines, and more - back and forth they went. In much the same way, our lives cycle between highs and lows - from mountaintops to valleys and back again - a rollercoaster ride that repeats itself over and over. May we as God’s children, in all of these circumstances, whether they be good or bad, trust in the Lord Jesus, our Great Judge and Deliverer!

There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel. - Exodus 25:22

In last week’s message, Samuel was a young boy when the LORD called to him during the night at the tabernacle. However, in today’s message, he appears to be a grown adult. This seems to suggest that several years have passed (approximately 15 or more) between the ending of chapter 3 and the beginning of chapter 4.

Also, in this morning’s passage we see a resurgence of the Philistines. Remember that Samson only began to deliver Israel from Philistine oppression (Judges 13:5). God used Samson to deal a mighty blow to the Philistines, but in the years after his death they obviously regrouped and continued their persecution of the Israeli tribes.

With these things in mind, let’s dig into today’s message. We will be reading and focusing on chapters 4 and 5. This sermon is called, “The Philistines Capture the Ark”.

I. THE ARK IS TAKEN (1 Samuel 4:1-11)

Samuel was widely known as a prophet throughout all of Israel and God spoke through him. Meanwhile, the resurgent Philistine army moved northward into the land of Israel and camped at Aphek. The men of Israel went out to meet them and a battle broke out near Ebenezer. The Philistines were victorious that day and killed about 4,000 men before Israel retreated back to their camp.

Having been soundly defeated in the 1st wave of the conflict, Israel’s elders decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant up from Shiloh to go with them into battle. Perhaps it would bring them good fortune. So they sent word to the tabernacle and Eli’s 2 corrupt sons, Hophni and Phinehas, brought the Ark. When they arrived at the camp with it, all of Israel shouted with excitement. The Philistines overheard the celebration, understood that the Ark had been brought up to Israel’s army, and became very afraid. The commanders of the Philistines encouraged their fearful soldiers to stand strong.

The battle resumed the next day. The Philistines defeated Israel again, slaughtering some 30,000 men.  hose Israelites who survived fled to their tents. Both Hophni and Phinehas were killed during the fight, thereby fulfilling the words of the unnamed prophet to Eli (1 Samuel 2:34). Worse than that, the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant.

Throughout the exodus and the conquest of Canaan, the Ark of the Covenant went before the children of Israel into battle. God’s manifest presence was upon the Ark and it always brought them great success. The LORD literally led them into battle. But on this occasion the Ark was merely an afterthought. After suffering defeat on the 1st day of battle, Israel sent for Ark as some sort of good luck charm to help them turn the tide. God was clearly not pleased. The LORD should never be plan B - to be called upon only after our plans fail. When we disrespect Him like this, we can and should expect disappointment and defeat. 

II. SORROW IN SHILOH (1 Samuel 4:12-22)

A survivor from the tribe of Benjamin hurried from the battlefield to Shiloh. He shared the news of Israel’s great loss and the entire city wailed. Now Eli was sitting in his chair nervously waiting for a report. He was very old - 98 to be specific - and could barely see. The messenger came to Eli and told him what had happened. He said that the Philistines had completely routed Israel and that both Hophni and Phinehas were dead. On top of that, they had taken the Ark of the Covenant. When Eli heard that the Ark had been captured, he fell backward off his seat, broke his neck, and died. Eli judged Israel for 40 years.

Phinehas’ wife, the daughter-in-law of Eli, was very pregnant at the time. When she learned that the Ark had been snatched by the Philistines, that Eli had died, and that her husband had been killed in the fighting, she went into heavy labor. She died as the result of the difficult childbirth, but not before naming her son Ichabod. The name Ichabod means “inglorious” or “there is no glory” and was given to express her grief over the Ark’s capture.

The glory of God had departed from Israel because the Ark was lost. Jesus made a similar declaration centuries later when the Jews rejected Him as their Messiah (Matthew 23:37-39). He announced that God’s favor upon and covenant with Israel would be suspended and that they would be desolate until He returned again. May we learn from their mistakes and not repeat their sins, lest the LORD’s glory depart from us also.   

III. GOD IS PROVOKED (1 Samuel 5:1-12)

So the Philistines took the Ark from Ebenezer and brought it to Ashdod, where they placed it in the temple of their pagan god Dagon. When they came in the next morning, the idolatrous statue of Dagon had fallen on its face before the Ark. So the Philistines stood Dagon up and reset him in his place. The next morning, Dagon had fallen before the Ark again. This time his head and hands had broken off, leaving only his body intact. In the years that followed, neither the priests of Dagon nor all who entered his house walked on the threshold where he fell for fear of the LORD’s judgment.

The hand of God was heavy upon Ashdod and the surrounding area. He ravished them with severe tumors and sores. So they sent the Ark of the Covenant to Gath, another prominent city in Philistia. However, God smote the people of Gath with great confusion and painful tumors broke out on them also. In desperation, they sent the Ark to Ekron. The citizens in Ekron didn’t want it because they knew the affliction that it brought. Sure enough, the LORD struck them with tumors and confusion, too. They urged the Philistine lords to send the Ark back to Israel.

The Philistines had provoked God’s anger by taking the Ark of the Covenant. They defiled the Ark by placing it beside Dagon in a pagan temple. Dagon fell on his face twice before the Ark, symbolizing that even the false gods bow and are broken before the LORD. In addition, God tormented the Philistines with tumors and confusion. They acknowledged the LORD’s mighty power, and realized that they needed to return the Ark immediately. While they didn’t trust in Him for salvation, they certainly feared His strength (James 2:19).  

CONCLUSION

Let’s do a quick recap of today’s major lessons. The LORD is not a good luck charm or a backup plan we turn to only when we get in trouble. If we treat Him in such a cavalier way, we risk the revocation of God’s glory from among us. And what’s the value of our faith and service apart from God’s glory? Finally, even the LORD’s enemies we someday bow before Him and acknowledge His almighty power.

With Eli’s death, Samuel became the final judge of the judicial era. He began his judgeship under the most dire of circumstances. The Ark of the Covenant had fallen into the hands of the hated Philistines. What would become of Israel and could they recover from this unspeakable setback? Join us next week as we find out what happens and wrap up our series on “The Conquering and Independent Church”.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; - John 10:27

Good morning. Last Sunday we began the book of 1 Samuel. We read that, during her family’s annual pilgrimage to the tabernacle, barren Hannah prayed that God would give her a son. She vowed that if God granted her petition, she’d dedicate this child to the LORD all the days of his life. Sure enough, God heard and answered Hannah’s prayer. She bore a son and named him Samuel. Once he was weaned, she honored her commitment by leaving him at the tabernacle in Shiloh under the care of Eli the priest.

Eli had 2 sons of his own who also assisted him in the tabernacle (1 Samuel 1:3). These young men were probably 20 or more years older than Samuel. Unfortunately, they were not good role models for young Samuel to admire or learn from. On the contrary, they were worthless and self-serving. Samuel was not like them at all.

I. HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS (1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-36)

Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, did not know the LORD, nor did they follow the proper procedures regarding sacrifices and offerings. The Law clearly specified what parts of the peace offering were to be given to the priests, but they greedily desired more. So they took excessive portions for themselves from the animal sacrifices that were made. They insisted that the meat they took be raw so that they might roast it later for themselves, thereby preventing the person making the sacrifice from burning the fat as prescribed. If the sacrificer objected, they would threaten to take it by force. Their sinful behavior greatly angered the LORD and upset the people of Israel.

This corruption continued for several years. It seems rather unlikely that this could have gone on for so long without Eli’s knowledge, yet he apparently turned a blind eye to it - even though his sons were sleeping with the women who served at the tabernacle. Finally, in his old age, Eli confronted them. He warned that they were sinning against God and urged them to quit. But Hophni and Phinehas did not listen to their elderly father and continued in their evil ways. His efforts were too little, too late.

The text describes the unscrupulous men that Hophni and Phinehas became. Then it reverts back to when Samuel was still just a boy increasing in favor with both God and man. Even then, Hophni and Phinehas were already acting irreverently.

An unnamed man of God came to Eli and rebuked him for knowingly allowing his sons to practice evil in the tabernacle. He charged Eli with honoring them over the LORD. He told Eli that his family would be cut-off from serving in the LORD’s house. He prophesied that Eli’s sons would both die on the same day, neither of them reaching old age, and that Eli would weep and suffer great distress. Finally, the anonymous prophet stated that God would eventually replace Eli’s family line with a new, faithful priest whose house and lineage would endure for generations.

Some have pointed to the wickedness of Hophni and Phinehas and presumed that Eli was a terrible father - but remember that Eli effectively raised Samuel, too. The fact is, sometimes kids just go their own way. This passage is not exclusively a condemnation of Eli as a parent, but more so as a priest. He was not responsible for the behavior of his adult children, but he was responsible for the operation of the tabernacle. He knowingly allowed his sons to profane the LORD’s house without taking any meaningful steps to prevent it. As such, Eli came under God’s judgment for his inaction. For Christians today, this incident highlights the importance of church discipline and the disastrous results that will come from permitting blatant sin to go on unchecked in the LORD’s house (Matthew 18:15-20). 

II. THE LORD CALLS SAMUEL (1 Samuel 3:1-9)

During the days while Samuel was ministering as a boy before Eli in the tabernacle, visions and prophetic words from the LORD were rare. God’s relative silence suggests that the people may not have desired to hear or even been receptive to His voice.  

Late one night, after Eli and Samuel had gone to bed in their tabernacle rooms, the LORD called out to Samuel. He woke from his sleep and answered, “Here I am!” The boy hurried to Eli’s chamber assuming that the voice had come from him. But when he arrived Eli said that he hadn’t called for Samuel, and he sent the lad back to bed. Not long after, the LORD called out to Samuel a second time. He arose and came to Eli again. The drowsy priest told Samuel that he hadn’t called for him and sent the child back to bed. Later that night the LORD called out to Samuel for a third time. The boy rushed to Eli’s room as he had done twice before. This time, Eli perceived that it was God who was calling out to Samuel. He instructed Samuel to go lay down, and if the voice called out to him again, to answer, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.” So Samuel returned to his room and waited.

Samuel was a young boy and this was his first personal encounter with the LORD. Is it any surprise that he initially mistook God’s calling for that of someone else? You or I would have probably done the same thing! Fortunately, Eli recognized what was happening and was ready to assist. Mature Christians should always be willing to help new, young, and/or less mature believers in their walk with the LORD. Through this experience, Samuel became familiar with the sound of God’s voice.

III. GOD’S MESSAGE TO SAMUEL (1 Samuel 3:10-21)

The LORD called out to Samuel once more. This time, Samuel asked God to speak. The LORD told Samuel about the judgment He’d declared against Eli for consciously permitting Hophni and Phinehas to profane the house of God. Their family would be permanently removed from the priesthood. Samuel’s prophetic message was virtually the same as that of the unnamed prophet who had already spoken to Eli.

The next morning, Eli approached Samuel and asked him to share his vision. Young Samuel was initially afraid to do so, perhaps fearing how Eli would react, but the priest insisted. So Samuel told Eli everything that the LORD had said. Shockingly, Eli didn’t seem troubled by the prophecy and somewhat callously stated, “Let God do what seems good to Him.” Eli had already heard this same rebuke from the unnamed prophet, so Samuel’s vision simply reaffirmed it. Apparently Eli had accepted his fate, as he made no efforts to change it.

In the years that followed, Samuel grew into manhood. All of Israel recognized him as a prophet of the LORD who had spoken directly with God at Shiloh. None of his prophetic words failed. Samuel was highly regarded among the people as both a priest and prophet.  

CONCLUSION

Take a moment to consider this… Samuel’s boyhood calling was to rebuke and chasten his mentor, elder, and father-figure Eli. There is no doubt that this was uncomfortable and challenging for him to do. That said, even as a lad, he bravely obeyed the LORD. He delivered a difficult message. Meanwhile, Eli was sheepishly unwilling to discipline and punish his 2 sons for their sinful behavior in the tabernacle. Eli wasn’t necessarily a bad man, but he was weak. We see this same lack of courage in Pontius Pilate. May we have the strength to stand up for the LORD, even if it means reprimanding members of our own family.

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. - 1 John 5:14-15

This morning we move into the book of 1 Samuel. The first 7 chapters of 1 Samuel describe the lives and ministries of Israel's final 2 judges - Eli and Samuel. Both of these men were priests who served in the tabernacle at Shiloh. They will be the topic of our discussion over the next 4 weeks, as our sermon series over Israel’s conquest and judicial era winds to an end.

Based upon most of the relevant timelines I’ve seen and studied, it seems most probable that the events described in today’s message actually took place a few years prior to the judgeship of Samson. In other words, 1 Samuel does not begin exactly where Judges ends, but rather backtracks a few decades causing the 2 books to overlap each other somewhat. With this setting in mind, let’s get started…

I. ELKANAH AND HIS WIVES (1 Samuel 1:1-18)

Elkanah was an Ephraimite from the town of Ramathaim-zophim. He had 2 wives: Hannah, who had no children, and Peninnah, who did have children. Peninnah spitefully teased and provoked Hannah because she was unable to bear children, so that the pair became rivals.

Each year, Elkanah and his wives would make the pilgrimage to Shilioh in order to worship the LORD and offer sacrifices at the tabernacle. At this time, Eli’s sons Hophni and Phinehas were serving as priests there. Elkanah apparently offered a peace offering on behalf of his family because portions of the sacrifice were returned to them in order to be eaten (Leviticus 7). Elkanah would divide these portions between his wives later during the meal. He would give Hannah a double share, because he loved her and she was barren. Despite his generosity and kindness, Hannah was overcome with sorrow and Elkanah was unable to console her.

After eating, Hannah went to the tabernacle to pray. She was in great distress and swore to God that if He’d allow her to have a son she would give him to the LORD all the days of his life. Now Eli the priest was watching Hannah as she prayed silently, and based on her mannerisms he thought she was drunk. Eli approached her and began to question her, to which Hannah explained that she wasn’t drunk but rather in anguish of spirit. Eli blessed her and asked the LORD to grant her petition. So Hannah returned to her family filled with hope and expectation.

Centuries earlier, during the days of the patriarchs, there was a similar situation. Jacob had 2 wives also - Leah, who had given birth to several children and Rachel who was unable to have any. However, in due time God blessed Rachel and opened her womb. She ended up having 2 sons - Joseph and Benjamin. Perhaps Hannah looked to Rachel as a source of strength and inspiration. Hannah knew that with God anything is possible and she trusted in His provision. Therefore, she turned to Him in prayer. May we learn from and follow Hannah’s example.

II. SAMUEL IS BORN AND DEDICATED (1 Samuel 1:19-28)

Elkanah and his wives left Shiloh and returned home the next morning. Not long afterward, the LORD remembered Hannah and she became pregnant with Elkanah’s child. 9 months later she gave birth to a son and named him Samuel, which means in Hebrew, “God has heard”.

It was time once again for Elkanah and his family to make their yearly trip to Shiloh. However, on this occasion, Hannah stayed home with the newborn baby who was still just an infant. Hannah convinced Elkanah that they should wait until the child was weaned before dedicating him to the LORD. Weaning usually took place between the ages of 18 months and 5 years old. Thus, a few years passed. Once Samuel was weaned they took him to the tabernacle, along with some items to be sacrificed, intent on giving him to God. They made their offerings and dedicated young Samuel to the LORD. Hannah told Eli the priest about the promise she’d made during her last visit to the tabernacle and how God had answered her. Even Samuel, though just a small boy, worshiped the LORD.

God always hears and answers the sincere prayers of His people. Unfortunately, sometimes our prayers are selfish and/or misguided so the LORD says “No”. On occasion, the timing of our petitions isn’t right so the LORD says “Wait”. But whenever we ask God to do something that is in line with His will for our lives right now, He answers “Yes”. In Hannah’s case, He miraculously allowed her to have a son. The key to an effective prayer life is to align our will with God’s and to identify and pray for the very things that He already desires to give us.

III. HANNAH REJOICES AND IS BLESSED (1 Samuel 2:1-11, 18-21)

Hannah burst into an expression of praise and thanksgiving to God. In it she exalted the LORD and declared that there is none like Him. She described how God humbles the proud and shatters the mighty, while raising up the poor and the weak. She emphasized that God can make even the barren give birth, as He’d done for her. She declared that the LORD watches over and protects His own, while judging those who contend against Him. When she finished singing, Hannah and Elkanah returned home to Ramah. However, they left young Samuel with Eli the priest in fulfillment of the vow they’d made.

Eli raised and trained Samuel. As a boy, he lived and ministered in the tabernacle at Shiloh. He even wore priestly garments as a child. Each year, when his parents would come to make their annual sacrifices to the LORD, Hannah would bring Samuel a robe that she’d made for him. If he was like most kids, he had already outgrown the previous one! Also, Eli would bless both Elkanah and his wife for dedicating their son Samuel to the LORD. God permitted Hannah to have several more children - 3 sons and 2 daughters. Meanwhile, Samuel continued to grow.

Hannah’s song is 1 of many found in the Bible. According to an article I read, there are at least 185 psalms, or songs, recorded in Scripture. 150 of them are included in the book of Psalms, 5 make up Lamentations, and the Song of Solomon is itself a song. The others are scattered out across the Old and New Testaments. There are battle and victory songs, prophetic songs, dirges and lamentations, and even songs of rejoicing and praise. Music is an important part of our faith, and it always has been. 

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, both Elkanah and Hannah serve as tremendous role models for us. He led his family well, faithfully offering sacrifices each year, and joined with his wife in dedicating Samuel fully to God. As for Hannah, she took her sorrow and burden directly to the LORD and asked Him to give her a son. She trusted in His power and provision. When God answered, she worshiped Him and sang praises of thanksgiving. Elkanah and Hannah were a godly couple, who acted in righteousness and obedience.

Next week we will continue the story of Samuel, and contrast him with Eli’s 2 older, biological sons Hophni and Phinehas. We will also read about the LORD’s prophetic calling of Samuel. Until then, let your light shine so that others might see Jesus in you.

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13

During his early adulthood, Samson had several run-ins with the Philistines. He burned their vineyards and fields, killed many of their people, and was a constant source of irritation and agitation. The Philistines longed for the day when they might arrest Samson and punish him for the damage he’d caused. Nevertheless, because of his superhuman strength, capturing Samson had proven to be a risky proposition.

This morning we will wrap-up our discussion of Samson. We will focus on his rocky relationship with Delilah and how it ultimately led to his demise. This portion of Samson’s story is, perhaps, the most well-known part of his life.

I. THE HARLOT OF GAZA (Judges 16:1-3)

Although he was a wanted man in Philistia, Samson was not intimidated and continued going there. He went down to Gaza, a leading city of the Philistines, and spent the night with a prostitute. When the Gazites learned that he was in town, they surrounded the place where he was, secured and fortified the city gate so that he couldn’t escape, and laid in wait planning to kill him in the early morning. However, Samson got up around midnight, pulled down the city’s gate along with the posts that held it, and then carried them on his shoulders to the top of a mountain near Hebron, several miles away in the land of Israel.

Samson’s overnight trip to Gaza provides another example of his moral shortcomings. It also foreshadows events to come. The Philistines failed to catch him again and realized that their attempts to do so were futile because of his amazing strength. If they were ever going to get him, they needed a new approach…

II. SAMSON TEASES DELILAH (Judges 16:4-14)

Sometime later, Samson fell in love with a Philistine woman named Delilah who lived in the valley of Sorek. The leaders of the Philistines offered her a bribe of 1,100 pieces of silver if she’d entice Samson into revealing the source of his strength so that they could bind him. So Delilah asked Samson to reveal his secret. He told her that if he was bound with 7 fresh cords he’d become weak like any other man. So, presumably while he was sleeping, Delilah tied Samson up with 7 fresh cords and alerted the Philistine authorities who came and waited in the inner room. Delilah cried out, “The Philistines are upon you!”. Samson arose and snapped the cords, so that their attempt to capture him was averted.

Delilah moaned that Samson had lied to her and pleaded with him to tell her the true secret of his strength. So he said that if he was bound with new ropes that had never been used before he would become weak like any other man. Again, presumably while he was sleeping, Delilah tied him up with new ropes while several Philistines hid in the inner room nearby. When she woke him from his sleep, Samson broke the ropes as if they were thread.  The Philistines’ plan had failed once more.    

Delilah continued to press and coax Samson into telling her how he could be bound. He told her that if she’d weave the 7 locks of his hair and fasten it with a pin, he’d become weak like any other man. While he slept, she did just that. Then she cried out, “The Philistines are upon you!” and he sprung up, pulled the pin from his hair, and was as strong as ever.

Delilah’s repeated attempts of persuasion were reminiscent of Samson’s first bride in Timnah who seduced him into telling her the answer to his riddle. Ultimately, she was able to find out Samson’s secret and, as we will see in the coming verses, so did Delilah. There is a lesson for us here… the Enemy knows your weaknesses and will exploit them again and again in order to destroy you. This is why we must submit to God and seek His strength in order to resist the Devil’s frequent attacks (James 4:7).

III. SAMSON REVEALS HIS SECRET (Judges 16:15-22)

Though she had failed 3 times previously, Delilah continued urging and enticing Samson. He eventually became annoyed with and worn down by her persistence. Finally, he revealed his secret. He told her that he’d been set apart by God as a Nazirite from the womb, and that if his hair was shaved off he’d become weak like any other man.

Delilah alerted the Philistines and they came and hid in the next room as they’d done before. While Samson was sleeping, she cut off all his hair. Then she cried out and Samson awoke. However, his strength was gone because the LORD had departed from him. Seeing his weakness, the Philistines sprung forth and arrested him. They paid Delilah her bribe, gouged Samson’s eyes out, and led him to Gaza in chains. They cast Samson into prison where he worked grinding grain. As time passed by, Samson's hair began to grow back…

It is difficult for me to understand why Samson trusted Delilah. Based upon his past experience in Timnah and Delilah’s seemingly obvious allegiance to the Philistines, it confounds me that he’d tell her his secret. Perhaps he thought she was just playing with him (he didn’t know that there were actually Philistines waiting to ambush him) or perhaps he was just overconfident in himself believing that nothing bad would happen. For whatever reason, he made a foolish decision and should have known better. May this be another lesson for us, that we practice awareness and are not surprised by something we should have seen coming.

IV. SAMSON IS AVENGED (Judges 16:23-31)

The lords of the Philistines, along with many regular citizens, gathered to offer sacrifices to Dagon their god and to celebrate Samson’s incarceration. As the party ramped up, they had Samson brought out from his prison cell to entertain them. This was done to further humiliate the once mighty champion. Samson stood in the center of the house between 2 pillars. Because he was blind, Samson asked the young boy who was leading him around by the hand if he might feel the pillars that supported the house in order to lean on them. Meanwhile, all of the Philistine officials and people in the house, as well as about 3,000 watching from above through the open roof, looked on as Samson amused them.

Then Samson called out to God pleading for a final burst of strength that he might avenge himself from the Philistines. He took hold of the 2 main pillars upon which the house rested, 1 with his right hand and the other with his left hand. Then he shouted, “Let me die with the Philistines!” and he pulled the load-bearing pillars toward himself so that they broke. The entire house crumbled and fell, killing all those assembled inside and those who had been standing on the roof. Samson took out more Philistines in his death than he had throughout his life.

A few days later, Samson’s brothers and family members came to retrieve his body. They took him home and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. At the time of his death, Samson had judged Israel for 20 years.

For most of his life, Samson was extremely self-centered. He took what he wanted and threw a fit whenever he couldn’t have it. He constantly provoked his enemies and recklessly flirted with danger. Samson’s parents, who had been visited by the Angel of the LORD prior to his birth, almost certainly expected him to turn out differently. Yet, in his final moments, Samson humbly submitted to God and acted sacrificially. Though he’d stumbled all along the way, in the end Samson finished well.

CONCLUSION

Like his birth, Samson’s death also shares some similarity with that of Jesus. Both gave their lives voluntarily in order to deliver their people from the grip of the enemy. While Samson’s victory over the Philistines was short-lived, Jesus’ victory over sin and death was complete and eternal. Samson spread his arms wide to grasp and break the pillars. Jesus spread His arms wide to be nailed to the cross, where He sacrificed Himself to pay for our sins and secure our forgiveness. Have you received salvation by placing your faith in Jesus Christ?

We have now completed the book of Judges, but there are still a few more judges to consider. They are covered in the opening chapters of 1 Samuel. Join us next Sunday as we enter into the homestretch of our series on “The Conquering and Independent Church”.

Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. - 1 Chronicles 16:11

Good morning. Today we will continue our 3-part study of Samson - the 12th judge named in the book of Judges. In our message last Sunday, we read about how the Angel of the LORD appeared to Samson’s parents, Manoah and his wife, to tell them of his coming birth. We discovered that Samson was a miracle baby, conceived by and born of a mother who was previously barren. Finally, we found out that Samson was a special child, set apart as a Nazirite by God from the womb, who would someday begin to deliver his people from the Philistines.

The Bible doesn’t give us any information about Samson’s childhood. There is a gap of around 20 or more years between Samson’s birth at the end of chapter 13 and the events we’ll discuss today in chapters 14 and 15. Our focus this morning will be on the strained and contentious relationship between Samson and the Philistines and how it developed. 

I. SHE LOOKS GOOD TO ME (Judges 14:1-11)

Samson, now a young man, traveled to Timnah in the land of the Philistines. While there, he saw and was strongly attracted to a beautiful woman. When he returned home, Samson asked his parents to arrange a marriage between him and this woman. His parents were disappointed that he had rejected the daughters of Israel and instead desired to marry an uncircumcised Philistine, yet Samson insisted. They did not realize that this was God’s plan.

So Samson and his parents went to Timnah together. Along the way, a young lion sprang out from the vineyards at Sampson. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him and he killed the lion with his bare hands. Apparently he was not with his parents when this occurred - they didn’t see it happen and he didn’t tell them about it. When they arrived and found the beautiful Philistine woman and her family, arrangements were made for Sampson and her to be married. Samson and his parents went home to wait.

When the betrothal was over, Sampson returned again to Timnah with his parents to get his new bride. He turned aside to see the carcass of the lion he’d killed earlier, and found a swarm of bees and honey were in its lifeless body. Samson scraped some honey out of it with his hands and ate. He even offered some to his father and mother, who also ate. However, once again they didn’t see the lion and Samson didn’t tell them where the honey had come from.

After arriving in Timnah, a customary wedding feast was thrown to celebrate the joyous marriage. However, the Philistines seemed somewhat unsettled by Samson. They sent 30 young men to befriend him, mingle with him, and keep an eye on him.

II. RIDDLE ME THIS (Judges 14:12-20)

Samson proposed a riddle to his 30 young Philistine companions. He stated that if they could solve the riddle before the end of the 7-day wedding feast, he’d give each of them a linen wrap and a change of clothes. If they couldn’t solve it by then, each of them would have to give Samson a linen wrap and a change of clothes. They accepted the challenge and Samson gave them the riddle, “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” What was it?

3 days passed by and the Philistine men couldn’t figure out the answer. So they threatened Samson’s beautiful young wife to entice him into telling her the answer - otherwise they’d kill her and burn down her father’s house. So she began weeping and telling Samson that he didn’t love her because he wouldn’t tell her the solution to his riddle. Samson initially resisted her, stating that even his parents didn't know. Eventually her charms were too strong, and he told her the answer. She immediately went and told her Philistine kinsmen and they came to Samson with the solution on the last day of the wedding feast.

Samson was furious that these “companions” had used his wife to lure him into revealing the riddle. So he went to the nearby city of Ashkelon and killed 30 Philistines, took their linens and clothes, and gave them to the young men as their reward for solving the riddle. Obviously, this didn’t sit well with the Philistines nor the bride’s father and Samson’s marriage was revoked. His wife was given to another man, most likely 1 of the 30 supposed friends.

III. FIRE IN THE FIELDS (Judges 15:1-8)

Some time later, during the wheat harvest, Samson again returned to Timnah determined to acquire the wife that had been taken from him. However, her father refused to let him go in to her because she was now married to someone else. Instead, perhaps out of fear of what Samson might do, the father offered his younger daughter to become his wife. Samson rejected this outright, as such a substitution was completely unacceptable.

Samson was greatly disgruntled and upset because he’d been denied, so he went out and captured 300 foxes. He paired the foxes up and tied torches between their tails. Then he lit the torches and released the foxes in the fields, vineyards, and groves of the Philistines. As a result, much of their grain, grapes, and harvest was burned up. When the Philistines learned that Samson had acted out of anger because his wife had been withheld from him, they went and killed both her and her father. A heartbroken Sampson vowed revenge upon them for the death of his forbidden love. He ruthlessly struck the Philistines with a great slaughter, killing an untold number of men, and then took refuge at the rock of Etam.

IV. THE DEADLY JAWBONE (Judges 15:9-20)

The Philistines came and camped at Lehi on the western edge of Judah. They told the Judahites that they’d come to arrest Sampson and take him back with them to Philistia. At this time, the Philistines ruled over this region of Israel and the Judahites didn’t want to cause trouble. Therefore, Judah agreed to retrieve Samson for them. 3,000 men of Judah were dispatched to the rock at Etam to take Samson into custody. When they arrived, Samson voluntarily surrendered himself to them on the condition that they not kill him, so they bound him with new ropes and led him back to Lehi.

When the Philistines saw him, they shouted for joy at his capture. Suddenly the Spirit of the LORD came upon Samson and he broke the ropes that constrained him as if they were burnt and brittle. Freed from his bonds, Samson picked up the jawbone of a donkey presumably lying on the ground and used it to kill 1,000 Philistines. After the massacre ended, he boasted of his victory, tossed the jawbone aside, and renamed the place Ramath-Lehi which translates “hill of the jawbone”.

Samson became very thirsty, perhaps from the intense fighting that had just occurred. He cried out to God in thanksgiving for His deliverance, but also to request a much needed drink. The LORD split a hollow place (likely a hole or crevice) in the ground and water flowed from it. Samson drank, was strengthened and revived, and named the site En-hakkore which means “Fountain of the Crier”. This spring is in the city of Lehi. Samson judged Israel for 20 years during the days of Philistine oppression.

CONCLUSION

Over the course of today’s message, we read that Samson singlehandily killed a lion with his bare hands, 30 Philistines to take their clothes, several more Philistines who murdered his wife, and 1,000 more Philistines with a donley’s jawbone. Whenever the Spirit of God came upon him, Samson was endowed with incredible, superhuman strength. For this reason, he is sometimes thought of as “the Hercules of the Bible”.

Despite his physical strength, Samson also exhibited several character flaws. He seemed more infatuated by a woman’s appearance than by her character or faith. He was highly susceptible to her charms, which would turn out to be his downfall. He was extremely volatile and lacked-self-control, prone to destruction and violence whenever he became upset or frustrated. Finally, he was obviously ambivalent about the terms of the Nazirite vow, as evidenced by touching the carcass of the dead lion. Samson was an impulsive, reckless, and shallow man in many respects… yet God still used him in spite of his shortcomings.