The Darkest Hours Book Preview

Samson: Desperate from Shame Biblical Passages: Judges 13:1–7; 16:4–30 Supporting Passages: Judges 13:8–25; Judges 14–15; 16:1–3, 31; Hebrews 11:32–34 Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 2:4 Biblical Truth: God restored Samson’s strength and used his shame to bring Samson closer to Him and to carry out judgment on the Philistines.

Philistines The Philistines were a tribal Consider . . . group that lived in the southwest part of Palestine. The There are moments in life when we blow it . . . like, really blow it. Sometimes it seems that we Philistines were a major threat could not make things worse even if we tried. What are we supposed to do when this happens? to early Israel’s existence.

How can we make things better? Fix things with ourselves? With God? The word Philistine in Hebrew means “immigrants.” They Samson was a guy divinely blessed in a unique way, and someone with whom God showed were a fierce fighting force. incredible patience and mercy. But Samson blew it . . . really blew it. Toward the end of his story They were a powerful sea it seems that he could not make things any worse even if he tried. However, thankfully for him, people who formed five major and for us, his story did not end there. In a moment of complete desperation, Samson finally got cities: Gath, Ekron, Ashdod, it right. He realized God had created him for a specific purpose. He learned that although many Ashkelon, and Gaza. Their were against him, he was solely to blame for his own sin. And despite everything, God was still political organization weaved there whenever Samson cried out for Him. the five cities into one, giving them great success in the region. They were extremely religious. Victories were celebrated in their temples. For many generations, the Philistines proved to be a challenge to the people of Israel.

Created for a Purpose (Judg. 13:1–7)

Solely to Blame (Judg. 16:4–22)

Following the death of Joshua, a generation arose among the people of Israel who did not know God or much about His work. They turned to their own way of doing things.

God would get angry with the people and allow another nation to rule over them. The people would then cry out to God for deliverance, and He would anoint a judge, someone to help deliver and counsel the fledgling nation.

Eventually, Israel would return to doing things their way, creating a cycle that runs throughout the Book of Judges.

Samson’s reign as judge did not come without controversy.

He married a Philistine woman. He broke two of his Nazirite vows by drinking wine and touching the carcass of a dead lion to get some honey. He murdered 30 of his enemies to pay off a gambling debt. He gave his wife angel of the Lord to his best man once he tired of her. He visited prostitutes.

The angel of the Lord was And he seemed to delight in a messenger of God who the torment of his enemies by at times is described as the finding increasingly creative Lord Himself. The messenger ways to harass and kill them. In conveyed revelation or instrucspite of all of this, however, God tion to people who otherwise remained with Samson and used could not see God Himself him in mighty ways. But then and live.

Delilah entered Samson’s life.

In Judges 13, the people of Israel had turned away from God and His ways once again. In response, God allowed the Philistines to invade and conquer them. After 40 years of Philistine domination, however, God decided to deliver His people. The angel of the Lord came to visit the wife of Manoah of Zorah, who was unable to have children. The angel told her that she would conceive and bear a child.

Because the son she would bear had a very special purpose, she was forbidden to drink any wine or eat anything unclean. Her son would be a Nazirite and would deliver Israel from the Philistines. She told her husband and did just as God commanded.

Reread verses 4–5. What do you think it meant for Samson’s parents to know that God was working out His purposes for Samson’s life even before his birth? ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ What does it mean for you to know God was working out His purposes in your life even before your birth? ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________

Nazirite

Samson fell blindly in love with Delilah, a Philistine woman. In an effort to conquer Samson, the leaders of the Philistines hatched a plan with Delilah to discover the source of Samson’s strength. Three times, Delilah used her intimate relationship with Samson to attempt to persuade him to reveal his secret to her. He responded by lying.

During each of these times, the Philistines attempted to destroy the false source of strength Samson had told Delilah. Yet Samson still did not catch on.

A Nazirite took a vow to

separate from the world and consecrate himself to God.

The word in Hebrew means “consecrated or devoted

one.” The Nazirites committed to do three things: abstain from wine or other intoxi-

cating drinks (maintain selfcontrol), refuse to cut their

hair (a visible symbol of the

vow), and refuse to touch or go near a dead body (stay

ceremonially pure). Samson,

Samuel, and John the Baptist were the only lifelong Nazirites found in the Bible.

The third time Delilah begged him to tell her, Samson relented and revealed to Delilah that his uncut hair, the last of his Nazirite vows to remain unbroken, was the source of his strength. This time the

Philistines cut Samson’s hair. Samson discovered that his strength was indeed gone because the Lord had left him.

The Philistines seized and bound him and gouged out his eyes. They imprisoned Samson and forced him to work hard labor.

his sin and asked that God remember him in spite of it.

God’s strengthening of Samson resulted in the death of more enemies of Israel than throughout Samson’s reign as judge as well as a display of God’s power over that of the Philistine’s god, Dagon.

Despite Delilah’s cunning deceptiveness and the constant threat of the Philistines, Samson only had himself to blame for his predicament. Samson did not lose his strength because his long hair had held some sort of magic. Rather, God decided Samson would now have to suffer the consequences of his sin.

Reread verses 28–30. What do you think led to Samson’s newfound humility in his prayer to God? How does God use your own shortcomings to produce good in you?

Reread verses 15–17. Since Samson was obviously aware of his vows and purpose in life, why do you suppose he was so eager to defy God and do things his way? What makes it easy for us to act the same way?

_______________________ received 1,100 pieces of silver

Delilah

Delilah, the Philistine woman with whom Samson fell in

love, conspired with the rulers of the Philistines to discover the source of Samson’s

strength and subdue him. She

___________________________________________ ___________________________________________

A Cry of Desperation (Judg. 16:23–30) The Philistines celebrated their victory over their enemy Samson by offering a sacrifice to their god, Dagon. As part of their celebration they had Samson brought out of the prison so that he could entertain them. Since Samson had lost his eyes, he had to be led to the celebration. Once there, he requested that his hands be placed on the pillars of the house. Then in desperation, Samson cried out to God, asking the Lord to grant him strength one last time.

God heard Samson’s prayer and answered by granting his request. Samson pushed the pillars so hard that the house collapsed, killing himself and all of his enemies.

In this final act Samson displayed a humility he had never before possessed along with a willingness to fulfill the purpose for which he had been created. He recognized

from each ruler.

_______________________ Dagon

Because God Is, He told Samson’s mother, “You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive” ( Judg. 13:3). What is not possible with humanity is within God’s control.

Dagon is an ancient

Mesopotamian deity. He

usually has the body or trunk of a fish with the head and

hands of a man. Dagon is the

national god of the Philistines.

Baal is considered the son

Because God Is, He is able of Dagon. Dagon is a grain to accomplish His purposes and fertility god with famous despite our failures. The angel temples in Gaza and Ashdod. had pronounced that Samson Some historical texts show would “begin the deliverance Dagon being worshiped of Israel from the hands of before the time of Abraham. the Philistines” ( Judg. 13:5).

The Canaanites worshiped Yet, Samson’s life seldom Dagon up to the time of demonstrated the faithfulness Christ.

God expects from His people.

Nevertheless, God’s purpose was accomplished through Samson, in spite of Samson’s failures. What Samson had failed to accomplish through his own strength, God allowed him to accomplish at the end of his life.

Daily Bible Readings Day 1 — Before I was Born Read Judges 13:1–6.

Samson understood that even before he was born, God had called him to a special task. He knew even in the midst of tough times that God had created him for a specific purpose, and that purpose proved to be even greater than he originally thought. As you journal below, consider: What does it mean for you to know God has had a purpose for you even before your birth? What role do you think God has called you to play in bringing His salvation to the ends of the earth?

Pause to Pray: Pray for God to birth in you a renewed passion for the purpose to which He has called you. Ask Him where He would use you to further His Kingdom here on earth.

Day 2 — Set Apart Read Judges 13:7–8 and Numbers 6:1–21.

God explained that Samson was chosen, even before his birth, to work as a Nazirite. God gave the people of Israel specific guidelines for those who desired to be set apart for His work as a Nazirite. The guidelines required demonstrating selfcontrol, remaining ceremonially clean, and displaying a visible symbol of this vow. As you journal below, consider: How has God called you to be set apart for His work? What guidelines has He established for your life that you might live obediently and effectively? How does He help you live according to His guidelines?

Pause to Pray: Pray for God’s forgiveness when you have failed to be set apart from the world. Pray for His continued help in living a life set apart for Him according to His guidelines.

Day 3 — Unfaithful Read Judges 14:3–9.

Although Samson was called to serve in the special role of a Nazirite, he abandoned that role. As he traveled to Timnah, a lion confronted him. God gave him the strength to kill the lion. Unsatisfied, however, Samson returned to the lion’s body and touched its carcass, breaking a Nazirite vow. He had forgotten what God required of him and decided to do things his way. As you journal below, consider: When have you have neglected God’s faithfulness? Do you ever choose to live life your way as opposed to God’s? What is it like to suffer consequences for your sin? How has God delivered you from sin?

Pause to Pray: Pray that God will reveal to you areas in your life in which you live on your own terms. Repent of that sin. Then praise God for His grace, mercy, and deliverance.

Day 4 — Restore Me Read Judges 16:23–31.

At the end of Samson’s life, he realized how far he had strayed from what God had called him to do. He recognized his sin but did not wallow in his guilt. Instead he cried out to God, asking for one last chance to do God’s work. As you journal below, consider: Have you ever felt paralyzed by your shame and guilt? How did you respond to God’s conviction in those moments? How did He respond to you? What good have you seen God accomplish in spite of your shortcomings?

Pause to Pray: Praise God for His continued faithfulness in your life. Pray that you might find motivation rather than paralyzation during moments of shame from sin. Thank God for continuously working good in your life.

Day 5 — He Hears Read 2 Chronicles 7:13–14.

God heard and granted Samson’s request. God demonstrated this level of grace to His people throughout the Old Testament. At the consecration of the Temple in Jerusalem, God wanted His people to know that even when he chooses to punish them for their sin, He is always ready and willing to hear their prayers. As you journal below, consider: When have you have cried out to God in desperation? How did He respond in each circumstance?

Pause to Pray: Thank God for the times He has answered your prayers. Commit to relygin on God, not using Him as a last resort.

Lesson 1—Samson: Desperate in Shame Biblical Passages: Judges 13:1–7; 16:4–30 Memory Verse: “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.” 2 Timothy 2:4 Table Talk Question: Does shame in your life bring you closer to God or farther away from Him?

DESPERATE IN SHAME

1. God calls us to be ___________ and ___________ for His Kingdom ( Judg. 13:1–7).

2. God allows us to face the consequences of failing to ___________ ___________ our callings ( Judg. 16:4–22).

3. God does amazing things when we cry out to Him in ___________ ( Judg. 16:23–30).

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER • What instructions did God give for Samson’s life? How does God want all of us to live a consecrated life?

• How did Samson put his trust in Delilah instead of God? In what ways do you put your trust in people instead of God? • How did Samson experience shame for his sin? How have you experienced shame?

• How did Samson’s shame bring him to a point of desperation for God to work in his life?

• How can shame bring you closer to God? In what ways do people allow shame to keep them from depending on God?

FOR FREE THOUGHT

“I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who overcomes his enemies.” —Aristotle, In Stobaeus, Florilegium

Answers: 1. useful, consecrated; 2. live out; 3. desperation.

OUTER VS. INNER

We can use our gifts outwardly to serve God and bless others. However, sometimes we have inner areas of weakness associated with these gifts. A gifted communicator may feel tempted to manipulate others with words. A generous person may have pride if he or she gives to gain others’ praise. Record three gifts you believe God has given you, and then answer the following questions.

Gift #1: _____________________________ How am I using this gift to bring glory to God? ______________________________________________________ Is there a potential weakness associated with this gift that might cause me to sin? _________________________________________________________________________________________ What can I do to strengthen myself inwardly so that I use this gift appropriately? _________________________________________________________________________________________

Gift #2: _____________________________ How am I using this gift to bring glory to God? ______________________________________________________ Is there a potential weakness associated with this gift that might cause me to sin? _________________________________________________________________________________________ What can I do to strengthen myself inwardly so that I use this gift appropriately? _________________________________________________________________________________________

Gift #3: _____________________________ How am I using this gift to bring glory to God? ______________________________________________________ Is there a potential weakness associated with this gift that might cause me to sin? _________________________________________________________________________________________ What can I do to strengthen myself inwardly so that I use this gift appropriately? _________________________________________________________________________________________