Story of Samson

[His_Disciple]

I went to my weekly young adult ministry last night and we were studying Samson. Wow! Through Judges 13-16 It was insipiring to hear how God empowered this man. The pastor said the scariest verse in the Bible was where it said "He didn't know the Lord had left him." That is beyond scary. I was thinking about that and wonder.

It really doesn't matter how "good" we think we are only GOD can declare us his holy people. You know cus I was thinking what's the point unless I get someone else saved but then think hey wouldn't GOD want his child to grow in relationship? Sometimes I think it's all about me but really it's all about him so I don't need to worry about saving others because I can't even save myself. That's a God-thing and I am just a piece in one big puzzle

Any thoughts or ideas on this great bible story. :scripture

[Deepcallstodeep]

It really doesn't matter how "good" we think we are only GOD can declare us his holy people. You know cus I was thinking what's the point unless I get someone else saved but then think hey wouldn't GOD want his child to grow in relationship? Sometimes I think it's all about me but really it's all about him so I don't need to worry about saving others because I can't even save myself. That's a God-thing and I am just a piece in one big puzzle



:thumb

However, even though salvation is His work, we can still live our lives as a song of worship and praise, that others can see and witness. We want to try to live our lives in a state of constant "revival!" Others have said many times here that our lives may be the only "Bible" our unsaved friends and loved ones read.

I would even say that when we start thinking we are good, or strong in our flesh (like Samson), we are totally missing the mark. We are dust. Sort of filthy dust at that. But... the more we allow the Lord to shine through us, through our daily submission, the more He can accomplish with us.

For me, the story of Samson is powerful because if we're not careful before the Lord to walk in humility, our temptations/weaknesses can be our downfall. But even THEN we are never past repentance and forgiveness.

[His_Disciple]

Yeah I guess I am too fixated on bringing someone to Christ and when I don't see the immediate fruit from witnessing. I need to realize that GOD could use anything for his Glory and stop worrying and trying to do it all myself.

You made an excellent point when we think we are strong in our flesh we need to realize we are dust, I love that you said that! We are just that dust. and God could wisk us away at any moment.

It reminded me of who truly is in control and actually helped build my trust in GOD. Before hearing this story I really thought GOD was kindof just a loving peackeeping father but hearing this it really showed his dominant power and how I should fear him and trust in him in any situation!!

IF he can empower Samson to kill 1000 men then he certainly has the ability to strengthen me in any circumstance in this life. But what really hit home is my impression of man who I have been fearing. (What will poeple think) After hearing this story I started trusting GOD more and noticed when that happens you have no reason to fear man who cares what he thinks after all it is not man that will judge us. So we should have fear for the THE JUDGE of Mankind, now that is power

[Deepcallstodeep]

Hi again Disciple!

You know, I never felt good at witnessing. In the sense that when I am asked the "hard questions," I don't always have an answer. I'm not quick on my feet, I have to think and pray awhile. My brother for example is a great sophist... he'll argue anything just for the sake of arguing. He thinks I'm a little bonkers since I was saved. If you look through the evangelism and apologetics forum here, you'll see many others who are much more gifted than I am about responding to the hard questions.

As I have prayed about this, it's become so clear to me that salvation is not our work, it's the Lord's work. So there's nothing we can say to coerce someone to believe! Also, I was saved in a private moment... not listening to someone witness, not at a church alter call, not listening to a sermon... I was alone in my car!!!

But... the Lord has also shown me that the more time I spend in His presence in prayer and in the Word, the more I love Him, the more I am blown away by His salvation and grace, the more I just want to live for Him. And over time the Word becomes more etched in my heart, and I can draw on more scripture as I grow in Him. And my whole life has changed. My family sees it, my unsaved friends see it. I know I am not the #1 choice for apologetics. But... I have seen my friends start to call on me for advice, or when they are sad and hurting... they ask for prayer or are just looking for a word in season. As I pray in my heart while they talk to me, the Lord always gives me a sense of what to say or do: when to listen, when to talk, when to just "be there." I know that it's His light they are drawn to and not me, because they knew me before I was saved and never shared the same struggles with me then. So I just pray to be the best child of His I can be, so that others can say, now what is it that she really has in her life? And they will start seeking the Lord on their own.

Yes we have an all-powerful Lord, to be feared... however I am so blown away by His love and mercy, that I find that my "spiritual cup overfloweth" with love and joy in Him, and not fear. If there's anything I fear, it's trying to do things in my own strength and not in His. That's when I fall on my face every time, and grieve the Spirit.

When I was first saved, I worried a lot about what people would think. I was not raised in a Christian home and had no Christian family or friends. I was saved after my marriage and even now my husband is still unsaved. I wondered what it meant for my life, that the Lord had reached down and grabbed me, and changed me permanently. But as I continue to walk with Him, and He led me to a wonderful church family, I grow in faith and confidence (trust in Him, as you said), and I know ALL things are in His hands. As we fall more in love with Him, we realize there is nothing we need to fear if we do our best to be faithful in prayer and staying in the Word and in fellowship with Him. We also will never ever be perfect while we're still here on earth. We need to rely on Him for everything.

Every day I tell my Father that there's nothing special or even good about me or my life, except that He created me the way I am and that His Spirit now lives in me. I just pray that He can use me and that I will be a faithful servant, because it's all about glorifying Him and not about us or what anyone thinks of us. Didn't the apostle Paul say that he doesn't even judge himself (1 Cor 4:3)? As you said, the Lord alone is our judge.

[jelaine]

Deep, you are one mature sister in Yahaushua!

Praying for you, wow! GBY!

[Deepcallstodeep]

Hi jelaine! You are very sweet.

But I'm just a big schmuck saved by grace. :nod

Thank you for the prayers though, esp. for my husband.

Hey Disciple, is the Lord showing you anything else about Samson?

I was reading a children's Bible story about him to my kids (6 & 4). My older son was very thoughtful afterwards. I asked him what he was thinking about. He asked me why Samson kept loving Delilah when even he (my son) could tell she was "not being very nice."

It made me think about how hard it can be to turn our backs on the things that our flesh loves, but the Lord tells us to run from those things. We need to rely on His strength.

On a funnier note, my son wanted to know if he would be stronger if he grew his hair (he was hopeful; he hates getting haircuts!). :lol2

[jethro]

Samson sort of had a thing for "questionable" women.

I've always liked this story of the last Israeli Judge as well -especially the part about the lion carcasss. To me, the story was an example of the word of God using a bent stick to draw a straight line. Samson (unfaithful) was a contrast to the prophet Samuel (faithful).

[ea7aqp]

Deep, When someone is filled with the Spirit they Shine, your Shining Deep.

[antitox]

Samson was used in a unique way by God - probably not the way we would expect. Samson had a temper. God used that to accomplish a purpose, and it fit in quite well with his task of delivering Israel from the Philistines.

There were moments when Samson got angry and the Spirit of the Lord would come upon him, and then he would have the strength to rout the enemy. But by the storyline, it appears as though he was an earthy kind of guy, and did pretty much what he pleased.(e.g., Delilah).

The covenant was initially established between God and his mother concerning his Nazarite vow and his role. Now we know that Samson was raised under this vow, but how personal or moral things were to him is unclear since he was playing around with Delilah.

In the end, Samson came to grips with his error, and God finished the task of delivering Israel.

I am a firm believer that God uses attributes/tendencies in each person to accomplish His purpose, and I think that's part of the reason that God is so understanding of how each of us is, and treats everyone in an individual way.