I. Samson’s birth foretold (Judges 13:2-5)
a. What is a Nazirite? (Numbers 6:2-5)
b. What is the purpose of being a Nazirite?
II. Philistine wife and the riddle game (Judges 14)
a. Why does Samson desire the Philistine woman? (verse 3)
b. Kills a lion (verses 5-6)
c. Propounds a riddle at wedding feast, wife betrays him under duress (verses 12-18)
i. How was she threatened? (verse 15)
d. Kills 30 Philistines to settle his riddle debt (verse 19)
e. Wife given to his best man (verse 20)
III. Revenge (Judges 15)
a. Finds his wife has been given to best man, vows revenge (verses 1-3)
b. Catches 300 foxes, ties them in pairs with a torch between them, sets them loose in Philistine fields and vineyards (verses 4-5)
c. Philistines kill Samson’s wife and father-in-law (verse 6)
d. Samson strikes the Philistines with a great slaughter (verse 8)
e. Betrayed by the men of Judah, Samson submits willingly (verses 11-13)
f. Breaks bonds, strikes down 1000 with the jawbone of a donkey (verses 14-16)
i. Why a donkey’s jawbone?
ii. Who does Samson think is responsible for the outcome of the battle?
g. Samson’s thirst quenched by miraculous means
i. God answers Samson’s call
IV. Gaza, Philistine stronghold (Judges 16:1-4)
a. Samson sees a harlot, stays with her
b. Enemies surround city, plan to kill him when he leaves in the morning
c. Samson awakes in the middle of the night, rips the gate and doorposts up and leaves city
V. Delilah (Judges 16:5-22)
a. Why does Samson tell Delilah the secret of his strength?
b. Samson’s eyes are gouged out by the Philistines. Does this seem especially notable?
VI. The Philistine Temple (Judges 16:23-31)
a. Philistines hold a great feast for Dagon, bring Samson in for entertainment (verse 25)
b. Samson calls out to God for strength (verse 28)
i. Should Samson have expected God to answer his prayer?
c. Samson brings down the temple of Dagon and kills 3000 Philistines
VII. Hero of Faith (Hebrews 11:32-34)
a. How did Samson display such faith as to be mentioned here?
b. Does he deserve to be mentioned in such company?
Commentary:
-Samson was a Nazirite, meaning he was supposed to be set apart for the Lord. This makes it ironic that Samson's main problem was worldliness. Sure, he didn't cut his hair, but far too often he chose the world (Philistine wife, the harlot in Gaza, Delilah) rather than the laws of God.
-Samson's most notable sins all occur because of the lust of his eyes. His punishment then, while not uncommon in that time, is very fitting.
-Is Samson a hero of faith, or is his example just recorded for our benefit?
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