Scripture Focus (Judges 16:21-31) – “And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. 22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved. 23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” 24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.” 25 And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. 26 And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained. 28 Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. 31 Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.”
I. The Harsh Reality That Found Samson (Judges 16:21-22)
A. He lost his power (Judges 16:21a) – “And the Philistines seized him…”
B. He lost his vision (Judges 16:21b) – “…and gouged out his eyes…”
C. He lost his freedom (Judges 16:21c) – “…and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles.”
D. He lost his purpose (Judges 16:21d) – “And he ground at the mill in the prison.”
E. He retained his sonship (Judges 16:22) – “But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.”
II. The Hollow Victory That Deceived the Philistines (Judges 16:23-25a)
A. They had their moment (Judges 16:23) – “Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.”
B. They had their narrative (Judges 16:24) – “And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.”
C. They had their man (Judges 16:25a) – “And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them…”
III. The Hallowed Halls Which Samson Entered (Judges 16:25b-31 + Hebrews 11:32)
A. Without eyes, Samson began to see (Judges 16:25b-26) – “…They made him stand between the pillars. 26 And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.”
B. Having eyes, the Philistines were blind to what was coming (Judges 16:27) – “Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.”
C. Being chained, Samson began to get free (Judges 16:28-29) – “Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other.”
D. Having lived selfishly, Samson died selflessly (Judges 16:30) – “And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.”
E. Having squandered much, Samson received much grace (Judges 16:31)– “Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years…”
Hebrews 11:32 – “And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets.” Look at those with whom Samson is mentioned