1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and Delilah said to Samson, tell me 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 1: I pray thee wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith 3 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: thou mightest be bound to afflict thee Judges sixteen six. 4 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 1: Dear God, as the story of Samson rings in my ears, 5 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: it helps me to learn the valuable lessons that lie 6 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: within the words of Judge sixteen. Through Samson, I too 7 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: realize that the strength of my abilities and the power 8 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: of my moving on my behalf only come from my 9 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:41,480 Speaker 1: obedience to You and your word. I come against any 10 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: thinking or behavior that would have me rely on my 11 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: own understanding, causing me to believe that I can accomplish 12 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: great things apart from You, Lord. I choose to walk 13 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: in the truth that I am simply because You are. 14 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: As I continue on my journey to fulfillment and purpose, 15 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: I will become self correcting and aware of the moments 16 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: I step off the path. Through your health, Holy Spirit, 17 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:18,320 Speaker 1: I declare that I live and stay in alignment. I 18 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: will not sacrifice my anointing for the simple comforts and 19 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: pleasures that can lead to my downfall. I am locked 20 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:31,400 Speaker 1: in and ready to finish the race of purpose before 21 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: me in Jesus name. Amen, thank you for praying with 22 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 1: me today. Continue listening for an incredible Bible story brought 23 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: to you by Bible in a Year dot com. 24 00:01:54,120 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 2: Samson's downfall. In our last story, we saw Samson's streng 25 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 2: and pettiness on display. He developed a rivalry with the 26 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 2: Philistines over his wife, and out of anger and revenge, 27 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 2: he burned their crops and slaughtered one thousand of their 28 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 2: men with the jawbone of a donkey. God used Samson's 29 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 2: strength and foolishness as a weapon against the enemies of Israel. 30 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:25,359 Speaker 2: Now we see Samson's descent into his own sin. His 31 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 2: foolishness abounds, and he finds himself captive to a witch 32 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 2: in the armies of the Philistines. As inspired by the 33 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:34,240 Speaker 2: Book of Judges. 34 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm pastor Jack grayeb with today's episode of the 35 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. In our last episode, we 36 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 3: saw how Samson used his strength both to exact his 37 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 3: own revenge and as a tool in God's hand to 38 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 3: push back the oppressive Philicites. His anger and quick temper 39 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 3: left a trail of destruction and death across the region. 40 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 3: But God used even Samson's failures to winek in Israel's enemy. Ultimately, 41 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 3: Samson was filled with God's spirit and righteously defended his 42 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 3: fellow Israelites, leading to him being judge over the people 43 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 3: for twenty years. But tragically, Samson's lust, disobedience, and foolishness resurface, 44 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 3: and rather simply compromising with danger, he plunges headlong into sin. 45 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 3: Entangled with an evil woman, his strength will be no 46 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 3: match for her hold on his mind. It is a 47 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 3: tragic tale of unchecked sin, but still God will use 48 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 3: Samson to ultimately win a victory over the Philistines. So 49 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 3: listen to today's reading. 50 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 2: It was dark and the city of Gaza had fallen asleep. 51 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 2: The only lights came from the dim candles illuminating the 52 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 2: small room where Samson and the prostitute lay. Their shadows 53 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 2: moved against the walls as they moved to one another's bodies. 54 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 2: Throughout the night, Samson drowned out his sorrows and insecurities 55 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 2: in the sheets of the prostitute woman. The Gazites had 56 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 2: caught word that Samson was staying in the city. They 57 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 2: surrounded the prostitute's home and set up an ambush at 58 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 2: the gate of the city, and Casey escaped. They kept quiet, 59 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 2: planning their attack for when dawn broke they slept, not 60 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 2: knowing that Samson escaped out the window at midnight. Stealthily, 61 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 2: Samson moved through the alleys of the city towards the 62 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 2: front entrance. Samson stood in front of the gate. The 63 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,839 Speaker 2: gate was looming over Samson, four times his size and 64 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 2: made of pure steel, The gate stood as a barrier 65 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 2: between him and freedom. Samson gripped the steel beams of 66 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:49,479 Speaker 2: the gate and began pulling. Samson's arms were hard as stone, 67 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 2: and his legs were planted firmly in the ground for support. Slowly, 68 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 2: the steel began to rip off its hinges, and the 69 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 2: gate lifted from its foundation. Samson rose the gate above 70 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 2: his head and began to walk out of the city. 71 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 2: With the strength of an elephant and the stealth of 72 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 2: a cat, Samson stole Gaza's main form of protection and 73 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 2: escaped into the mountains. Meanwhile, the Philistines were planning their 74 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 2: attack against Samson. The lords of the Philistines plotted and 75 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 2: schemed as to how they would topple the mighty Man 76 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 2: of God. Clearly, no army large or small could come 77 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 2: up against him, and they knew no other way to 78 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:34,359 Speaker 2: bring him to his knees. They did, however, know of 79 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 2: one weakness. Samson had a weakness for beautiful women. They 80 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 2: sent for a woman named Elilah and paid her one thousand, 81 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:47,160 Speaker 2: one hundred pieces of silver to seduce him. She came 82 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 2: to Samson with smooth lips and a sharp tongue. She 83 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 2: stroked his hair and kissed his neck. Samson, in an instant, 84 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 2: fell deeply in love with Delilah. Her seductive voice and 85 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 2: clever words words lured Samson into a daze of passion 86 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:07,840 Speaker 2: and vulnerability. She whispered in Samson's ear, where does your 87 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 2: strength truly lie? She leaned against him. Samson could smell 88 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 2: her hair. She was intoxicating to him. How would anyone 89 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 2: be able to capture you? Samson was enraptured by her, 90 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 2: but still in his right mind to toy with her. 91 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:29,600 Speaker 2: Samson answered her and said, the secret is seven fresh 92 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 2: bow strings that have not been dried. Once they bind me, 93 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 2: have become weak like any other man. So Delilah playfully 94 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 2: bound Samson up, while the Philistines lay in secret waiting 95 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 2: to ambush him. Then Delilah tested the strings and yelled 96 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 2: quick Samson. The Philistines are coming, and in an instant, 97 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 2: Samson broke through the strings, ready for battle. So the 98 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 2: secrets of Samson's strength were still a mystery. Delilah was 99 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 2: upset with Samson, but Samson continued to toy with her. 100 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 2: Three times she bound him, and three times he escaped, 101 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 2: for he thought they were playing as lovers do. But 102 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 2: Delilah only loved one thing, silver, and she would not 103 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 2: receive it unless Samson was captured. Delilah wept in front 104 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 2: of him, saying, how could you tell me you love 105 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 2: me when your heart does not trust me? She cried, yelled, 106 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 2: and pressed up against him and begged. Day after day, 107 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 2: she wore him down, and Samson became vexed beyond all reason. 108 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 2: All of Samson's inhibitions melted like candle wax against Delilah's flame. 109 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 2: So he told her the source of his strength. I 110 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 2: am a Nazarite by birth. A razor has never shaved 111 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 2: my head, and if it did, my strength would leave me. 112 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 2: Delilah was satisfied in the secrecy of nights. She had 113 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 2: Samson rest on her lap. She stroked his hair. As 114 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 2: Samson fell into a deep sleep, Delilah smiled as she 115 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 2: looked at Samson, although she did not smile out of 116 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 2: affection or love for him. No, she smiled because the 117 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 2: Philistines were waiting just beyond the walls of her bedroom. 118 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 2: With her silver she nodded towards the door, and a 119 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 2: man approached Samson with a blade in his hand. Together, 120 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 2: they shaved off seven locks of hair from his head. 121 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 2: She tormented him, whispering lies and curses into his ears. 122 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 2: Then with a loud shriek, she yelled, Samson, the Philistines 123 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 2: are here. The Philistines sprung on to Samson and tackled 124 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:40,199 Speaker 2: him off the bed on to the floor. Samson struggled, 125 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 2: waiting for a burst of strength to send the men 126 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 2: flying through the wall. But he had no strength. You see, 127 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 2: Samson's strength was not in his hair, but in the 128 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 2: favor of God. Samson had spent most of his adult 129 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 2: life straying from God, and he had now broken his 130 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 2: last vow. The Jenes bound him and pulled his head back. 131 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 2: The Philistine lords looked down at Samson with cackles. Samson 132 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 2: looked behind them as Delilah counted her silver. Tears streamed 133 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 2: down his face as he pulled and kicked in futility. 134 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 2: Samson looked at one of the men standing above him. 135 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 2: He turned to the fireplace and pulled out an iron rod. 136 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 2: Its tip was orange from the flames. He slowly approached 137 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 2: Samson and drove the tip of the rod into his eyes. 138 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 2: Samson wailed in pain, and his screams woke up the 139 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 2: entire city. The men drug him out of the house 140 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 2: and shackled him to the wall of the Philistine Temple. 141 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 2: Samson knelt in total darkness. Weakness was new to him, 142 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 2: and he yelled in pain through the night. The lords 143 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 2: of the Philistines gathered together at the temple to make 144 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 2: sacrifices to their gods Dagon. Together, three thousand Philistines gathered 145 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 2: to celebrate the capture of Samson. They drank, danced, and 146 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 2: reveled in victory. The fire raged in the center of 147 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 2: the large hall, and Samson could hear the snickering of 148 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 2: Philistines passing by him. The Philistines called for Samson to 149 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 2: be chained in the middle of the great hall to 150 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 2: entertain the guests. Their hearts were merry and drunk, and 151 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 2: they laughed at Samson and threw things at him as 152 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 2: he was being brought to the center of the temple. 153 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 2: They chained him between two pillars that held up the 154 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:32,680 Speaker 2: temple roof, and all three thousand men and women mocked him. 155 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 2: The music grew louder, and they worshiped Dagon into the 156 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 2: middle of the night. Samson was lost in his thoughts. 157 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:43,679 Speaker 2: He was supposed to be the deliverer of Israel, and 158 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 2: here he stood, blind and bound. It was not the 159 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:50,960 Speaker 2: Philistines that trapped him there, but his own pride and 160 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 2: lack of obedience to God. Samson raised his head to Heaven. 161 00:10:55,760 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 2: Unable to see, he took a deep breath. Oh, Lord Lord, 162 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 2: he shouted, remember me in strengthen me, just this once, 163 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 2: and then Samson began to pull on his chains that 164 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 2: were attached to the two pillars. The Philistines noticed and laughed. 165 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:17,679 Speaker 2: Samson continued, and small cracks began to form around the 166 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,679 Speaker 2: foundation of the pillars. Samson screamed as he tore at 167 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 2: the pillars. The philistines smiles began to fade, and Samson 168 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 2: whispered to himself, let me die with the Philistines. And 169 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 2: in that moment he bowed with all his strength and 170 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 2: pulled the pillars apart. The entire temple floor fell from 171 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 2: the sky, and the walls toppled on top of all 172 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 2: three thousand Philistines. Below. Flames erupted from the center of 173 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 2: the temple as stones crushed the backs of God's enemies. 174 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 2: A cloud of smoke covered the wreckage. Dawn had broke, 175 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 2: and the sunrise peaked above the hills. In the middle 176 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 2: of the wreckage. Among the bodies of the Philistines lay 177 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:07,440 Speaker 2: Samson's dead body. In that moment, Samson accomplished more in 178 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 2: death than he ever could during his life. The strongest 179 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 2: hero Israel had ever known, experienced more victory and sacrifice 180 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 2: than he did selfishness. The story of courageous self sacrifice 181 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,960 Speaker 2: would be perfected later on in another hero. God said 182 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 2: his sacrifice would topple the greatest enemy of them all. 183 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 3: Our reading begins with Samson giving in to the cravings 184 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 3: of his flesh. This Nazarite man, born with such promise 185 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:44,559 Speaker 3: and set apart for God, was anything but wholly and separated. 186 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 3: As he wandered into Gaza, Samson made arrangements with a 187 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 3: prostitute and took her to bed to satisfy his lust. 188 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:56,199 Speaker 3: His sin was not hidden either, because word got out 189 00:12:56,240 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 3: about the Hebrew strong man and hero in the Philistine city. 190 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 3: It was the chance they had been waiting for to 191 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 3: defeat the one man that stood between them in total 192 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 3: dominance over Israel. But Samson snuck out under the cover 193 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 3: of night, taking with him the whole city gate, which 194 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 3: he ripped from the ground. The Philistines attempt to defeat 195 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 3: Samson had been thwarted again, but it wouldn't take long 196 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 3: before an even better opportunity arose for the Philistines. Samson 197 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 3: became enamored with another Philistine woman named Delilah, and she 198 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 3: was trouble with the capital t Delilah captivated Samson, and 199 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 3: the leaders of the Philistines saw their chance to pounce. 200 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 3: They summoned Delilah and paid her to seduce Samson and 201 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 3: get him to give up the secret to his strength. 202 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 3: They knew that without his might, Samson was just another man, 203 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:52,440 Speaker 3: easily defeated. Delilah happily obliged her eyes on the prize 204 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 3: of silver a payoff, so she asked him how he 205 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:59,680 Speaker 3: could be defeated, How could he be subdued? What is 206 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 3: the of his strength? Now? Samson was not completely stupid. 207 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 3: He wouldn't give up his secret easily, but he can 208 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 3: still have some fun. And we see how clever Samson 209 00:14:10,679 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 3: can be. And he no doubt knows that pridefully thinking 210 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 3: nobody can get the better of him. No wonder, the 211 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 3: Bible tells us that pride comes before a fall. Three 212 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 3: times he gives her a wrong answer, and each time 213 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 3: she tries and fails to subdue him. Finally, she tells him, 214 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 3: if he loves her, he will tell her his secret. Tragically, 215 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 3: Samson reveals that his head must never be shaved. That 216 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 3: very night, his head was shaved, and with the breaking 217 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 3: of the Nazarite vows, God's favor departed along with his strength, 218 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 3: and for the first time ever, he was powerless, but 219 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:47,560 Speaker 3: not because of his hair, but because of his broken 220 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 3: relationship with God. The Philistines bound Samson, mocked him and 221 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 3: goused out his eyes. Blind and bound, Samson was imprisoned 222 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 3: and made to turn at a millstone over and over. 223 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 3: Here we see the blinding and the grinding power of sin. 224 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 3: He could hear his captors worshiping their god Dagon. Not 225 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 3: only were they mocking Samson, but mocking the god who 226 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 3: gave him his strength. Samson's physical blindness and bondage were 227 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 3: a direct consequence of his spiritual blindness and bondage to 228 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 3: sin that had put him in this terrible place. And 229 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 3: as he turned the mill, Samson must have talked to 230 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 3: God and seek forgiveness for his sin. His hair began 231 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 3: to grow back. It became again an outward sign of 232 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 3: an inner renewal of his faith in God. So when 233 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 3: Samson is paraded into the Sinner to the temple to 234 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 3: be mocked, he asked to lean on the columns, and 235 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 3: then he cries out to God in Judges sixteen twenty eight, 236 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 3: Oh Lord, God, please remember me and please strengthen me. 237 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 3: Only this once, o God, that I may be avenged 238 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 3: on the Philistines for my two eyes. He prays for 239 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 3: one more opportunity to glorify God. God fills Samson once 240 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 3: more with superhuman strength, and he pulled down the pillars, 241 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 3: destroying the pagan temple and killing three thousand Philistines. Samson 242 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 3: sacrificed his own life to defeat the enemy. It is 243 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 3: a powerful story of renewed faith and repentance. And no 244 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 3: matter how far we may have fallen, God will pick 245 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 3: us up if we trust in Him and once again 246 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 3: find our strength to go forward. Dear Lord, we thank 247 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 3: you for your forgiveness. We know, like Samson, we have 248 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 3: failed you many times, but we also know that when 249 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 3: we trust in you and revive our hearts in you 250 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 3: through repentance in faith, we can be restored. God, restore 251 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 3: our hearts in you, and may we repent of every 252 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 3: sin that we may stand strongly for you in Jesus's name. Amen. 253 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 3: Thanks for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 254 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 3: I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download Theprey dot 255 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 3: com app and make prayer a priority in your life. 256 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 3: If you enjoy this podcast, share it with someone you love. 257 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 3: By sharing this podcast, you can make a difference in 258 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 3: someone's life. If you want to know more about the Lord, 259 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:16,639 Speaker 3: how to know him, how to serve him and be 260 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 3: his disciple, then let me encourage you to visit my website, 261 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 3: which is Jack Graham dot org. We would love to 262 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 3: assist you in any way possible as you grow in 263 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 3: your journey of faith. Again, that's Jack Graham dot org. 264 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 3: God bless you.