Nathan W. Bingham

Well, now we turn back, and that's sort of the context in which to read they again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. It must be that again they had become idolatrous. And we know that this story will end in the temple of Dagon, right? Well, it doesn't quite end there, but it nearly ends there. And it's clear that Israel has been going after the gods of the Philistines.

Well, now we turn back, and that's sort of the context in which to read they again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. It must be that again they had become idolatrous. And we know that this story will end in the temple of Dagon, right? Well, it doesn't quite end there, but it nearly ends there. And it's clear that Israel has been going after the gods of the Philistines.

That's what the again means, I think. This idolatry is back in their life. And so what happens? So the Lord gave them into the hands of the Philistines for 40 years. Now think how dramatic that number is for 40 years. We've been in the land of promise. God has brought us to the land flowing with milk and honey. He's blessed us by giving us this land.

That's what the again means, I think. This idolatry is back in their life. And so what happens? So the Lord gave them into the hands of the Philistines for 40 years. Now think how dramatic that number is for 40 years. We've been in the land of promise. God has brought us to the land flowing with milk and honey. He's blessed us by giving us this land.

And now it's like we're right back in the wilderness. It's almost like we're back in the slavery of Egypt because the enemy has oppressed us this protracted period of time, 40 years. Forty years. And it's a sign, it's a symbol of how far they have fallen, that it's as if they've been taken out of the promised land. And of course, that's ultimately what will happen to Israel, isn't it?

And now it's like we're right back in the wilderness. It's almost like we're back in the slavery of Egypt because the enemy has oppressed us this protracted period of time, 40 years. Forty years. And it's a sign, it's a symbol of how far they have fallen, that it's as if they've been taken out of the promised land. And of course, that's ultimately what will happen to Israel, isn't it?

They'll be exiled after centuries of kingship, but already it's all being anticipated here. They're enslaved in their own country. Forty years. Think how long that is. And here is the tragedy that is besetting Israel. And what's the solution? Well, the solution has to be that God will raise up a judge again. And God has been doing that. But the judges have become progressively weaker.

They'll be exiled after centuries of kingship, but already it's all being anticipated here. They're enslaved in their own country. Forty years. Think how long that is. And here is the tragedy that is besetting Israel. And what's the solution? Well, the solution has to be that God will raise up a judge again. And God has been doing that. But the judges have become progressively weaker.

And the judges themselves have become progressively more sinful. And the fruitfulness of their deliverance has become shorter term. And so we can almost anticipate what's going to happen with this next judge who's about to come. But that's the background now for the need for Samson, for Samson to arise. And now we get to the Samson story. But of course, as we look, we discover we don't get Samson.

And the judges themselves have become progressively more sinful. And the fruitfulness of their deliverance has become shorter term. And so we can almost anticipate what's going to happen with this next judge who's about to come. But that's the background now for the need for Samson, for Samson to arise. And now we get to the Samson story. But of course, as we look, we discover we don't get Samson.

25% of the Samson story is about his parents before he's born. So again, we're a little bit surprised by how this story is told. I think most of the time in Sunday school when we talk about Samson, we don't spend a lot of time on his parents. But 25% of the story is given to the story of his parents before his birth.

25% of the Samson story is about his parents before he's born. So again, we're a little bit surprised by how this story is told. I think most of the time in Sunday school when we talk about Samson, we don't spend a lot of time on his parents. But 25% of the story is given to the story of his parents before his birth.

And so, clearly, the Lord intends that this be a preparation for us to really think about Samson and the context in which he's born, the task that the Lord is giving to him, and As we're going to study and as we're going to see, this story is very intricately told, very carefully thought through. And I think one way of thinking about the whole Samson story is a story in four acts.

And so, clearly, the Lord intends that this be a preparation for us to really think about Samson and the context in which he's born, the task that the Lord is giving to him, and As we're going to study and as we're going to see, this story is very intricately told, very carefully thought through. And I think one way of thinking about the whole Samson story is a story in four acts.

It's almost a play, a story in four acts. Act one is the parents of Samson and the preparation for his birth as we find it in Judges chapter 13. And then Act 2, which is his marriage to the Philistine woman and the disastrous consequences of that, which really take up chapter 14 and 15. And then Act 3, which I think is Judges 16, verses 1 through 3. I think Act 3 is just three verses.

It's almost a play, a story in four acts. Act one is the parents of Samson and the preparation for his birth as we find it in Judges chapter 13. And then Act 2, which is his marriage to the Philistine woman and the disastrous consequences of that, which really take up chapter 14 and 15. And then Act 3, which I think is Judges 16, verses 1 through 3. I think Act 3 is just three verses.

I'll explain that as we go along. And then the fourth act, maybe the most famous, Samson and Delilah, chapter 16, verse 4 to the end. So here we have four acts. We could also say maybe four snapshots. We've seen snapshots all through the book of Judges. Four snapshots, four acts out of his life. Judges Israel were told for 20 years, which is a relatively long time.

I'll explain that as we go along. And then the fourth act, maybe the most famous, Samson and Delilah, chapter 16, verse 4 to the end. So here we have four acts. We could also say maybe four snapshots. We've seen snapshots all through the book of Judges. Four snapshots, four acts out of his life. Judges Israel were told for 20 years, which is a relatively long time.

And yet these snapshots we have, these acts of his life are really very short, right? The few days around his marriage to the Philistine woman and the tragic consequences of that, maybe another week or two. The one day of Act 3, those three verses. the beginning of chapter 16, and then the Samson and Delilah story, which is maybe another few weeks.

And yet these snapshots we have, these acts of his life are really very short, right? The few days around his marriage to the Philistine woman and the tragic consequences of that, maybe another week or two. The one day of Act 3, those three verses. the beginning of chapter 16, and then the Samson and Delilah story, which is maybe another few weeks.