Judges 13:1-5

The vow of the Nazarite: In the Hebrew, the word translated Nazarite is nazir which means “unshorn” (as of hair) or “unpruned” (as a vine). It is derived from another Hebrew word nazar which means “to hold aloof,” “to abstain,” or “to separate.” Another variant of this word is nezer, which is used to refer to something set apart by dedication. The angel told Samson’s mother that her child was to be a Nazarite, one set apart and dedicated to the Lord. As a Nazarite, Samson was to be a person of the vow. (Num 6)

 

In Numbers 6 the vow of the Nazarite is as followed:

 

  1. The renunciation of any and all products of the vine
  2. The prohibition against the use of the razor on his head (no haircuts)
  3. The avoidance of contact with any dead body

 

One of the key words that is repeated is separate, nazar meaning to dedicate, consecrate, separate! The other Hebrew word is pala which means to be marvellous, be wonderful, be surpassing, be extraordinary, separate by distinguishing action.

 

Be ye Holy (Peter 1:16) we must refuse to coexist with compromise.

 

Look at your neighbor and say to them that Holiness is still right! The church has become so worldly and the world has become so churchy that it is hard to tell the difference. There is no separation, no distinction. In God’s eyes, there are two camps the saved and the unsaved and He wants the dividing line clearly marked.

 

It/s time to stop compromise and friendly coexistence with sin. It is time for confrontation, not accommodation! It is time to meet the devil head to head, to tell him to go home and get what he has stolen from us and to put it back. The bible says that if a thief be caught he must restore 7 fold!!!!!! Prov. 6 30Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

31But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

 

We are wallowing in a swamp of perversion and filth; yet, it seems our people are so adjusted to the green, filthy water that it will take caring and determined preachers to literally pull these lost souls from the mire of their lives, to tell them there is a way to break the devil’s power so that they can begin to live again as free men and women the way God originally intended.

 

We live in a wretched world, deep in moral decline. We are riding on a bobsled headed straight for hell; yet, no one wants to talk about sin. So we unwittingly continue to bathe in slimy swamp waters.

 

Keep these 3 things in mind as we continue through the life of Samson.

 

An interesting point to note is in Judges 14:1 in the Hebrew the word or name Timnath mean “a hodling in check” Timnath was “a place of check” Samson ignored the check He flexed his bulging Pentecostal muscles and recalled the exploits of his youth. But the mistake he made was he went past the check. Prov. 16:8 Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

 

At one time or another, every man, woman, boy, or girl has headed toward something or has decided to do something that seemed so appealing to the mind and the body! The flesh and wanted it, but on the inside, in the spirit realm, there was a check. We need to stop ignoring the Holy Spirit as He is warning us and telling us not to go down that route. Stay away from this one or get away from that one. Don’t get married to him or her! But we decide to listen to our flesh and then later on after we find out that this wasn’t what God said in the beginning, we come crying to God! Help me get out of this thing that I am in! Look at Rom7:14-21, Rom 8:13-14

 

When he got pass the place of the check what was waiting for him? Judges 14:2. The Bible says this to be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers …2 Cor. 6:14. Samson knew this godly principle, just like we do, but he chose to ignore it. Just as we do. He went to the place of the check and fell into temptation. He saw a Phillistine woman who was lustrous and infatuating. He followed the heat of his flesh rather that the warning of the Lord. Satan always has something prepared for us to deceive and destroy us.

 

Why didn’t Samson find a wife in the camp of Judah? Even his own father and mother asked him:

 

Judges 14:3

 

Samson was stubborn and headstrong. He wanted his own way. Like old blues eyes Frank Sinatra when he penned the words of one of his greatest hits, “I did it my way.” He was willing to compromise in order to fulfill his own carnal desires. And one compromise always leads to another.

 

With all of this as a man who has the Vow of the Nazarite he hadn’t even made his first Compromise up till this point.

 

Judges 14:5

 

God had warned Samson, “Keep away from wine and strong drink.” But Samson did not heed this warning. He purposely went down to Timnath, and cane to the vineyards. Timnath was the largest producer of grapes and wine in the whole Philistine area. Despite God’s warning, Samson was right in the middle of the place of the vine. This was his first compromise. How many of us can see us in this predicament. Don’t raise your hand or don’t say amen too loud you don’t want anyone to know this. You want everyone to think that you are saved sanctified Holy Ghost filled and fire baptized and that with a mighty burning fire, got Jesus on my side and I’m running for my life.

 

Let’s go to Samson’s second compromise.

 

 

Judges 14:8, 9

 

He killed the young lion which “roared against him” at the vineyards. On his return he looked into the lion he had slain and decided to enjoy the sweetness of his kill. When Samson reached down to get the honey out of the lion’s belly, he touched its dead body. This was the second vow he had broken!

 

You and I can preserve our own lives by not violating the check in our spirit. Something may look innocent—an association, a business deal, a person. We may not understand what is wrong with the situation, but the Lord will warn us through a check in our spirit.

 

Satan often uses something desirable to seduce and destroy. He will present something to us that we desire. Like Samson, we will reach down and take it. While we are reaching for that thing, we will break a vow. We will compromise. And we don’t tell anyone, just as Samson didn’t tell his parents because he like we are ashamed. See there is a confidentiality clause that has been developed in the church that is killing the saints. We don’t want to tell no one our short comings because we don’t want anyone to know that we have a problem. Or if there is something that weakens our super powers, like kryptonite is to superman. Or if I were on the football field coaching I would say a “chink in the armor.”

 

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.

 

Don’t condemn me, pray for me

Don’t judge me, heal me

Don’t fault me, restore me

 

And the Bible says Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

 

Don’t talk about me when I am down, help me get back up again. Pull me out of this! I need your help!

 

These are the places that we fall short in and what the devil has set us up with. My pastor refers to it as the hush hush syndrome. You have to be like that old woman in that life alert commercial, HELP I’VE FALLEN AND I CAN’T GET UP!!!!

 

 

Remember this WHAT WE COMPROMISE TO GET WE WILL LOSE. ALWAYS!

 

Now I don’t have the time to really get into all the other stuff that Samson got into but you all know the story. I have been told that I got 30 min. I won’t say who told me that but they are here. Don’t look up or around or funny because everyone will know who you are. I am going to look away so they can’t tell who it is.

 

Let’s look at the final compromise.

 

Judges 16 Samson is in the city of Gaza which means stronghold. He goes from the place of the check to the place of the vines now to a strong place, a stronghold.

 

Judges 16:18, 19

 

Samson is lulled to sleep. The Church today is in the lap of the world and being lulled to sleep. We want to be like other world. We want to go to church on Saturday evenings so we can have Sunday to ourselves. We want to drink with the world. We want to hold dances in the church. We want to have Christian sex!

 

Why do such things happen? Because people are not taught the Word of God. If the Bible is not taught, then people are easily deceived. If we don’t stand for something, we will fall for anything. We get folk so called saved give them a few scriptures and send them on there way. Or get them saved and put them in an auxiliary of the church. They’re ushering and got demons, deacons and stealing money. Giving ministers license and sleeping with everyone and anyone because they haven’t been sanctified. Do you know that you can go online a get a ministers license from some other organization? They don’t know you, and will give you a license. Just like 1-800 dial a prophet. Folk get mad at the pastor because they tell the pastor that they have been called to preach and the pastor doesn’t acknowledge the ministry. I was taught that your shepherd will know before you do because God will tell him or her. Whatever happened to waiting on your ministry?

 

Whatever happened to disciplining? Jesus said we are to make disciples of all men. What ever happen to folk coming to the altar and we prayed with them until they get a break through. Whatever happened to taking time with the people of God? Bet if you came in here with your issues you would want the preacher to take as much time with you to help you deal with your issues. We have become so selfish instead of selfless. Wondering when the preacher is going to finish preaching because we got stuff to do. Even right now some of you are thinking about what you got to do when you get home. Some of you are worrying about what is going to be on your desk at work tomorrow. Take no thought for tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself. If you can’t say amen just say ouch!

 

Back to this last vow that was broken a razor was taken to his head he had no strength. He thought that he could shake himself again and the spirit of the Lord would come upon him as usual. He had another thing coming. He was shaking but had no power. He came to a place called Ichabod which means the glory of God has departed! When we need a miracle, a word of knowledge, a word of wisdom, an intervention from the Lord, we will rise and shake ourselves and try to go out as before, only to discover that the Spirit of God has departed from us.

 

 

 

Judges 16:22-25

 

You and I are in a time of transition. Some things appear to be somewhat unstable, but we are growing again. It takes time for hair to grow.

 

Samson was humiliated and stripped of his anointing and power. The Philistines made a mockery of him. But it ain’t over until its over! They gouged his eyes out not realizing that it only helped him out. Sometimes God has to blind you so that you can really depend on Him and Him alone! The Bible says that we walk by faith and not by sight. God is setting you up to fulfill your destiny! Although you have gone through the things that you have gone through and people have given up on you. You still got a chance.

 

I heard someone say sometime ago that He is the God of a second chance. Although it looks like its looks grim and seems to be no way out! There is a second opportunity coming to you! Your hair is growing back. Hair is described as glory in one translation. Your glory may have been cut, and you may be in the place of Ichabod where the Glory has departed your hair is growing back! Just as quick as it is cut it is growing back already!

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