e100 Challenge Day 29 - Samson Defeats The Philistines - Judges 13:1-16:31

Parent Advisory (PG-14) - If you have young children you might want to read this material first and summarize the story in an age appropriate manner.

Today's passage is very challenging to understand. It is filled with sinful attitudes and behavior with mention of murder, hatred, revenge, lust, prostitution, deception, and betrayal. 

To understand this time better we need a little background.  During this period, often called the "cycle of the Judges," Israel is under God's discipline for their rebellion against Him as described in Judges 2:6-23.  A pattern, recorded in the Book of Judges, is repeated multiple times.  Look at the diagram below to understand the cycle...

Judges 13:1-16:31 describe one of these times where Israel's rebellion resulted in God's discipline under the hand of the Philistines.  God is faithful to hear the cry of His people and raises up another person to protect them, i.e., Samson.

Though the details of the story are disturbing at times, Samson reads like a modern comic book hero.  Let's see if we can see the story behind the story.  The question we need to answer today is, "How does this period in Israel's history add to God's story in the Bible?"

Discussion Questions...

1. How does Judges 10:15-16 help us understand what is going on in the passage?  

2.  Look at Judges 13:3-5.  How is the life of Samson connected with Israel's repentance?  The instruction to not drink wine and have a razor touch his head is a part of a Nazarite vow.  Samson was being set a part for a special purpose.  What?

3. What is the significance of Judges 14:4 to understanding what is happening through Samson's life?  Can God use the bad decisions of a person to accomplish His purposes?

4. Ultimately what happens to the Philistines in chapter 16?  Regardless of all of Samson's sin and bad judgement does God use him to deliver the people of Israel from the Philistines (13:5)? Why?

How Should we Pray?
Lord, thank you for being a God who hears our cry for deliverance and does not treat us as we deserve.  Thank you for Jesus who is the ultimate deliver from our sin.


The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.