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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (22-6-1975 Strandtown Baptist Church)
There are several verses in the Bible which are very
painful to read, and one such is our text today, The Lord departed from him (Judges
16:20). Such a verse chills the soul and arouses a momentary fear that casts a
shadow over us. Yet Samson was a hero of faith, one of the great company of
Hebrews 11 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness and
obtained promises. This story, like all others in the Old Testament, was written
for our learning. Often in a picture of this kind we can grasp spiritual truth
more readily than a neat doctrinal statement.
This is the story of a man with
tremendous potential, endowed with great privileges. Before birth, the purpose
of God concerning him had been declared. He had godly parents. As a man he had
dealings with God. He was a man of prayer. He called on the Lord (Judges
15:18); Samson called unto the Lord (Judges 16:28). He ruled Israel for
twenty years and delivered his land many times from the tyranny of the
Philistines. He was a man of great achievements and fearless courage.
Yet such a potentially useful life and outstanding character was gradually overtaken by sin and destroyed by sin. And the Lord departed from him.
The name Samson immediately
conjures up ideas of strength. Samson had enormous physical strength. When he
met a lion in the vineyards of Timnath, he rent him as he would have rent a
kid, and he had nothing in his hand (Judges 14:6). He slew thirty
Philistines and brought their garments to redeem a pledge to those who had
guessed his riddle. Later he slew 1000 men with a jawbone of an ass. He carried
the doors of the gates of the city of Gaza with two posts on his shoulders to
the top of the hill near Hebron.
Samson also had intellectual
strength. He judged Israel for no less than twenty years. He had spiritual
strength, and was a man of prayer. The secret of this strength was the Spirit of
the Lord which, we are told six times, came mightily on him. The Spirit of God
moved him and enabled him to do great things. Here as ever the source of
strength for the man of God is not found in himself, but in the Spirit of God.
There is an interesting contrast
between the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit was
undoubtedly active – in creation, providence and men’s lives. He was poured
out on special men for special tasks at special times. He was not as fully or
generally poured out as in the New Testament, when He came in abundance at
Pentecost. I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:28). This was
a general blessing, in its fullness, for all believers.
At conversion we come to fullness of spiritual life in Christ. There is a wonderful change in attitude and desire, and insight into spiritual truth. Alas spiritual power is diminished when we quench and grieve the Spirit. Yet spiritual potential is enough through the Holy Spirit. He sanctifies, leads, guides, strengthens, fills, and teaches. He was the source of Samson’s strength, and the source of our strength is exactly the same.
This story, which occupies three
whole chapters of the Bible, does pinpoint one great secret of Samson’s life. The
boy shall be a Nazarite to God (Judges 13:5). “Nazarite” comes from the
Hebrew word meaning “separate” or “consecrate”. In the Old Testament,
men for a period and Samson for a lifetime took Nazarite vows to separate
themselves from general society, and therefore consecrated themselves more
wholly to God. They gave up wine, they wore their hair long and did not touch
what was defiled, especially a dead body.
It is possible in Samson’s
case that he was concerned only with regulations about the hair. He was often in
contact with the dead, and his presence at feasts meant it unlikely that he
abstained from wine. His long hair was his symbol of his consecration to God.
Once the hair was cut off, it was an indication that he was no longer
consecrated to God. The hair itself was not the source of Samson’s unique
strength. That lay in his separation to the Lord of which the unshorn locks were
a symbol.
The secret of spiritual strength
is separation and consecration to the Lord. In Old Testament times the
separation was physical and geographical, c.f. Abram had to get out from among
the nations. In the New Testament separation does not mean being taken out of
the world but being kept from evil. Come out from among them and be ye
separate (2 Corinthians 6:17). Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers (2
Corinthians 6:14).
Sharp contrast between
righteousness and unrighteousness, life and darkness etc. Touch not the
unclean thing (2 Corinthians 6:17). Then the promise, I will dwell in
them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people
(2 Corinthians 6:16). There is blessing of God when there is separation and
consecration.
Difference between Old Testament
times and ours – we are to be separate now, not in a materialistic way but in
a spiritual way. That separation means consecration, i.e. brought out that we
may belong. The secret of our strength and spiritual power is in our
consecration to the Lord and separation from sin. We must be completely earnest
in this. The strength is in the Lord and not in us. But it becomes ours when we
become Nazarites to God, i.e. when He has complete control over us.
If we are out of touch with the
Lord, we become helpless before our enemies. Separation is not just a question
of not going to certain places. We could still have the spirit of the world in
us, c.f. the Pharisees. The spirit of the world permeates so much of our lives.
Debased standards are so much around us that we accept them. Easygoing tolerance
easily pervades the believer’s life. We love to conform. We live in mass
production world. Can only be a non-conformist to the world if we possess the
power within to stop outside pressure. A spirit of non-involvement is required.
Do not get involved.
In practice, separation requires
reviewing life in the light of the fixed standards of the Word of God. It is
useless to compare ourselves with other Christians or the past generation. Some
Christians even take their cue and standard from the non-Christian world instead
of the Word.
The story goes that in a
Lancaster town, there was a large clock outside the watchmakers. One particular
worker, on his way to the cotton mill each morning, set his watch by that clock,
and hurried on. One day the watchmaker asked him why he always did this. The man
explained his job at the cotton mill involved sounding the buzzer at the end of
each shift. The watch maker was amused, explaining, “I set that clock right
every day by your buzzer!”
Without a fixed standard, there will be a landslide. The Bible has unalterable standards. In the light of what we read there, and there alone, we should be separate, and our separation will bring spiritual strength.
Self-indulgence found Samson out. He had the obvious sins
of weakness of the flesh. Of the 71 verses in the story of Samson, over 40 are
about his dalliances with women, and indeed women who were not of the people of
God, but from the Philistines. Poor deluded Samson – he had his momentary
pleasure of indulgence, but each one of these women betrayed him. They gave him
no love. He was a complete dupe.
How drastic and blunt and true to life are Scripture’s
biographies. Samson, with all his gifts, faith, courage and strength, failed in
this area where he allowed himself to be ruled by passion. He had slain
thousands, but now he fell. His office and dignity disappeared at the hands of a
woman. He became a degraded slave. He who had been the terror of the Philistines
now became their sport. His usefulness ended. He was taken and bound, and his
eyes were put out. With his strength gone, he became as other men. His liberty
was destroyed, and he became the object of reproach and scorn. He was put to
grind in the prison, doing the work of a slave or an ass.
A lifetime’s achievements can
be smashed in a matter of minutes. A life of Christian character and service can
be overturned in an unguarded moment. The attack comes swift and with
devastating effect. It is easier to wreck than to build, c.f. Noah, David,
Samson. Let him that thinketh that he standeth take heed lest he fall (1
Corinthians 10:12).
To those with great spiritual
privileges, good parentage, perhaps already known great blessing in their walk
with God – beware of anything that may sap your consecration to the Lord. The
world may catch up with you. You may forget the purposes of God for your life.
You may neglect to be watchful. Reflect – were there times when you were
closer to God than you are now? Beware lest there is gradual and imperceptible
falling away. Backsliding is not usually determined and deliberate. Beware of
letting a Delilah come in between you and God. Beware of friendships which could
be disastrous. Be disciplined, watchful and resolved.
To those like Samson who are
broken (not necessarily with his sin), shipwrecked, lives full of regret,
unspeakable sorrow because of the folly of the past. You have seen opportunities
fly away; you have reaped what you sowed. By walking out of God’s will you
have met disaster. You could have been mighty for God, but instead you have
squandered life. You have no joy or testimony, just bitter sorrow and regret.
There is hope. The day of Samson’s disgrace was the Day of God’s grace. The
hair on Samson’s head grew again. He recovered his strength. He got back in
contact with God. Out of the object of weakness came great strength again, in
fact he killed more in his death than he had done in his life.
You cannot deny that your past may leave a permanent scar. Samson’s strength grew, but he was permanently blind, and in prison. Yet God can restore the years which the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25), though a sad and painful process. In our desperate need we cry to the Lord, and mercifully He hears and answers. Just as Samson experienced, we can know once more the strength of the Spirit. God can work again mightily through us. Do not delay. Recover your communion with God here and now. Frank confession and reconsecration will bring about cleansing and power.
