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Toying With Temptation
Judges 16:1-21
Pastor Marv, Grace Bible Church
8-2-20

Samson seemingly could conquer anything…roaring lions, whole armies, you name it. But there is one enemy that he was never able to overcome…temptation. We have seen Samson toy with temptation and seemingly always escape, but today we’ll see that temptation finally caught up with him.

Samson at the City of Gaza (16:1-3)

• The background hints at some temptations in Samson’s heart (verses 1-2)…

“Gaza”…one of the five major cities of the Philistines…a walled city with gates that were closed each night for protection.

“a harlot”…the second of three times we’ll see Samson tempted by a woman, but Old Testament scholars believe that there were others.



• Another great feat of strength (verse 3)…

Another example of Samson’s remarkable strength…

“Hebron”…actually 38 miles away; many scholars believe that he didn’t take the gates all the way there, but placed them on the road outside Gaza that led there.


• A principle for life here… We seek God’s guidance in the use of the gifts and abilities He gives us.



Samson and Delilah (16:4-21)

• The background…verses 4-5. Another place, another woman, but a new strategy for taking down Samson…

“the lords of the Philistines”

“1100 pieces of silver” (each)…about 150 pounds total…


• Three ridiculous responses Samson gave to Delilah...verses 6-14…

“seven fresh cords”…verses 6-9…probably “catgut”…

“new ropes”…verses 10-12…

“weave my hair (in a loom)”…verses 13-14…

• Delilah’s persistence pays off…verses 15-21…

Remember that his hair was one of the requirements of his Nazirite vow.

Verse 20b…one of the saddest statements in Scripture…

Verse 21…the sad ending…


Temptation and Us…Some Fast Facts…

1. Everyone is tempted. See Matthew 4:1.

2. Temptation is not sin; yielding to temptation is sin. See Hebrews 4:15.

3. God is not the source of our temptations. See James 1:13-14.

4. What we do with temptation is a choice.