Samson sought his own vengeance, but God used it to accomplish His Will. Samson was often used of God, but seldom blessed.

1. Samson went to visit the woman of his lust, but her daddy had given her to another. 7-25-10 He took his vengeance by burning Philistine fields and vineyards. The Philistines burned his woman and her family.

2. A Great Slaughter Samson is doing the Will of God in fighting against the Philistines. That's not his goal. His goal is vengeance .

3. 9 Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi. 10 And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us. Now the Philistines seek revenge. God will turn it back on them.

4. 11 Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them. Israel preferred oppression by Philistines over the dangers of fighting back. Samson still doesn't see himself as God's instrument to deliver the nation . It's all personal with him.

5. 12 And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves. God would not have empowered Samson to fight against Israel . Samson had no desire to fight against Israel.

6. 13 And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock. Israel is handing their deliverer into the hands of their oppressors . Why ?

7. 14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. 15 And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.

8. 16 And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men. 17 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramath-lehi. Not much of a weapon Not much of a man

9. In the Hand of God they did great things. He wanted what he wanted.

10. 1 Corinthians 1 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called : 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea , and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in His Presence. This encourages me; God can use me to do good things, just as He did Samson.

11. 18 And he was sore athirst, and called on the Lord, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised? Samson did know where his power came from. He knew that God was his Source . When you have need, seek the Source , Not the need.

12. 19 But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw , and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof En HAK ko re , which is in Lehi unto this day. 20 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years. God provided.

13. Sin dispirits men, it hides from their eyes the things that belong to their peace. The Israelites blamed Samson for what he had done against the Philistines, as if he had done them a great injury. Thus our Lord Jesus did many good works, and for those the Jews were ready to stone Him. Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary.

14. People who have chosen to walk in sin are blind. 1 They can not see the harm the sin does to them; or , they can't see that it is the sin that harms. They blame God.

15. Sin is to blame for it all. Just as the Israelites blamed Samson for stirring up the Philistines, In their minds, it's never their fault .

16. Proverbs 1 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: 30 They would none of My counsel: they despised all My reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way , and be filled with their own devices . Every man brings most of his troubles upon himself .

17. People who have chosen to walk in sin are blind. 1 They can not see that sin does the harm to them. 2 They can't or won't see their deliverance . Just as the Israelites turned against Samson, because the Philistines came out against them , So today , people turn against the very people who would show them the way to deliverance.

18. Proverbs 28 13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. They forsake the church, their family, Christian friends, and seek out sinners and backsliders. Because they don't want to hear the Truth . Sin is fun for a while, but the rewards of sin are trouble , gloom , and despair . Whole-hearted righteousness brings the rewards of joy , peace , and abundant life .