You
And find your seats welcome to pure words Baptist Church
Let's go ahead and pull out our hymnals and we'll open up to our first song for the evening be song number
169
Number 169
Come thou found
169 come thou found
You guys find your place there
First come thou fount of every blessing
to my heart to
sing thy grace
streams of mercy
Never see
all four songs of loudest praise
teach me some melodious
Sung by flaming tongues above
praise the mountain
fixed up on it mount of thy redeeming love
Here I raise mine
Ebenezer
hither by thy
help I'm come
and I know
By thy good pleasure safely all arrive at home
Jesus sought me
with a
stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He to rescue
me from danger
Interposed his precious blood
Oh to grace how great a dead earth
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let thy goodness
like a better
bind my
wandering heart
Prone to
wonder
Lord I feel it
prone to leave the
God I love
Here's my heart
Take it
Seal it for thy
Love
For the Brandon you want to pray for us this evening?
You
Men all right go ahead and flip to song number 64
I
Number 64 shall we gather at the river song number 64?
First shall we gather at the river?
Where bright angel feet have trod
Oh with its crystal tide forever
Yes, we'll gather at the river
Gather with the saints at the river that flows by the
Throne
On the bosom of the river
Where the Savior came we
We shall meet sorrow never meet the glory of the
Yes, we'll gather at the river
The beautiful the beautiful
Gather with the Saints at the river
There we reach the shining river lay we every burden
And
Yes, we'll gather at the river
Gather with the Saints at the river
Oh
Soon we'll reach the shining river soon our pilgrimage will see
Soon our happy hearts will quiver with the melody of peace
Yes, we'll gather at the river
Oh
Gather with the Saints at the river that
Great singing
So at this time we'll go ahead and go over the end announcements this evening
So go ahead pull out your bulletins if you didn't receive one there might be some back there
If not, just go ahead and look on with
Someone next to you or just listen up. We do have our Bible memory passage and chapter on the front
Psalms chapter 47 if you could quote the entire chapter all nine verses word perfect
You will receive a prize there at the end of that. We are in week three verse three
on the inside we have our
service times and
Beneath that our soul winning times with with respective leaders
And we also have our stats listed
We had four salvations to report from this morning brother James and then did anybody get any this afternoon?
I know we had that one
So we'll go ahead and add that to there is an interesting time out there stolen and we're so warning
That's an interesting encounters, but a definitely good job
So when you keep up the good work
We have an expecting lady in the church a sister Crenn Darnell be in prayer for her and the expecting one
And our upcoming guest preachers today May 1st. We had brother David Kiefer and his wife come out from faithful word Baptist Church
It's been a blessing having him had a great message for us this morning. So definitely shake his hand take his wife's hand
Thank them for coming out
And then on May 15th, we have brother Ben Naim coming to preach both services for us and then July 7th
We have pastor Steven Anderson coming to preach that midweek service on Thursday. So
The blessing having all these guys come fill the pulpit for us
I just definitely thank them every time they come out and then the upcoming events just right around the corner for Mother's Day
May 7th
We have that Mother's Day tea from 5 p.m
To 6 30 at the four friends tea room in Pearland, Texas, and I believe the RSVP date has already expired
But if you do want to go there might be some room just definitely just let them know as soon as possible
And I'm sure they could kind of get you in there
So just try to get on that if you haven't RSVP'd and then no boys allowed
all right, so only nurselings preferred so men watch watch the children and then
May 21st is the soul-winning marathon in Austin, Texas
So definitely looking forward to that one, you know, I keep hearing people say we need to go make Austin normal
So that'll be a good event down there
I'm so write that on your calendars and then for our prayer requests if you guys have any
prayer requests email that into the church at pure words Baptist at gmail.com
No matter what it is something for a job some personal health reasons email that in for a relationship issue
We email that in and we'll definitely keep praying for you
We have steadfast Baptist Church and pastor Shelley listed of the Goodwin family keep praying for them a brother Edward
And specifically his feet he did have a couple toes amputated. So pray for the healing of his feet
Miss liberties
Family member Catherine is battling cancer
Brother Joel pray for him just for favor and blessings and faithful word Baptist Church
But again, if you have anything to add email that into the church but that is the announcements
For the evening. Let's go ahead and pull our handles back out and we'll open up to our third song
It'll be song number 187. I
Want all the kids to sing loud Jesus loves me
187 Jesus loves me
Jesus
Loves me this I know
for the Bible
Tells me
Little ones to him belong
They are weak
Yes
Tells me
Jesus loves me who died
Skate
He will wash away my sin let his little child
Yes, Jesus loves me yes
Yes, Jesus loves me the Bible tells me
Jesus loves me he will stay
goes beside me all the way
Now has bled and died for me. I will
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes
Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus
Tells me
Right, so this time let's go ahead and pull out our Bibles and turn in your Bibles to judges chapter 14 judges chapter 14
Brother Jeff come read for us and we'll go ahead and pass the offering click
You
Okay, so you're there in judges 14 judges 14 the Bible reads in verse 1
Samson went down to Timna and saw a woman in Timna of the daughters of the Philistines
He came up and told his father and his mother and said I have seen a woman in Timna the daughters of the Philistines
Now therefore get her for me to wife
And his father and his mother said unto him
Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren or among all my people thou goest to take a wife of the?
uncircumcised Philistines
Samson said unto his father get her for me for she pleaseth me well
But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord
They sought an occasion against the Philistines for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel
And when Samson down and his father and his mother
Timna who came to the vineyards of Timna and behold a young lion roared against him
The spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him and he rent him as he would have rent a kid
He had nothing in his hand, but he told his not his father father or his mother what he had done
He went down and talked with the woman and she pleased Samson well
And after a time he returned to take her and he returned aside to see the carcass of the lion and behold
There was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion
He took thereof in his hands and went on eating and came to his father and mother
He gave them and they did eat but he told them
Not told them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion
His father went down onto the woman and Samson made there a feast for so used the young men to do
It came to pass when they saw him that they brought 30 companions to be with him
And Samson said unto them
I
Will now put forth a riddle unto you if you can certainly declare at me within the seven days of the feast and find it
Out and I will give you 30 sheets and 30 change of garments
But if you cannot declare at me then shall you give me 30 sheets and 30 change of garments
They said unto him put forth thy riddle that we may hear it
He said unto them out of the eater came forth meat and out of the strong came forth sweetness
They could not in three days expound the riddle
It came to pass on the seventh day that they said unto Samson's wife
Entice thy husband that he may declare unto us the riddle lest we burn thee my father's house with fire
Have you called us to take that we have is it not so?
Samson's wife wept before him and said thou dost but hate me and love us me
Not I was put forth a riddle unto the children of my people
That's not told at me and he said unto her behold
I have told it not my father nor my mother and shall I tell it thee
She wept before him the seven days while their feast lasted came to pass on the seventh day that he told her
Because she lay sore upon him and she told a riddle to the children of her people
And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down
What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than the lion?
He said unto him if he had not plowed with my high for he had not found out my riddle
The Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he went down to Ashkelon and slew 30 of them
And took their spoil and gave change of garments unto them which expound the riddle
His anger was kindled and he came up to his father's house
Samson's wife was given to his companion whom he had used as his friend. That's all bow our heads for a quick word of prayer
Dear Heavenly Father that you fill brother David Keefer with your spirit
Welcome to preach a bold sermon for us God
Help us to be better Christians better soul winners take this sermon and appliance our day-to-day lives be more serious
instead just
Do more for for the glory of you Lord in Jesus name. I pray all this. Amen
All
Right, good afternoon everybody, thanks for having me again this afternoon
It's been really nice getting to know everybody here at the congregation
and I just want to thank Pastor Shelley for giving me this opportunity to preach for you guys and
it's truly a blessing to see like-minded believers in different states and all around the world who
Can all realize the importance of the service of God and I hear some of you travel in far distances
Just to get to this church and if people had zeal like you then we would take over the world one soul at a time
so let's go ahead and look down at the Bible and
I'm gonna go ahead and start with the title of this message the title of this message this afternoon is Samson's riddle
Samson's riddle is truly that it is a riddle and Samson himself is a character that we look to in the Bible
Who is riddling he's puzzling he is unique he is different a
lot of people who study the Bible
Extensively look at characters like Samson and they're very puzzled by his decision-making
What he does his actions his reasoning and all these different things, but understand this we know as you know
Bible-believing Christians that nothing in the Word of God is incidental coincidental or accidental
And I'm here to show you that there are so many deep layers to the Bible
Of symbolic truths that we can find in the Word of God that can illuminate ways to help us in our soul-winning
Which is how we apply the Word of God that we learn right because it's not enough just to be a hero of the word
But a doer of the word, I mean we I'm up here
You know preaching the Bible and your pastor and like-minded brothers and sisters will preach or proclaim deep spiritual truths
But it means nothing if we cannot apply them in our day to day life
But turn if you would to Hebrews chapter 11 and like I had said
Samson himself is a riddle and I'll venture to say this and I'll tell you guys this in my opinion
Samson is a good great godly man. Yes. He makes mistakes. Yes. He makes a lot of mistakes
Yes, he keeps making mistakes. But raise your hand if that's you today you make mistakes. I make mistakes
We all make mistakes
But praise God he can use people like us and our fault in our problem and still you be used
You know greatly by God because you know other forms of writing whenever you have a character in the Bible
I'm sorry in other forms of writing and in books
They'll tentatively create hero complexes and the hero can do no wrong never has a mess up never does anything bad
But the Bible is the Word of God and shows us
Human nature that in us the sinful nature we are going to reflect doing wrong and bad things
Yet we find Samson in the Great Hall of Faith chapter found in Hebrews 11
Look down in your Bible if you would at Hebrews 11. This is a very
famous passage in the Bible to explain to us these great godly characters in the Old Testament and did you know that
Samson is found in that passage look down if you would at Hebrews 11 32 the Bible reads and
What shall I more say for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of who?
Samson and of Jephthah of David also and Samuel and of the prophets now
I'm gonna pause there really quick. So we just went through a couple of different characters, right one of which was Samson
Now we're gonna go into attributes of these men. Why were they great? Why did they show great faith?
What were things that we can attribute to those individuals and say these are men of great faith
Well, let's see what the Bible says in verse 33
It reads
Who through faith subdued kingdoms pause?
Everything that is read here applies to all characters, but you'll find most of them apply to Samson
Didn't Samson subdue kingdoms
He took out the Philistines in that very monumental moment when he pushed the pillars. It says rot righteousness
Samson was known as a judge. Not only did he judge his people but judges in the Bible are also known as
Deliverers, they will deliver the people from bondage from these things
Also, it says right righteousness obtained
Promises kind of like the promise made to the nation of Israel that if they would serve the Lord
That he would subdue their enemies. It says stop the mouths of lions
Samson literally tore apart a lion physically. I'm not saying symbolically I'm not saying
metaphorically grabbed what I believe to be the mouth of the lion and ripped him in two
I'm not gonna get graphic but the Bible paints that picture very clearly
It says right there in 34
Quench the violence of fire
Escaped the edge of the sword out of weakness were made strong
Waxed valiant and fight turned to flight the armies of the aliens all that applies to Samson
One of my favorite part that it says it says out of weakness were made strong
Remember when he gets his hair cut right because when he gets his hair cut
He loses his strength because he was supposed to be a Nazarene until our Nazarite
Until the day of his death that was the only character in the Bible
We can point to that was told to be a Nazarite from his birth and in doing so when he got his hair cut
He lost his strength, but then it goes to say out of weakness were made strong
Waxed valiant and fight turned to flight the armies of the enemy women received their dead raised to life again
I didn't apply to Samson, but that's the truth and others were tortured
Samson was tortured. They pulled his eye it out
They mocked him and scourged him and made fun of him the Philistine leaders
They that might obtain a or not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better
resurrection and others had trials of cruel mockings and scourging day
Moreover of bonds and imprisonments they were stoned
They were saunas under were tempted were slain with the sword
They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins being destitute
Afflicted tormented of whom the world was not worthy
they wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth and
These all having obtained a good report of what a good report
Through faith received not the promise God having provided some better thing for us
The day without us should not be made perfect
The Bible is showing that Samson and all the mistakes that he made is a good
Godly great man that we can look to to have someone who has great faith
You're not gonna follow his bad examples. I don't want you to follow Abraham's bad examples. I don't want you to follow lots bad examples
I don't want you to follow King David's bad examples
God is gonna emphasize the good that they did and Samson
it's hard to find the good that he did but it's there and the New Testament tells us in the book of Hebrews that
That is a attribute you knew an attribute unique to Samson that he was a man of great faith
Turn back if you would to judges 14, I should add you leave something there, but it says in judges 14
We're gonna go on and read some more
One of the biggest forms of Bible interpretation actually is in my opinion the most important form of Bible interpretation
Has to do with looking for the Lord Jesus Christ
We know as Bible believing Christians right that when you're reading the Old Testament if you want to know the right
Interpretation of the passage look for Jesus raise your hand if you've ever seen that book. Where's Waldo?
And have you guys seen that book? Where's Waldo? I expect a lot of more of these kids to see it
Good book. I used to get in trouble a lot when I was a kid
They'd stick me in a corner with where's Waldo and say go over there do with that
but the book basically is a book of a character named Waldo who's dressed in striped red and white and
As the book progresses in the beginning, it's a very easy way to find Waldo
It's tentatively and not a elaborate image and he's standing in the center just kind of like hey, I'm right there
So they give you low-hanging fruit in the beginning, but as the book progresses the images get more elaborate. There's more people
He's kind of tucked behind a wall. He's under a rock
Behind someone and all these things and it becomes harder and harder to find Waldo even to the point
I don't know if you guys remember but there was a book for the very end
It says find Waldo amongst Waldo's and it's just a page full of
Imposter Waldo's but you're looking for the one that's missing his sock because that's like what they're saying is the real Waldo
So just like where is Waldo?
We need to look for the Lord Jesus Christ when we are reading his word because he truly is the word made
manifest elsewhere
It says in John 1 1 in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God
And just like an artist likes to initial his painting or a chef will put on his flair on his dish
The Lord Jesus Christ wants people to see him in his word
And this is why we can understand a true deeper meaning of what the Bible is clearly showing us
Defining where Jesus is so
Samson is that character that we can look to that actually in ways
Shows us more examples of the Lord Jesus Christ than any other Old Testament
Apostle or I'm sorry prophet or even kings for that matter
For instance, I'm going to show you a couple of parallels between
Samson and the Lord Jesus Christ for instance of the men in the Bible that had the Holy Spirit bestowed upon them most often
It arguably be said that it was Samson some speculated with Saul and it's kind of a toss-up between Saul King Saul and
Samson but no doubt for sure Samson of the characters in the Old Testament had the Holy Spirit put on him most often
Right here in this passage
We see it happening to him twice
But the Holy Spirit is put on him to go rip the lion up and also to go take out the men of Ashkelon
So that's just one chapter where we see it happening twice
Jesus Christ was full of the Holy Ghost above measure
He is truly the member of the Godhead the Son of God
But in the Son is the Holy Spirit and in the Holy Spirit is the Father and in the Father is the Son
These three are one God that make up
Everything but there are three separate people and Jesus Christ was full of the Holy Ghost above measure
Because he's the Son of God and he had that ability
So with that being said Samson had the Holy Spirit bestowed upon him most often Jesus had the Holy Ghost above measure
Samson spoke in riddles
Jesus Christ spoke in parables
Samson was known as a Nazarite
Jesus was a Nazarene and you know, the Bible talks about the vow of a Nazarite has a lot to do with being
separated for the things of God now
Unfortunately, I don't know about you guys but there is a group of people known as Rastas or Rastafarian or Rastafarian
or black Hebrew Israelites and there's a group of people that believe that the Nazarite vow of
Not cutting your hair is a tradition that you need to adhere to
unfortunately, they didn't see that in the New Testament it clearly differentiates between that vow in that time period and
Having long hair as a man the Bible clearly says does not even nature itself teach you that if a man have long hair
It is a shame unto him. The Nazarite vow was for a small period of time
it was inevitably supposed to be done and you were supposed to cut your hair and then go burn it on the altar and
Samson was one character who was a Nazarite from his birth
So Jesus Christ, you know born in Nazareth was a Nazarene and all those
Teachings in the Nazarite vow have a lot to do with being sanctified or separated unto God because you know
It is a shameful thing for a man to have long hair, right?
and you're not supposed to eat of the vine or drink of the vine because you're trying to live that separate life and
Jesus Christ is known as a man of much sorrow
Because he wants Samson and Nazarites were supposed to show people how to live a separated life to be pleasing unto God
Kind of like when you fast if you think about a fast, right?
you're not fasting just to lose some weight you're fasting so that you could be put in prayer with God and have a
Deeper communication with God, but those are just some examples of how Samson and the Lord Jesus Christ are
very closely related now look down at your Bible if you would at
verse 6
Judges 14 verse 6 and the Spirit of the Lord
Came mightily upon him right there
We see an example of the Spirit of God coming on Samson and he rent him
I'm sorry
And he rent him as he would have rent a kid in reference to the lion and he had nothing in his hand
But he told not his father or his mother what he hath done now in this example in this analogy right here
Samson pictures the Lord Jesus Christ
the lion
Represents Satan. Well, what do you mean by that? Well elsewhere in the Bible in 1st Peter 5 8 it reads
be sober be vigilant because your adversary the devil as a
Roaring lion walketh about
Seeking whom he may devour and in the beginning of this or the ending of verse 5 it says and behold a young lion
What roared against them so we can see that the Bible is showing us that that lion right there
Represents Satan as a roaring lion seeking who he could devour like Samson
The Holy Ghost comes upon Samson and he rips him up like he would rip up a kid
The kid is not a child you guys a kid is a baby goat a little goat
so a goat is a very meek mild animal that could easily be destroyed and a
Lot of people don't understand that devil worshippers people who worship Satan actually worship and serve a goat and a kid is a
baby goat
so like
Samson rips up a goat. He also is ripping up this lion so we can see right there how
Jesus Christ pictures or Samson pictures Jesus Christ there because as it says in Genesis 3
Right the very first prophecy of Jesus Christ as it says, you know the seed of the woman shall conquer
The the serpent and it'll bruise his heel
But you know the Son of Man will bruise his head so we can see that that is a symbolism of Jesus Christ right there
let's keep going and he went down and
talked with the woman and she pleased Samson well and now notice this part right here and
After a time she returned to take her and he returned to take her and he turned aside to see
The carcass of the lion and behold there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion
Now, let's break this part down right here
Now the lion is represented of Jesus Christ
Basically, if you just said the lion represented Satan in one scene now you're saying the lion represents the Lord Jesus Christ
That doesn't make any sense
Well, actually if you look at it what it's saying right when Samson goes back down after a time, right?
It doesn't say exactly how long but it just says after some time period when he goes back
There's a carcass of a lion. Did you know that Satan is known as the great counterfeiter, right?
Meaning that anything that the Lord Jesus Christ does Satan is gonna try to mimic that right? So in this situation right here
Jesus Christ is known as the lion of the tribe of Judah and he truly is
you know the lion that will destroy everyone so to say and
It calls the lion's carcass something where there's a swarm of honey in so Jesus Christ was dead
For three days and three nights, right and the Bible says for instance in light of that Matthew 24 28 for
Wheresoever the carcass is there will the eagles be gathered together in reference to Jesus Christ's body
Is remember in the Last Supper? Jesus said this is my body which is broken for you
This is my blood which is the blood of the New Testament
So although Satan pictures the lion in one scene now
Jesus Christ is pictured of that carcass of that lion and
A lot of people hear that and they kind of bristled they're like wait
You can't compare Jesus and Satan to that one same character. Well, think of it like this
You know the Bible says in John 3 14 and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness
Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up
Wait a second. Jesus is symbolic of a snake isn't the snake, you know Satan
No
Satan he who knew no sin
He became sin for us that we may be known as the righteousness of God in him
He took on the sins of the world and that's why as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness
That is symbolic of Jesus Christ taking on the sins of the world
Same way as this lion was slain for us and his carcass is how we can understand
Salvation as the body of Christ was buried for three days and three nights and there are other examples of Satan
Trying to mimic the Lord Jesus Christ
Characters like Nebuchadnezzar are a good example in one scene Nebuchadnezzar will picture the Antichrist, you know
when he tells Shadrach Meshach and Abednego to go and you know worship an idol and if not
They'll throw him in a fiery furnace and then the next seed, you know
Nebuchadnezzar actually pictures the Lord Jesus Christ because he's the head of gold in that statue found in the dream and he is truly
Representing authority and he has all power above the earth
So this is these are just some examples how
You know, if you hear somebody explain that like oh Satan Jesus is represented as a serpent don't bristle understand
There's a context to it
Well, Satan is known as the lion. Well, the Lord Jesus Christ is known as a lion
Context will tell you remember look for Jesus. That's the right interpretation of the passage
Samson in the beginning could represent the sole winner when he's you know
Going and grabbing the honey out of the lion's carcass and that's the next part
I want to go into the honey out of the lion's carcass
Turn if you would to Psalms 19 and leave a finger here because we'll come back here
Psalms 19
It's a very popular passage in the Bible, right? We've heard and read this passage a lot of times
but the honey in the carcass of the lion
Represents the word of God the Bible says in Ezekiel 3 1
Moreover he said unto me son a man eat that thou finest eat this roll and go
Speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth and he caused me to what eat that roll
He said unto me son a man cause thy belly to eat and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee
Then did I eat it and it was in my mouth what as honey for sweetness
This is the angel telling Ezekiel to eat the roll or the Word of God and it says that he went into his mouth
What sweetest honey?
It says in Revelation 10 9 of the Apostle John and I went unto the angel and he said unto me
Give me the little book and he said unto me take it and eat it up and it shall make thy belly bitter
But it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey
and I took the little book out of the angels hand and ate it up and it was in my mouth sweet as honey and
As as soon as I ate it my belly was bitter and he said unto me
Thus or thou must prophesy again before many peoples and nations and tongues and kings
There are two examples of two different men in the Bible that when they are eating or consuming the Word of God
Remember earlier kids what we were learning about?
Consuming through our mouth if we eat the Word of God and we consume it it should be in our mouth sweet as honey
Now some people it's in their belly bitter and I understand that there are things in the Bible that are hard to digest
And that's okay. We should realize that our God whom we serve, you know
He is the God of love but he also is gonna be just on the unsaved and you know
It's hard to preach a message of you know
Fire and damnation because we don't want people to die and go to hell
But the Lord Jesus Christ gave us a way out and it's hard to bring that message to people sometimes
But in Psalm 19 this passage that we all like to read and quote from it says in verse 7
Psalms 19 7 the law of the Lord is perfect
Converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure
Making wise the simple the statutes of the law are right
Rejoicing the heart the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes
The fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether
More to be desired are they than gold yea then much fine gold
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb
The Bible is telling us that the law of the Lord the words of God are sweeter than honey
And we got to realize that when we read our Bibles, you know, this is a spiritual sweep
This is like spiritual candy
There is you know meats and potatoes and hard things to understand but I love the Word of God and I don't know about you
But when I read the Word of God, I get excited and the Bible says for instance in Matthew 4
man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God and in more and more as
You would digest the Word of God
You'll become I guess more sweet tooth towards the Word of God and you get more excited about proclaiming his truths
But back at Judges 14, we can see an example of how that carcass in representing
You know the dead body of Christ
Samson pulls something out of that carcass. He pulls out honey
This is a symbolic representation of the Word of God because you got to remember
Jesus Christ says unless you partake of the Lord's flesh
You shall not see everlasting life and then notice what Samson does when he pulls the honey out of the carcass of the lion
look at verse 9 and he took thereof in his hands and went on eating and
Came to his father and mother and he gave them and they did eat
But he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion
I don't recommend you'd pull any honey out of any dead animal and feed it to someone as a matter of fact
Don't do it
I know we just heard a sermon this morning about it's okay to have a little dirt on your food and eat with unwashed hands
Don't eat anything out of a carcass of an animal, but this is symbolic. Remember, where's Jesus? Where's the real interpretation of?
this message
Samson represents the sole winner
you know
he pulled out of the carcass the Word of God and he gave it to his parents and they did eat and
We need to share the honey of the sweet Word of God to the world and to a dying and lost nation
Proclaiming the truth and you know as time moves forward
we will find and renew our spirits daily as we read his word and
Consume it more and more
Let's look at verse 10
So his father went down unto the woman and Samson made there a feast so for so
Used the young men to do and it came to pass when they saw him that they brought 30
Champions to be with him. I'm sorry companions to be with him and Samson said unto them
I will put forth the riddle because what's the title of this message this evening?
Samson's riddle I was all by way of introduction buckle up you guys we had some more time
No, I'm just playing but simply and Samson said unto them
I will put forth a riddle unto you if ye can certainly declare it to me
Within the seven days of the feast and find it out
Then I will give you 30 sheets and 30 chart change of garments
But if you cannot declare it to me
Then shall ye give me 30 sheets and 30 change of garments and they said unto him put forth thy riddle that we may hear
Pause really quickly
Once again
Samson is not necessarily doing a good or right or righteous wholesome thing by gambling
This is a form of gambling. He is trying to
Sway, the people of the Philistines to get involved in this gamble so that he can get clothing out of it
clothing was way more valuable back in the day and
Elsewhere in the beginning of the passage it talks about he did this because it was of God to do this now
That's not saying God told him to gamble
It's saying that he went to go find an occasion with the Philistines to destroy the nation of Philistine
Because they were wicked horrible people amongst the Lord and remember he was supposed to be that great deliverer
But do it so he utilizes this bad situation to get a good thing out of it like destroying these people
So
Don't try to you know do wrongs don't make a right
but if you do make mistakes in your life like gambling or drug use or alcohol or
Fornication or whatever it is you've messed up in your life
Understand forsake leave those things which are behind and press them to the mark of the high calling which is in Christ
Jesus the Lord Jesus Christ can still use you but you have to be willing to forsake those things which are behind
Goes on to read in verse 14 and he said unto them out of the eater came forth meat and out of the strong came forth
sweetness and they could not in how many days
three days
Expound the riddle. That's a unique number three days
Wasn't the Lord Jesus Christ dead for three days and three nights as Jonas was in the whale of the belly for three days and three
Nights, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth
So here's another example we can see where these guys are trying to bring
You know the riddle to him and they couldn't do it in three days. Just a little side note
I thought that was interesting and look at verse 15 and it came to pass on the seventh day that they said unto Samson's wife
Can't get to Samson. So let's go after his wife
Entice thy husband that he may declare unto us the riddle lest we burn thee in thy father's house
With fire have ye called us to take that we have is it not so and?
Samson's wife wept before him and said thou does but hate me and loves me not loves me not
Thou put thou has put forth a riddle unto the children of my people and it's not hold it me and he said unto her
Behold, I have not told it my father or my mother and shall I tell it thee about there really quickly
You're gonna have some sympathy on Samson's wife in this situation
Understand that this is a kind of unique
scenario and it's easy for people to look at this and be like
She's being she's being soft. She's being weak
She should have never like, you know entice Samson, but you know, they're threatening to kill her and her family
So you can understand that that's a hard thing to go through
But Samson wants her to have faith in him and to trust that what he's doing will help them
And once again, we're gonna find some symbolism in this look down at verse 17 and shoot
I'm sorry verse 18 and
The man of the city said unto him
I'm sorry verse 17 and she wept before him the seven days
while their feast lasted and it came to pass on the seventh day that he told her because she lay sore upon him and she
Told the riddle to the children of her people and the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day
Before the Sun went down
What is sweeter than honey and what is stronger than a lion and he said unto them
If he had not plowed with my heifer, yeah not found out my riddle that seems pretty harsh say about your wife
You have not plowed with my heifer then you shouldn't have found out this root riddle
That's just a older way of saying if you didn't work with my servant, then you wouldn't have figured this out
But you know men don't call your wives heifers if they found your riddles the people that's kind of messed up and you know
the answer to the riddle that was proposed is what is sweeter than honey, and what is stronger than a lion and
I'm gonna propose to you this afternoon the answer to that riddle because notice there's two question marks there, right?
Remember the game jeopardy how like they always answer things with a question. I
can't think of a good analogy of there's usually like a board of like different scenarios and it's like sports or
You know cars or you know farming and it's like they'll ask you a question
You got to answer it in the form of a question
You know, how do beets grow or I don't know whatever their answers would be to their questions
But it's always ended in a form of a question
now I'm gonna
Give you what I believe to be the answer of the riddle
Because that is the answer from their perspective at that time right then right there
Because he went and killed that lion and he pulled honey out of the carcass of that lion. But remember, where's Waldo?
Where is the Lord Jesus Christ what is sweeter than honey the word of God what is stronger than a lion
The Lord Jesus Christ, what's the answer to Samson's riddle Jesus Christ? That's the answer to the riddle and
This is important because there is a group faction of people that God does not want to be saved
And we need to acknowledge this truth and this story was supposed to show
That there are some people that do not or should not or cannot know these truths
Turn if you would to Matthew chapter 10 and let me show you what I mean
Matthew chapter 10 is from the Lord Jesus Christ telling us
Clearly that there are a group of people that he does not want to know the riddle the truth and it says in
Matthew chapter 10 verse 9. I'll let you guys get there
Matthew 10
First nine
No, unfortunately, I have the wrong passage don't I
Well, yeah, I have the wrong passage but in the Bible it talks about and
There are a group of people the Pharisees the Sadducees
You got to think about Pharaoh right these people who have God is hard in their heart the sons of Belial that
When they reject the Lord the Lord rejects them and in doing so he says eyes
That you cannot see ears that you cannot hear hear so that you can be converted and I should heal you
Jesus Christ does not want
everyone to be saved and
As soon as you swallow that truth is as hard as it is to imagine
You know his ways are not our ways and as his thoughts are not our thoughts. So is the heaven above the earth
So his thoughts are above our thoughts and we got to remember that as we go around soul winning
There may be some people who are trying to figure out the riddle that God does not want to know or how to be saved
And that is truly by faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ
It says in Acts 10 43 to him gave all the prophets witness that through his name
Whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins and Samson is that character that we could point to in the Bible?
Who in a way looks and acts as a soul winner through pulling out the honey out of the carcass of the lion?
feeding it to his parents and then in doing so he goes and does not want to show a certain group of people the
Answer to the riddle which was Jesus Christ, so
The answer to Samson's riddle simply was Jesus our heads and have a word of prayer
Dear Heavenly Father. Thank you so much for this evening. Thank you so much for allowing us to hear your word preached
Thank you so much for this church all the brothers and sisters here help
fill us with your
Word and to help fill us with the Holy Spirit and help us all get home safely and just thank you for this opportunity
He's Christ and we pray
All right, let's go ahead and pull out our hymnals and let's turn to song number 343
343 revive us again
343
Revive us again
Sing nice and loud
Oh
First we praise thee. Oh God for the son
For Jesus died
Oh
Yeah
Oh
We revive us
We praise thee
For thy spirit of light
Light who has shown us our Savior and scattered
Yeah
Revive us
Praise to the land that was slain who has born
Oh
Yeah
Revive us
Fill each heart with
Made so be rekindle with fire
Yeah
I
Revive us
And good singing and with that you are dismissed you have a blessed evening
You