Samson: The “Wayward” Judge (Part 1) – August 10, 2025

Jeremiah 32:7 (KJV)

7 Behold, I am the Lord of all flesh: is there any thing too hard me?

• God specializes in doing hard things.

Judges 13:11-14 (NIV)

11 Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, “Are you the man who talked to my wife?” “I am,” he said. 12 So, Manoah asked him, “When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule that governs the boy’s life and work?” 13 The angel of the Lord answered, “Your wife must do all that I have told her. 14 She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, nor drink any wine or other fermented drink nor eat anything unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her.”

1 Peter 4:17 (NIV)

17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?”

John 7:24 (KJV)

24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

John 5:30 (KJV)

30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Corinthians 6:2 (KJV)

2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

Judges were to make a ruling/judgment that:

• aligned with the character of God
• discerned the path that led to God’s will
• scrutinized with the right motive and attitude
• decisions that were in the best interest of the people

Matt 7:1-5 (NIV)

1 Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

• At the core of every judgmental attitude is pride.

1 Corinthians 6:3 (KJV)

3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life?

1 Corinthians 11:31-32 (KJV)

31 For if we judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

• Righteous judgment does not come with condemnation of any person.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (NIV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

• Righteous judgement separates people from destructive behavior and brings them together with Christ.