DCLM STS Youth Bible Studies For September 7, 2025 Lesson 176: Title - The Rise And Fall Of Samson

STS Youth Bible Studies For September 7, 2025 Lesson 176: Title - The Rise And Fall Of Samson 

STS YOUTH

LESSON 176

THE RISE AND FALL OF SAMSON

TEXT: Judges 13:1-25; 14:1-20; 15:1-20; 16:1-31.

MEMORY VERSE: “For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5).

The Almighty God specialises in changing negative situations to positive one through the manifestation of His infinite power. Faith in Him and His word is the bridge that connects you with His unchanging power to change your negative situations. This is the summary of our text today. The family of Manoah was faced with the challenge of barrenness. Yet, in God’s miraculous power, He intervened in order to fulfil His promise. “There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil” (Exodus 23:26).

Question 1: What are some challenges facing youths today?

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19). Some of the challenges facing youths today include receiving and keeping spiritual experiences, maintaining healthy lifestyles, gaining admission into higher institution, paying school fees, passing examinations, overcoming temptations and frequent sicknesses, etc. There is no problem to which God cannot provide solution. Believe His word and you will receive your miracle. The moment God revealed His plan to the wife of Manoah, he prayed for confirmation and how the child should be trained. The details of Samson’s lifestyle was given and his parents were ready to obey God. This family made a sacrifice to God in appreciation for His revealed will and promise. They were people of faith in God. Let us learn to trust God for better things in our lives and be ready to obey God. When Samson grew up, he went into marriage with a daughter of the Philistines contrary to the advice of his parents. He encountered problems immediately he took the step. Such is the case when a believer goes into unequal yoke with unbeliever in the area of marriage or business. Samson should have known that the essence of his birth and living was to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines who at this time oppressed them (Judges 13:5). His unholy relationship in marriage contradicted God’s standard for His people. Unfortunately, at a time he wanted to perform the duty of a husband to his wife, his father- in-law disappointed him. This caused deep pain to him and in wrath, took vengeance on them. This attracted counter revenge from the Philistines who went ahead to kill his wife and father- in-law. All these would have been avoided if he had obeyed his parents.

SAMSON’S MIRACULOUS BIRTH (Judges 13:1-25; Luke 1:5- 7,13-16,23-25,57-64; Romans 4:24,25; 8:32)

“And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years” (Judges 13:1). The children of Israel had been subjected to six servitudes because of their backsliding. They had no reason for turning away from God. This is because He had shown them great mercies beyond measure. For instance, they miraculously crossed the Red Sea, ate manna from heaven for forty years, drank water out of rock, experienced victories at various times, yet, they forgot God and sinned against Him. “And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not” (Judges 13:2). The family of Manoah were faced with the problem of childlessness. Everyone in this world is faced with one challenge or the other. Our challenges should drive us to seek the face of God in prayer for divine solutions. “Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born” (Judges 13:8). When the wife of Manoah told the husband about the angel of God who appeared to her, he prayed to the Lord to send him again. “And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her” (Judges 13:9). In response to his prayer, God sent the angel again. A purposeful and persevering prayer is the solution to all our problems. Prayer of faith in God will remove stress, worry and anxiety but releases the power of the Almighty to our favour. Christian youths must develop the habit of praying in all circumstances of life.

Question 2: What are the steps to effective praying?

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). To be effective in prayer, several factors are necessary to be put in place. One, be a genuine son or daughter of God (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). Two, live a righteous life. Three, have constant faith in God daily to meet your needs or solve problems (Hebrews 11:6). Four, having the knowledge of God’s word and His promises (1 Corinthians 1:20). Five, pray according to His will and plan (1 John 5:14,15). Six, live in constant obedient to the word of God (1 John 3:21,22). Seven, pray in the name of Jesus Christ alone (John 14:13; Acts 4:12). In appreciation for the service rendered by the angel, Manoah was ready to offer it to him. However, the angel encouraged him to offer it to the Lord. Our sacrificial service and devotion should be to the Lord alone. It is essential that we render to Him our loyal devotion and sacrifice of praise in righteousness on daily basis. “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15).

Question 3: What kind of offering does the Lord expect from His children?

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8). The Lord expect His children to offer the sacrifice of praise (Hebrews prayer 13:15); live a holy life (1 Peter 2:5); make supplication and (Jeremiah 33:3); pay their tithe and offering (Matthew 5:24; Malachi 3:8-12); and preaching of the gospel (Judges 5:2; 2 Samuel 24:24). Therefore, no offering is too great to be offered to the Lord. As Samson grew, he was blessed of the Lord. One of such blessings was the Spirit of God upon him. Every child of God has a measure of the Spirit of God. However, a sanctified believer who seeks the face of the Lord for the baptism of the Holy Ghost will be filled. “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word” (Acts 10:44). The question is, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” (Acts 19:2).

SAMSON’S INORDINATE AFFECTION (Judges 14:1-20; 15:1- 20; Deuteronomy 7:3; Joshua 23:12,13; Proverbs 6:20-23; Ezra 9:2,3; Colossians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 5:11; Hebrews 13:4)

“Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son” (Deuteronomy 7:3). The children of Israel before now were commanded by the Lord not to have marital dealings with the inhabitants of the land of Canaan (Deuteronomy 7:3). The implication of going against this command would be grave. It was expected of Samson, a person with the Spirit of the Lord, to know this. It is surprising then, that Samson loved to relate with the Philistines and their daughters. Now, he desired a wife from them (2 Corinthians 14:17).

Question 4: What led Samson to desire a wife from the Philistines?

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Many youths think that they are mature enough to take decision and do not need parental or leadership control or counsel. Such was the case of Samson. He felt he was old enough and had liberty to go anywhere. As he mingled with the Philistines, he found a girl and interacted with her till he began to have burning desire to marry her. Christian youths are warned not to have intimate relationship with opposite gender within and outside the church. Unfortunately, some boys and girls feel it is not a right idea and that they can control themselves. Understand that being filled with the Holy Spirit does not give anyone licence to disobey the instruction of God. In line with this study, the Scripture says, “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). If Samson could not control himself, we need to take caution. Samson’s disobedience resulted in an unrestrained desire to marry contrary to the will of God. “And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife” (Judges 14:2). Samson’s relationship with his parents shows that he did not give them the due respect commanded by the Lord (Exodus 20: 12). From this statement, “now therefore get her for me to wife,” shows that he lacked submission to his parents. He outrightly rejected their counsel not to marry from the Philistines. This is not a good example. God’s command to you is, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1). This does not mean that your parents have to choose a wife or a husband for you. The Scripture has given us the pattern to follow and both parents and church leaders should teach their children the right steps to choosing a life partner and have a successful marriage. Samson was endowed with supernatural strength by the Lord to accomplish his ministry. The people of Timnath had knowledge of the supernatural strength in him. Therefore, they assigned “thirty companions to be with him” (verse 11). But Samson was unruffled. “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). Samson knew their fear; therefore, he decided to find occasion against them. The riddle was from his recent experience with the lion he killed. “Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness”. The days Samson gave them was about to expire, and they threatened to kill his wife if she could not pressurise him to reveal the interpretation of the riddle. She did exactly as they requested. Samson could not resist her cry so he gave her the meaning of the riddle. Samson’s marriage with a daughter of the Philistines brought great disappointment on him. Disobedience is often followed with multiplying negative effects. Samson was not happy with their reaction. He went further and “smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter”. After a great slaughter, Samson became thirsty for water. Though a judge and a deliverer, Samson’s human nature was manifested – he was athirst. Good enough, he did not complain or murmur for water. He looked up to God and prayed for divine provision. He attributed his conquest over the Philistines to God. “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?” (Judges 15:18). Christian youths have to learn from the humility displayed by Samson. He decided to put his trust in God. Despite that Christian youths have the authority of God at their disposal in times of need, God still expects them to look up to Him for supply.

SAMSON’S LUST AND FALL (Judges 16:1-31; Genesis 3:1-6; 39:7-9; Joshua 7:20-26; 2 Samuel 11:2-5; 12:8-12; James 1:13- 15).

“Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her” (Judges 16:1). Samson’s proposed marriage to a daughter of the Philistines had failed (Judges 14:1- 4; 15:1,2). But now, on a trip to Gaza, he saw “an harlot”: This means that he knew the status of the lady the moment he saw her. There was no intention to marry her because she was an harlot. He only wanted to gratify his desire towards her. This is lust or inordinate affection. He committed immorality with her. The same sin he committed with Delilah and he suffered greatly from it. This is where Samson’s Laxity was manifested.

Question 5: What is laxity?

Laxity is lack of strictness or carefulness. He was still in the laps of a woman that actually carried out something deliberately to weaken him. To make matter worse, as the woman kept asking and finding out, he too kept telling more about himself until “… he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man” (Judges 16:17). He was so weakened by lust that he did not think he should have left this woman long before now. Of course, the result was his downfall. “Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven” (Judges 16:22). Samson committed immorality and was led into the hands of his enemies by Delilah. However, after a while, his hair started to grow again. Samson’s hair was a symbol and representation of his strength as he had taken the Vow of a Nazarene. As part of their special consecration, Nazarenes were expected to take some strict rules regarding their mode of living. This included not allowing a razor to touch their hair. Samson, having had a special birth, had been consecrated to the Lord and lived like a Nazarene. As long as he lived a Nazarene, he was strong and able to destroy the enemies in battle. However, with the cut of his hair, he was weakened and made to do sports to the merriment of the enemy nation. Samson lost the divine support after the hair symbolising his connection and commitment to God was removed. He therefore became powerless and helpless until God extended his mercy to him after his prayer for mercy. He, after realising his folly and the peril of his actions, decided to come back to God. God who sees the heart, knew that he had become penitent, forgave him and this is symbolised by the hair growing again. All backsliders should know that God is angry with them every day and all their deeds will be weighed and punished if found guilty before God. The best way to avoid the impending danger ahead of them is to come back to God in repentance.

Question 6: What do you learn from Samson’s final exploits and death?

Christian youths can learn various lessons from Samson. (i) Every saved youth is prone to temptations and we should always ask for God’s grace to overcome (Matthew 26:41). (ii) The higher and stronger you are spiritually, the more intense the temptations might be (John 16:1-3). (iii) Never give room to the tempter no matter who he or she is (Proverbs 1:10; 4:14-17). (iv) If you go back or do anything displeasing to God, immediately repent and consecrate your life back to God desiring never to go back into the evil. (v) If you are restored, do not dwell on past sins, but forge ahead and look forward to the blessings of restoration ahead. (vi) Every genuine child of God, including restored youths are expected to fully consecrate their lives to the Lord and be willing to do all it takes to please God (Acts 20: 24). (vii) God enables the forgiven to do exploits beyond their imagination (Daniel 11:32).