Worksheet - Judges 15 - 17

Apply 1 (mini lesson)  From reading Judges 15 - 17 Study Questions: 1.  While Samson was away, his father-in-law gave his new wife to one of his companions.  He said that he thought Samson hated her intensely, but this upset Samson that his wife had been taken from him and he was not allowed to see her.  What did he do for revenge of what had happened to him?  Judges 15:3-5 2.  When the Philistines realized that Samson was the one that had done this to their produce, they found out the reason was because his wife's father had given her to his companion.  What did they do to his wife and her father?  Judges 15:6   This was the very thing they threatened her with before if she did not find out Samson's riddle (look back at Judges 14:15)   3.  In revenge toward them for killing his wife and her father, Samson struck them ruthlessly with a great slaughter.  He went down after that to live as a refugee in the cleft of the rock of Etam.  The Philistines camped in Judah and spread out in Lehi.  The men of Judah wanted to know why they were coming up against them.  They said they wanted to bind Samson to do him harm in return for the harm he had caused them.  3000 men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam where Samson was living and they bound him with 2 new ropes to turn him over to the Philistines.  What did they remind Samson about?  Judges 15:11 -   4.  What was Samson able to do after he was bound with 2 new ropes and handed over to the Philistines by the Spirit of the Lord coming upon him?  Judges 15:14 -   5.  How did Samson single handedly with the help of the Lord take care of 1000 Philistines?  What did he kill them with?  Judges 15:15-17 -   6.  After this, Samson became very thirsty and called to the Lord telling Him that he was dying of thirst even after the great victory He had given him.  What did the Lord do for him in answer to his prayer?  Judges 15:19- 7.  How long did Samson judge the sons of Israel in the day of the Philistines?  Judges 15:20 -   8.  Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there and was with her.  The Gazites were lying in wait to capture him all night long.  At midnight, Samson took hold of the doors of the city gate and the two posts and pulled them up along with the bars; put them on his shoulders; and carried them up to the top of the mountain opposite of Hebron.  Wow, what strength the Lord had given him.  The Philistines wanted to know where his strength came from so that they could strip him of his strength and capture him.  When they found out that he was seeing a woman in the valley of Sorek whom he loved, they talked to her and offered her alot of money to find out where his strength was so they could capture him.  She was willing to take their offer.  Her name was Delilah.  What was the first thing that Samson told her in regard to his strength when she asked him?  What happened when they tried to bind him this way?  Judges 16:6-9 - 9.  What was the next thing that Samson told her in deceit but she believed him and tried it?  Judges 16:10-12 - 10.  Delilah told him to stop deceiving her and tell her how he could be bound.  Samson 'deceived' her yet once more.  What did he tell her and what did she try?  Judges 16:13-14 - 11.  Delilah is so upset with him and says to prove that he truly loves her, he must tell her where his great strength comes from.  It says that she pressed him daily until his soul was annoyed to death (v.16).  So finally, he told her "all that was in his heart".  What true confession did he give to Delilah?  Judges 16:15-17 - 12.  When Delilah realized he had truly told her what was in his heart and was not lying to her, she called the lords of the Philistines up and they brought her money in their hands.  She made him sleep on her knees (possibly through wine or something of that nature) and had a man come and shave off the seven locks of his hair.  She began to afflict him (not sure how?) and his strength left him.  When Samson woke up, he thought he could shake himself free "as at other times", but what sad news did he not realize yet? Judges 16:20 - 13.  We have a great lesson in pride and self-sufficiency here.  Many times we know the Lord is 'helping' us through things that are difficult for us and we give Him the honor and glory.  It is easy to start believing that the strength is coming from within our own self and forget about giving the glory to God.  What happens when we try to exalt ourselves and we have pride? Comment on these verses: Proverbs 11:3 - Proverbs 16:18 - Proverbs 29:23 - Judges 7:2 - Zechariah 4:6 - 1 Corinthians 10:11-12 - 14.  The Philistines not only captured Samson, but they gouged his eyes out.  How awful!  They brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains.  What kind of labor was he forced to do in prison?  Judges 16: 21 15.  Samson's hair began to grow back during his time in prison although he would never see again.  The lord of the Philistines had assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to thank him for delivering Samson into their hands.  They asked that Samson be brought out to 'amuse' them and 'entertain' them.  They made him stand between the two pillars of the temple.  The house was literally full of men and women and all the lords of the Philistines were there celebrating.  About 3000 men and women were on the roof as well looking in on it all.  Samson asked the boy who was holding his hand to let him 'feel' the pillars that the house rested upon so he could lean on them.  At this time, Samson called upon the Lord.   What did he ask of the Lord?  Judges 16:28 - 16.  Samson grasped the two middle pillars and said "Let me die with the Philistines!"... He bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it.  How great a victory was this in Samson's death as his purpose was to begin to deliver the Israelites from the power of the Philistines?  Judges 16:30 - 17.  Samson was buried between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father.  How many years had Samson been the judge of Israel at his death?  Judges 16:31 -     Apply 1:  How can a Christian resist temptation and not give into the lust of the flesh?    Read & comment on: Judges 16:15-17 Compare and comment on: Psalm 119:9 - Matthew 26:41 - Luke 11:1-4 - 1 Corinthians 10:12-14 - 2 Timothy 2:22 -   How can you apply this to your life? ...    Your summary of all of today's lesson:        Your prayer for today:       The purpose of the Apply 1 mini lesson is ..... to help you focus on at least "one" thing that you can apply to your life from the chapters read today.  It would be great to take the time to look up the verses and answers the short survey each day.  I think this will be a great guide to helping you journal your thoughts.  Usually once you begin to open up on a subject, more things come to your mind to say or pray about.  Love you, Brenda