What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
1. Have you ever felt like someone gave you just enough room to fail? (Think parent, teacher, mentor, or boss.) Have you ever been given renewed responsibility after such a mistake?
2. Read Judges 13:3-5, Luke 1:11-17, and Ephesians 2:10. Read the announcements of the coming births of Samson and John the Baptist. What is similar about these two? What differences exist? What do you feel when you read the Ephesians passage?
3. Read Judges 13:12. What does your manner of life have to do with your mission? Have you ever associated these before? How can the way you live detract from your life purpose? Have you ever felt like this father: “God, what do you mean? What are you saying to me?”
4. God does not have a “second best” theology. God knows in advance that you might get sidetracked or mess up. Read 1 Peter 1:15-16 and Psalm 32:1-2. How do you feel about God’s standard for your life? Have you personally experienced grace and forgiveness for your sins? When God has forgiven you, how do you forgive yourself and keep moving forward? Read Psalm 32:1-2 again, this time from the Message version.
5. Final Point: Samson was stuck grinding a mill wheel. Can you see areas of your life when you are striving at something not in God’s plan or where you are just plain stuck? Is it a relationship? A habit like procrastination or worry? Maybe you are just fixated on a distraction to something not in God’s will. Close by reading this verse: Philippians 1:6. Decide to stop making excuses and get moving.
Deeper
6. Read Judges 2:11-22. What is the backdrop for the time of the Judges? How have the people changed since the death of Joshua? Has God changed? Have His behavior or His promises changed? How has He remained faithful and fulfilled His Word?
7. Read Judges 13:1, 17:6, and 21:25. The book of the Judges repeatedly speaks to the attitude of the people’s hearts. What is the main sinful attitude of the people? How do you see this reflected today?
8. As Samson was set aside from birth, his first mention in the Bible is brief. Read Judges 13:24-25. What do you find promising? Immediately after this, we see a change. Read Judges 14:1-4. How does Samson exhibit the same sinful attitudes of the Israelites? How do you reconcile verse 3 with verse 4?
9. In spite of Samson’s willful, even sinful ways, the Lord continued to use him. Read Judges 14:6, 14:19, and 15:14-16. What are your thoughts about God’s willingness to use Samson to destroy the Philistines? How does Samson’s cycle of sin and Spirit, calamity and being used by God speak to you personally?
10. Read Judges 16:23-31. What are the takeaways for your life from the life of Samson?