Samson

https://www.lds.org/music/library/childrens-songbook/i-will-be-valiant?lang=eng


The Books of the Old Testament we've learned about so far:

1. Genesis 
2. Exodus
3. Leviticus
4. Numbers
5. Deuteronomy
6. Joshua
7. Judges 
8. Ruth

1. Genesis  -- the beginning through Joseph in Egypt
2. Exodus  -- Moses  -- the history of the Israelites leaving Egypt after slavery. 
3. Leviticus -- the Law  --  how the Israelites are to be God's holy people and to worship him in a holy manner
4. Numbers -- Israel's journey from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab on the border of Canaan. 
5. Deuteronomy --  a "pause" before Joshua's conquest begins and a reminder of what God required.  -- reminding the people of the covenants they have made.
6. Joshua -- The Israelites were finally allowed to enter the land promised to their fathers.
7. Judges  --  the life of Israel in the Promised Land—from the death of Joshua to the rise of the monarchy (kings)  
8. Ruth -- Look forward to next week!

Today's Lesson:  Samson (found in Judges)

How do muscles help us?
What happens when we exercise our muscles and what happens when we do not use them? 

Heart muscle: A type of muscle with unique features only found in the heart. The heart muscle, or cardiac muscle, is medically called themyocardium ("myo-" being the prefix denoting muscle).

How strong are you?  Arm wrestling? 

Our spirits also need to grow stronger. 

How can we become stronger spiritually? 

Why is it important to become spiritually strong? 

Quote:  "...we each have moments of spiritual power, moments of inspiration and revelation. We must sink them deep into the chambers of our souls. As we do, we prepare our spiritual home storage for moments of personal difficulty." - Neil L. Andersen

Lesson Preview

The Story of Samson

Before he was born

Nazarites made a covenant to separate themselves from the things of the world and become holy unto the Lord. As part of this covenant, each Nazarite made a vow not to drink alcoholic drinks or cut his hair .

The Philistines had conquered the Israelites, and the Lord wanted Samson to rescue the Israelites. 

He slays a lion barehanded

Samson wants to marry a Philistine woman.

Sees the carcase of the lion,

Bees had made a nest.

He ate some of the honey.

He proposes a riddle (a bet).

"Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness."

The men asked Samson's wife to get the answer from him.

She cries and begs and he tells her.

She tells the men.

He is angry that they and she would betray him.

Her father gives his wife to someone else.

He catches 300 foxes, attaches fire to their tails and lets them go in the field.

The Philistines burn Samson's wife and her father. 

He kills a bunch of them.

His own people bind him and turn him over to the Philistines.

HHe  breaks the ropes he is bound with as if they are mere strings.

With the jawbone of an ass he kills a thousand men.

He was thirsty and the Lord blessed him by making water come out of that jawbone. 

 The Lord blessed Samson with physical strength to accomplish his mission. 

When Samson kept his covenants and was strong spiritually, he was blessed with this physical strength. 

The Philistines were afraid of him. 

He was the judge (main leader) in Israel. 

Samson doesn't keep his covenants.

Samson decided he liked a woman named Delilah and was sinning with her.

The Philistines make a deal with her.

She asks him what would make him lose his strength.

1. bind me with seven new bowstrings

2. new ropes

3. weave my hair into a weaving loom

4.  He finally tells her the truth.

Philistines gather in the temple of one of their gods.

Call of Samson to be brought so they can make fun of him.

Bind him to the pillars.

3000 people just on the roof.

 30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.

Object Lesson:
If you gently step onto a pop can, it will hold your weight. It is strong.
Samson didn't always do what he was supposed to do. He did a bad thing when he wanted to please Delilah more than God. When we break our promises with Heavenly Father like Samson did it is like putting a dent in a pop can.  Now what do you think will happen if I try to step on this can? 

This is what sin does to our lives, and what it did to Samson's life. But remember, when we ask God to forgive us, he takes away our sins and it is like we have no more dents.  It is like a new, undented can.  God makes us strong again.