Lecture 5 (Week 6): Handout

Judges 13-16, The Spiritual Fog: Ignorance, Complacency, Apathy

Israel’s spiritual fog

• Israel’s apathy about God’s purposes for Israel (Judges 13:1)
• Samson’s parents’ Ignorance of God’s power (Judges 13:2-3)
• His mother’s apathy about Samson’s purpose
• His father’s ignorance about God’s character (Judges 13:15-20)
• His mother’s ignorance about God’s pre-eminence (Judges 13:24)
• The Judean’s ignorance about their real enemy (Judges 15:9-14)

But God in his mercy acted on their behalf.

Samson’s spiritual fog

• Ignorance or apathy about his purpose
• Complacency about his status as a Nazarite
• Apathy about his gift (Judges 16:4-17)

But God in his mercy answered Samson’s prayers (Judges 15:18-20)

Questions to ponder

• Do you know your God-given given gifts (Ephesians 4:11-16; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12-14; 1 Peter 4:10-11)?
• Do you know God’s particular calling or purpose for your life?
• Are you deliberately building up the church and the kingdom of God by using your gifts for his purposes? (2 Corinthians 5; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15)