Lesson 80

Judges 10–21

Prepare to Learn

Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Remember that studying the gospel prayerfully with a desire to learn will help you to be taught and edified by the Holy Ghost.

Begin your study with prayer.

Do you know who you are and who you can become?

Consider the preceding question as you watch this video. As you watch, keep in mind that the Lord’s Apostles know who you are and want you to understand your divine potential.

Life Accomplishments

What are some things you feel Heavenly Father would like you to accomplish in your life?

Look for Truths

Here are some accomplishments that Heavenly Father would like you to pursue: serving the Lord and others; receiving essential ordinances and covenants; creating an eternal family; receiving an education; developing skills, talents, and divine attributes; and living worthily to return to Heavenly Father’s presence.

As you study Judges 10–21, look for truths that will help you understand what can prevent you from accomplishing the things Heavenly Father desires for you.

A New Leader

From Judges 10–12 we learn that after the Israelites again began to worship false gods, they were afflicted by their enemies the Ammonites. When the Israelites turned to the Lord, He raised up a judge named Jephthah to deliver the Israelites from their enemies.

In Judges 13:1 we read that the children of Israel were taken captive by the Philistines for 40 years because they “did evil again in the sight of the Lord.”

Read Judges 13:2–5. What special characteristics of a new leader who would “begin to deliver Israel” do you find in verse 5?

A Nazarite

Nazarites vowed, or covenanted, to dedicate themselves to God for a period of time. During the period of their vow, Nazarites promised not to drink wine, touch any dead thing, or cut their hair. (See Bible Dictionary, “Nazarite.”)

The Nazarite spoken of in Judges 13:3–5 would have the potential to help the Israelites break their cycle of sin so they could be delivered from their enemies.

Judges 13:6–23 tells of the angel reappearing to the woman and her husband and repeating the message about their son.

Read Judges 13:24, looking for the name of their son, the new Israelite leader.

Samson’s Desires

Read Judges 14:1–3, looking for what Samson desired that was not in line with the Lord’s will.

How did Samson place his own desires ahead of the Lord’s will?

Samson’s Physical Strength

Judges 14:4 states that Samson’s father and mother “knew not that [the marriage] was of the Lord.” This statement does not mean that the Lord approved of Samson’s marriage to a Philistine woman. The Lord had forbidden the Israelites from marrying outside the covenant (see Deuteronomy 7:3–4). Nevertheless, the Lord used this marriage, even though it was against His will, to further His purposes in delivering Israel from Philistine captivity.

Judges 14:5–6 explains that while Samson traveled to visit the Philistine woman, he killed a lion with his bare hands. In verse 6 we learn that “the Spirit of the Lord” was the source of Samson’s physical strength. Today when we speak of someone having the Spirit of the Lord, we are usually referring to someone who is faithful and obedient and therefore close to God. However, as used here, referring to Samson (see Judges 14:6, 19; 15:14), the phrase seems to acknowledge Samson’s remarkable physical strength, which came as a gift from God.

Samson and the Philistines

From Judges 14:7–20; 15:1–8 we learn that when Samson returned from Timnath, he found that bees had formed a hive within the carcass of the lion he had killed. Samson used this experience to create a riddle to challenge the Philistines. When the Philistines could not discover the answer to the riddle, they threatened Samson’s wife and convinced her to obtain the answer from Samson. This led to a series of conflicts between Samson and the Philistines, which resulted in the deaths of many people. The following is a brief summary of these events:

• After Samson’s wife revealed the answer to the riddle to the Philistines, Samson separated himself from her (see Judges 14:16–20; 15:1–2).

• When Samson learned that his father-in-law, a Philistine, gave Samson’s wife to another man, Samson burned the Philistines’ crops (see Judges 15:1–5).

• The Philistines sought revenge against Samson by burning his wife and father-in-law. Samson responded by smiting the Philistines “with a great slaughter” (see Judges 15:6–8).

Samson’s Response

Read Judges 15:9–11, looking for how Samson responded when questioned about why he had slain many Philistines.

Quiz 1

1. How did Samson respond when he was confronted about what he had done?

   1. He denied everything.

   2. He said he had done to the Philistines what they had done to him.

   3. He apologized for his actions.

Anger and Vengeance

Samson’s choice to act in anger and seek revenge resulted in the deaths of Samson’s wife, his father-in-law, and many others.

What principle can we learn from Samson’s actions about the consequences of choices that are based on anger and vengeance?

The Pattern Continued

One principle that we can identify from Samson’s actions is that anger and vengeance can lead us to make choices that hurt others and ourselves.

In Judges 16:1–14 we see that the pattern of conflict and revenge between Samson and the Philistines continued. The Philistines decided to bribe a Philistine woman named Delilah to discover the source of Samson’s physical strength. They hoped to use this information to defeat Samson. On three different occasions, Delilah tried to persuade Samson to reveal his source of strength, but each time he lied to her.

Read Judges 16:15–20, looking for what happened when Delilah continued to ask Samson about the source of his strength.

Quiz 2

1. According to verse 17, what did Samson say would make him weak?

   1. Shaving the hair off his head.

   2. Using ropes to tie him up.

   3. Braiding his hair into seven locks.

2. According to verse 20, why did Samson lose his strength?

   1. “He awoke out of his sleep.”

   2. “The Lord was departed from him.”

   3. He was a Nazarite.

Results of Losing the Spirit

The statement in Judges 16:20 that “the Lord was departed from him” indicates that Samson no longer had the Spirit of the Lord with him.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 3:4, looking for a principle that would explain what caused the Spirit of the Lord to withdraw from Samson.

Samson’s hair was not the source of his strength. Rather, it was the symbol of his covenant relationship with God, who was the source of Samson’s strength.

From Samson’s experience, what principle can we identify about the results of losing the Spirit from our lives?

Lost Blessings

One principle that we can identify from Samson’s experience is that if the Spirit of the Lord departs from us, we will lose blessings.

When the Lord withdrew His Spirit from Samson, Samson lost his gift of physical strength.

1. Answer the following questions:

• What blessings or abilities might we lose when the Lord’s Spirit is not with us?

• Why is it important for you to keep your covenants so that you do not forfeit the Lord’s gifts and blessings?

Samson’s Death

From Judges 16:21–31 we learn that the Philistines captured Samson, put out his eyes, and made him a slave. In time, they held a celebration, and they claimed that their god had delivered Samson into their hands. During the celebration, Samson prayed to God for strength, and he collapsed the building. This killed Samson and thousands of Philistines.

Remember that the Lord had called Samson to dedicate his life to Him so the Lord could deliver the Israelites from the Philistines. After Samson’s death the Israelites continued to sin against the Lord and suffer afflictions from their enemies (see Judges 17:6; 21:25).

Your Divine Potential

In the end, Samson’s life was tragic because he repeatedly did his own will instead of seeking to do the Lord’s will.

2. Answer the following questions:

• How could Samson’s life have been different if he had sought to do the Lord’s will rather than his own?

• What have you done or what will you do to follow the Lord’s will and reach your divine potential?

Principles to Remember

The following principles were identified in this lesson:

• Anger and vengeance can lead us to make choices that hurt others and ourselves.

• If the Spirit of the Lord departs from us, we will lose blessings.

Based on the principles that were identified in this lesson, what changes can you make in your life so that you will not miss out on the great blessings Heavenly Father wants to give you?

Doctrinal Mastery: Jeremiah 1:4–5

Read Jeremiah 1:4–5 several times. As you read, look for what you think are the most important words or phrases. Consider marking what you find in your scriptures.

What words or phrases stood out to you, and why do you think they are important?

Answer Key

Quiz 1: (1) b

Quiz 2: (1) a; (2) b