“Life Driven By Senses”
SERMON Title: Life Driven By Senses
SCRIPTURE: Judges 14-15 ESV
Introduction
As we step into Judges chapters 14 and 15, we begin to see more clearly the kind of man Samson really was—not just in title, but in character. These chapters highlight how his life is driven by two powerful attitudes:
“I see what I want, and I’m going to get it.”
“I do what I feel like doing.”
Samson is led by his eyes and ruled by his emotions. Instead of being shaped by God’s Word or his Nazirite identity, he follows his physical desires and inner impulses. He pursues what looks good and reacts based on what feels good—without restraint, without prayer, and without accountability. And so, Chapters 14 and 15 make it painfully clear: Samson lives a life governed by senses and emotions, not by faith and obedience.
1. Story of the Timnite Wife
Samson went down to Timnah, a Philistine city, and saw a Philistine woman (Judges 14:1). As an Israelite, he had no business being there—it was enemy territory. The narrative begins by emphasizing sight: “he saw,” echoing the repeated phrase in Judges, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Samson was driven by what pleased him, not by God’s will.
In Judges 14:2, Samson told his parents, “I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines... Get her for me as my wife.” There was no prayer or reflection—just impulsiveness. This violated God’s command in Judges 2:2: “You shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land.” Samson’s parents objected (v.3), asking why he would marry an uncircumcised Philistine. But their concern seemed more cultural than spiritual. They were more worried about appearances than Samson's Nazirite calling. Samson insisted: “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.” Eventually, his parents gave in and went to Timnah with him (Judges 14:5), showing that they, too, lacked conviction to uphold God’s law.
2. Killing the Lion and Honey from the Carcass
While approaching Timnah, a lion attacked Samson. “The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him,” and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands (Judges 14:6). But Samson told no one. Though the Spirit empowered him, he violated his Nazirite vow by touching a dead body (Numbers 6:9–12), which required an eight-day ritual for cleansing. He deliberately stayed silent to avoid inconvenience.
Later (v.7), Samson met the woman again, and the text repeats: “She was right in Samson’s eyes.” After some days, Samson returned and saw the lion’s carcass. Inside, he found a swarm of bees and honey (Judges 14:8–9). He scraped it out with his hands and ate it. He even gave some to his parents without telling them it came from a carcass. He not only defiled himself again but made his parents unclean too. His actions were driven entirely by selfish appetite.
3. Samson’s Rage and the Riddle
At the wedding feast, which lasted 7 days, Samson was given 30 Philistine groomsmen. He made a bet: if they solved his riddle, he’d give them 30 garments; if not, they owed him. Riddle (Judges 14:14): “Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet.” The answer referred to the honey from the lion’s carcass. The Philistines couldn’t solve it. On day 4, they threatened Samson’s wife to get the answer or they’d burn her family’s house down (v.15). She cried for 7 days until Samson gave in. On the seventh day, the men answered correctly, and Samson realized they coerced his wife. In rage, “The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him,” and Samson went to Ashkelon, killed 30 men, took their garments, and gave them to the groomsmen (Judges 14:19). Though it says the Spirit came upon him, this refers to supernatural strength—not holy living. Like spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians, strength can be misused. Samson then left in anger. His wife was given to his best man (Judges 14:20).
4. Revenge and Second Rage (Judges 15)
Later, Samson returned to visit his wife but learned she had been given away. Her father offered her younger sister instead. Enraged, Samson caught 300 foxes, tied torches to them, and released them in Philistine fields, destroying their harvest (Judges 15:4–5).
In retaliation, the Philistines burned Samson’s wife and her father. Samson attacked them in revenge, then hid at the rock of EtaThe Philistines came looking for him, threatening Judah. So 3,000 men from Judah confronted Samson and agreed to hand him over to avoid conflictSamson allowed them to tie him. But when the Philistines approached, “the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him” again, and Samson killed 1,000 men using a fresh donkey’s jawbone (Judges 15:15). Again, he touched a carcass, violating his vow without remorse. Despite his failures, God used Samson to deliver Israel: “He judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years” (Judges 15:20).
Biblical Significance (Reduced Version)
Many wonder why God chose to use Samson as a judge despite his deeply flawed character. Samson frequently acted out of physical desire and emotional impulse, showing little respect for God’s commands or human authority.
He was driven by personal cravings and ignored his Nazirite calling.
He lived in disobedience and selfishness, making him a failure in God’s eyes on a personal level.
Yet, from a broader perspective, God still used Samson to deliver Israel from the Philistines (Judges 13:5). This shows that God’s redemptive plan was never dependent on Samson’s righteousness, but on God’s own sovereign will.
It was never Samson who truly delivered Israel—it was God all along.
Samson was simply a flawed instrument in the hands of a faithful, sovereign God.
God's mission to redeem His people cannot be stopped, whether people obey or disobey.
This truth is seen throughout Scripture:
Abraham failed, but God still fulfilled His promise (Genesis 12–22).
Jacob was deceitful, yet became the father of Israel (Genesis 25–35).
David sinned gravely, yet remained a man after God’s heart (2 Samuel 11–12).
Peter denied Christ, yet became a pillar of the early Church (Luke 22:54–62; Acts 2).
These stories reveal an important truth:
Samson’s usefulness was not a sign of God’s approval, but a testimony to God's unwavering faithfulness and ability to work through broken vessels.
God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our perfection.
God’s sovereignty is not canceled by our failures.
God’s purposes will always prevail—through people like Samson, and through people like us.
This should challenge and comfort us: even in our struggles with temptation or inconsistency, we are called to respond with a life of obedience and gratitude for God’s faithfulness.
Gospel-Centered Application and Conclusion
Samson’s life teaches us that being used by God is not the same as walking with God. Though God’s hand was on him, his heart was far—driven by impulses and desires. Like Samson, we often chase what feels good over what honors God. We’re bombarded daily with images and messages that stir our emotions and shape our longings—telling us to follow our hearts, trust our feelings, and seek comfort, beauty, and success. But Scripture warns us: A life led by emotion and desire leads not to freedom, but to destruction. And as we’ll see in Samson’s downfall:
What looked like freedom became bondage.
What felt like strength led to weakness.
What started in desire ended in regret.
But here’s the good news: Jesus came to give us a better way—a life not ruled by impulse but led by His Spirit.
Where Samson failed, Jesus triumphed.
He resisted temptation, lived in perfect obedience, and died in victory—carrying our sin and shame to the cross.
Through His resurrection, He doesn’t just offer forgiveness—He offers us a new identity and new life.
In Christ:
We are no longer defined by our past or our failures.
We are defined by His righteousness and His Spirit at work in us.
So the real question is not “Can God use me even if I’ve failed?”—yes, He can. The better question is: Will I walk with Him today? A life driven by desire may look exciting but leaves us empty. A life surrendered to Jesus may seem costly but leads to lasting joy and wholeness. God isn’t just looking for people to use. He desires people to walk with. He offers us not just usefulness, but intimacy, holiness, and grace.
So will you keep following what feels good? Or will you follow the One who gave everything for your freedom? Let’s not waste the grace we’ve received. Let’s live not by impulse, but by surrendered obedience. Let’s walk by the Spirit—because in Jesus, this kind of life is truly possible.
Reflection and Response
At this time, as the Praise Team to come forward I want to invite you to close your eyes for a moment of reflection and response.
Samson was a Nazirite—called, set apart, chosen by God. But he lived by what pleased his eyes and what stirred his emotions. He followed what felt good, not what was good. And in the end, he lost sight of who he was and who God had called him to be.
What about us? Where is our heart being led today?
- Are our decisions shaped more by desire, impulse, and emotion… or by trust in the Spirit of God?
- Are we living by what seems right in our own eyes—or by what is truly right in God’s eyes?
- What’s pulling our hearts away from God’s call on our lives?
· Is it the desire for comfort, approval, or success?
· Is it the temptation to please others or to escape pain?
· Are we allowing our emotions or fears to control our choices, rather than seeking God’s truth and peace?
- When we face choices, do we seek God’s guidance, or do we follow what feels easiest in the moment?
Paul writes in Romans 8:5 - For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
Let’s not settle for a life driven by the flesh—by our senses, cravings, and fleeting emotions.
Instead, let’s surrender to the Lordship of Jesus, who gives us the strength to live by His Spirit.