leading god’s people god’s way lesson 8 – the law of solid ground

Leading God’s People Leading God’s People God’s WayGod’s Way

Lesson 8 – The Law of Solid GroundLesson 8 – The Law of Solid Ground

The Law of Solid GroundThe Law of Solid Ground

Trust is the Foundation of Trust is the Foundation of LeadershipLeadership

1 Samuel 12:2-31 Samuel 12:2-3

““22…As for me, I am old and gray, and my …As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your sons are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day. leader from my youth until this day. 33Here Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the LORD and his anointed. Whose ox of the LORD and his anointed. Whose ox

have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I oppressed? From whose hand have I

accepted a bribe to make me shut my accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these, I will eyes? If I have done any of these, I will

make it right.”make it right.”

Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4)Discussion (in groups of 3 or 4)

a)a) Samuel had led Israel for many years. Samuel had led Israel for many years. In all his years as leader he had never In all his years as leader he had never wronged anyone. Do you think it was wronged anyone. Do you think it was easy for the people to trust him as a easy for the people to trust him as a leader? Why, or why not?leader? Why, or why not?

b)b) Have you ever observed a leader who Have you ever observed a leader who said one thing but did another? Were said one thing but did another? Were you able to trust that leader? Give a you able to trust that leader? Give a reason for your answer.reason for your answer.

Our Story in HistoryOur Story in History

1100 10001075 1025

Samson becomes a judge and delivers Israel from the Philistines c. 1070 BC

Samson dies. Saul becomes the first king of Israel c. 1050 BC

Saul dies. David becomes the second king of Israel c. 1010 BC

Joshua Solomon

c. = circa (about)

1050

Samson

Samson judged Israel for 20 years

Scriptures to ReadScriptures to Read

Judges 13:1-25Judges 13:1-25 Judges 14:1-20Judges 14:1-20 Judges 15:1-20Judges 15:1-20 Judges 16:1-31Judges 16:1-31

Samson is Born

Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Hebron

Samson’s father Manoah was from the town of Zorah in Dan. An angel of the Lord appeared to her to tell her she would have a son. Samson was born an grew up between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Samson Finds a Wife

Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

When Samson was a young man he went to the town of Timnah and fell in love with a beautiful Philistine girl.

Hebron

Samson Finds a Wife

Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Samson went back home to his parents and told them to get the Philistine girl for him as a wife. They do not like the idea of him marrying a Philistine woman.

Hebron

Samson Finds a Wife

Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Eventually Samson convinces his parents and they go to Timnah to seek the girl’s hand in marriage.On the way there, Samson kills a young lion with his bare hands.

Hebron

Samson Finds a Wife

Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Samson and his parents return home to prepare for the marriage.

Hebron

Samson Finds a Wife

Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Samson and his parents return to Timnah for the wedding. On the way Samson visits the carcass of the lion he killed and finds honey. He brings some honey to his parents.

Samson Finds a Wife

Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Furious at being tricked into revealing the answer to his riddle, Samson storms off to the Philistine city of Ashkelon. There he killed 30 Philistines, took their possessions and gave their clothing to the men who had answered the riddle.

Samson Finds a Wife

Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Hebron

Instead of returning to Timnah to his new wife, Samson went home to his father’s house. When he did not return, his wife was given to another man.


a)a) Think about the circumstances of Think about the circumstances of Samson’s birth. What are some of the Samson’s birth. What are some of the things you can see that should have things you can see that should have helped Samson to be a great leader?helped Samson to be a great leader?

b)b) We have seen some character flaws in We have seen some character flaws in Samson’s life already – broken vows, Samson’s life already – broken vows, lack of communication, keeping secrets, lack of communication, keeping secrets, impulsiveness, anger, moodiness. Do impulsiveness, anger, moodiness. Do you think strong character is important you think strong character is important for a leader to build trust with his for a leader to build trust with his follower? Why or why not?follower? Why or why not?

Samson Goes to Visit His Wife

Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Samson decides to go and visit his wife, only to find out she has been given to another man. He is so mad that he ties torches to the tails of foxes and then lets them loose in the Philistine fields. Their whole harvest is burned up.

Hebron


Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

The Philistines respond by burning Samson’s wife and her father to death. This makes Samson mad again and he attacks the Philistines and slaughters many of them. Hebron


Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Samson goes to stay in a cave at the rock of Etam in Judah.

Hebron

The Men of Judah Hand Samson Over

Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

The Philistines move into Judah and set up camp.

The men of Judah come out to meet the Philistines and see what they want. The Philistines tell them they have come to get Samson.

Hebron


Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

The men of Judah go to Etam to find Samson

Hebron


Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Hebron Samson allows the men of Judah to bind him and take him to the Philistines.


Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Hebron

The Philistines ran towards Samson shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came on Samson and he killed 1000 Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone. Afterwards the Lord provided water to quench his thirst.

Samson’s Goes to Gaza

Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Samson goes to Gaza and sleeps with a prostitute. The men of Gaza find out he is there and plot to kill him in the morning.

Hebron

Samson’s Goes to Gaza

Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Samson decides to leave in the middle of the night. He finds the gates closed and locked, so he rips them out of the wall and carries them to the top of the hill that looks towards Hebron.

Hebron

Samson’s Last days

Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Samson fell in love with a Philistine woman from the Valley of Sorek named Delilah. The Philistine rulers offer her silver to find out the secret of Samson’s strength.

Hebron


Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Samson finally gave in and told Delilah the secret of his strength. She betrayed him and the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes. Then they took him to Gaza and put him in prison.

Hebron


Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

The Philistines had a great feast to their god Dagon to celebrate their victory over Samson. They brought him out of prison to entertain them. Samson pushed down the pillars holding the temple and killed all the rulers of the Philistines and over 3000 people that were there.

Hebron


Zorah

JUDAHPH

ILIS

TIA

DAN

EshtaolTimnah

Ashkelon

Etam

Gaza

Valley of Sorek

Hebron

Samson’s brothers and his father’s whole house came too get his body. They brought it back to Zorah and buried him in the tomb of his father Manoah.


a)a) Samson continued to display Samson continued to display questionable character – lying, questionable character – lying, uncontrolled anger, sulking, uncontrolled anger, sulking, impulsiveness. Why do you think it is impulsiveness. Why do you think it is essential for a leader to shoe good essential for a leader to shoe good character to build trust and credibility?character to build trust and credibility?

b)b) Think about your own life. Do you have Think about your own life. Do you have any of the bad character traits that any of the bad character traits that Samson had? What must you do to Samson had? What must you do to change those things in your life?change those things in your life?

What Do We Learn From Samson?What Do We Learn From Samson?

1.1. Trust is formed by a leader’s character Trust is formed by a leader’s character and credibility.and credibility.

2.2. There are always signs when a leader is There are always signs when a leader is not on solid ground.not on solid ground.

3.3. If a leader loses touch with God and his If a leader loses touch with God and his people, he loses his teachabilitypeople, he loses his teachability..

4.4. Sin always has great consequences for Sin always has great consequences for both the leader and the people. both the leader and the people.

Trust is formed by a leader’s Trust is formed by a leader’s character and credibilitycharacter and credibility

It’s more important how you finish in It’s more important how you finish in life than how you start. This is life than how you start. This is illustrated in Samson’s life: illustrated in Samson’s life:

1.1. Birth foretold by angel of the LordBirth foretold by angel of the Lord

2.2. Divine destiny and purposeDivine destiny and purpose

3.3. Many great victoriesMany great victories

4.4. But in the end he was weak, blind, But in the end he was weak, blind, and enslaved and enslaved

There are always signs when a There are always signs when a leader is not on solid groundleader is not on solid ground

Leadership failure does not happen Leadership failure does not happen overnight. There are always overnight. There are always warning signs, such as: warning signs, such as:

1.1. Failing to deal with glaring character Failing to deal with glaring character weaknesses weaknesses

2.2. Counting on deception to safeguard Counting on deception to safeguard themselves themselves

3.3. Acting impulsively Acting impulsively

There are always signs when a There are always signs when a leader is not on solid groundleader is not on solid ground

Leadership failure does not happen Leadership failure does not happen overnight. There are always overnight. There are always warning signs, such as: warning signs, such as:

4.4. Misusing their God-given gifts Misusing their God-given gifts

5.5. Being overcome because of an area of Being overcome because of an area of weakness weakness


a)a) Think about what other people have said Think about what other people have said to you or about you concerning your to you or about you concerning your leadership. Do your people consider leadership. Do your people consider you trustworthy?you trustworthy?

b)b) Consider the five warning signs that Consider the five warning signs that indicate a leader in trouble. Are any of indicate a leader in trouble. Are any of these signs of trouble present in your these signs of trouble present in your life?life?

If a leader loses touch with God and If a leader loses touch with God and his people, he loses his teachabilityhis people, he loses his teachability

Samson never learned from his Samson never learned from his mistakes. He became unteachable. mistakes. He became unteachable. A leader who is unteachable… A leader who is unteachable…

1.1. Leans on their own strength and Leans on their own strength and understanding understanding

2.2. Fails to learn from their mistakes Fails to learn from their mistakes

3.3. Reacts instead of leads Reacts instead of leads

4.4. Is easily defeated Is easily defeated

Sin always has great consequences Sin always has great consequences for both the leader and the peoplefor both the leader and the people

No leader can embrace sin and No leader can embrace sin and continue to lead the people continue to lead the people effectively. Sin will always… effectively. Sin will always…

1.1. Take you farther than you wanted to go Take you farther than you wanted to go

2.2. Keep you longer than you wanted to Keep you longer than you wanted to stay stay

3.3. Cost you more than you were willing to Cost you more than you were willing to pay pay


a)a) Samson lost touch with God and the Samson lost touch with God and the people. He never learned from his people. He never learned from his mistakes and became unteachable. How mistakes and became unteachable. How well are you staying connected to God well are you staying connected to God and your people?and your people?

b)b) Sin played a major part in the downfall Sin played a major part in the downfall of Samson. What sin is undermining of Samson. What sin is undermining your leadership? What are you going to your leadership? What are you going to do about it?do about it?

Homework – Scriptures to ReadHomework – Scriptures to Read

Judges 4:1-24Judges 4:1-24 Judges 5:1-31Judges 5:1-31

leading god’s people god’s way lesson 8 – the law of solid ground

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