Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.”
Message: Samson Victorious
Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25).
What the Lord is Saying: Following Samson's capture by the Philistines, his eyes were gouged out or put out and thus he lost his sight. The Philistines want to make sure that even if he recovers his strength he will not be effective. Following his capture, his captors celebrate. Verse 20 makes mention that "the Lord departed from him." To his captors they saw it as their doing, but from God's perspective, his capture was of the Lord, His discipline. Thus, two things are going on, God's sovereignty on display through the free will of man. But I wonder if this description of the Lord departing him is the idea from Samuel based upon what he sees. Or perhaps the phrase departed refers to His strength.
In verse 23, the Philistines then pay homage to their god - Dagon, a prosperity god. They followed this by having Samson come out to them and amuse them. They mocked his strength by having him stand between two pillars.
But as they are amused by him, he does something as a prelude to showing his strength. He leans against the pillars of the house or temple. And then he calls on the Lord to give him strength. He understands that His strength comes from the Lord. His focus though is on avenging himself and yet he is willing to die in the process. “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it." The temple falls and the Philistines fall and Samson falls. But hopefully God is glorified. Samson dies and the conclusion is he was involved in judging Israel for 20 years.
Summary: The Philistines ridicule Samson but Samson implores God's strength one last time and bring the temple down.
Promise: God uses imperfect people.
Prayer: O God the Father, please root out the imperfect ways in me. Let your Word instead shine in my life and may I be a person that is constantly modeling you in my life and living according to your promises. Help me to stand firm before others, not backing down from the Word of God. Help people to see who you are clearly. Lord, you are real and your way is the best. May people keep seeing this.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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