Who is this man standing in the center of the room, chained like an animal for sport? Where are his eyes, and why are they gouged out? What is this place where so many people are gathered, taunting and jeering at this blind, weak, hunched-over man? What are these people sacrificing, who are they praising, and why are they half drunk? This is Sampson, a shadow of the man he once was. These are his enemies, the Philistines, praising their god, Dagon, for victory over Sampson. This is their temple where they are holding a great festival, drunkenly mocking and making sport out of Sampson and the God of Israel.
Through their drunken stupor, as their mockery crescendos against the LORD God, they see Sampson lean over and whisper something in the ear of a servant. They watch the servant helping Sampson feel for the two pillars he stands between. What a hilarious sight, this once strong man who terrorized the enemies of God, now looking for something to support himself, or so they thought. They see Sampson look up and do something he hasn’t done in a long time, and he shakes himself. Sampson pushes against the pillars, and the party, the mockery, and the blasphemy come to a crashing end.
Then Samson called to the LORD and said, “O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. (Judges 16:28–30, ESV)
Is this the same Sampson, son of Manoah and his wife, who earnestly sought the Lord’s wisdom in raising him? Is this the same Sampson of whom the Scriptures say God blessed and stirred him in his youth? Is this the same Sampson who was a Nazarite unto God? Yes. What a difference, his beginning from his end! What a picture of Israel and their beginning compared to where they are now!
As I read Sampson’s story this morning, his use of the word LORD stood out. Prior, Sampson referred to God by his generic name, Elohim (Judges 16:17). Standing between the two pillars, Sampson used God’s personal name, Yahweh. This indicates a much different relationship with God than he had in the past. What a picture of redemption! That God should hear Sampson, blind, weak, defeated, at the end of a life wrecked by disobedience, and not reject him but answer his earnest prayer—what a picture of God!
Because of who God is, there is hope for humanity—all the way to the end! Glory to God when a sinner repents, especially at the end! Was there not a thief who hung on the cross next to Jesus? Did not Jesus, in answer to that man’s earnest prayer, say that he would be with Him in paradise that day (Luke 23:43)? Because of God, there is hope for us and others! Without God, there is no hope. Let us rejoice in God, our hope, our incredible Saviour!
Thank you for joining with me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Judges 16:1-18:31.
Yes Matt.
Messiah and savior who releases us from
Spiritual bondage, and the son of God worthy to be worship.