Read
23The Philistine rulers threw a big party and sacrificed a lot of animals to their god Dagon. The rulers said:
Samson was our enemy,
but our god Dagon
helped us capture him!
24-25Everyone there was having a good time, and they shouted, “Bring out Samson—he's still good for a few more laughs!”
The rulers had Samson brought from the prison, and when the people saw him, this is how they praised their god:
Samson ruined our crops
and killed our people.
He was our enemy,
but our god helped us
capture him.
They made fun of Samson for a while, then they told him to stand near the columns that supported the roof. 26A young man was leading Samson by the hand, and Samson said to him, “I need to lean against something. Take me over to the columns that hold up the roof.”
27The Philistine rulers were celebrating in a temple packed with people and with 3,000 more on the flat roof. They had all been watching Samson and making fun of him.
28Samson prayed, “Please remember me, Lord God. The Philistines poked out my eyes, but make me strong one last time, so I can take revenge for at least one of my eyes!”
29Samson was standing between the two middle columns that held up the roof. He felt around and found one column with his right hand, and the other with his left hand. 30Then he shouted, “Let me die with the Philistines!” He pushed against the columns as hard as he could, and the temple collapsed with the Philistine rulers and everyone else still inside. Samson killed more Philistines when he died than he had killed during his entire life.
31His brothers and the rest of his family went to Gaza and took his body back home. They buried him in his father's tomb, which was located between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Samson was a leader of Israel for 20 years.
Reflect
We can see how it happened, but Samson’s demise is still unpleasant. I admit thinking, “It didn’t have to end this way. If only ….”
But it’s so much easier to see this in someone else’s life, isn’t it? All the mistakes. All the sins that separate a person from God’s perfect will for their lives. It’s a little more difficult to notice when we are straying.
Samson discovered too late that some sin patterns cause irreversible damage. God does not remove the consequences; they stand as a warning to others.
Yet, it is never too late to ask for God’s mercy. Samson accepted the consequences for his decisions, and, in fact, pleaded for death (v 30). But before that, he asked (v 28 CEV), “Please remember me, Lord God. The Philistines poked out my eyes, but make me strong one last time, so I can take revenge for at least one of my eyes!”
Samson was a judge, a representative of Israel and of Israel’s God. His humiliation brought God’s name into disrepute. Notice how the Philistines are bragging that their god “Dagon” gave them victory (vv 23, 24). So Samson made this request not as a private citizen; his triumph was a demonstration of the power of Israel’s God.
The New Testament tells us, “We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him” (Romans 8:28). God was doing an abundance of good. He gave Samson, the individual, victory and, at the same time, God was loosening the grip of a foreign enemy on Israel.
No mess is too great for God. Indeed, God’s power is strongest when we are weak and admit we need him (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Respond
Dear Heavenly Father, You are always at work in our lives, whether we feel your presence or not. But we are not the faithful children you deserve. Please call us back when we stray. We want to work for your good, and not do harm. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jo Lynne Duck (Sheane)
Once found on the national airwaves as a reporter, Jo Lynn Duck (Sheane) now lives in Windsor, Ontario joyfully living as a wife and mom of two school-aged children. She also completed a Master of Theological Studies at Tyndale Seminary. She taught journalism at St. Clair College and worked as a local producer until she switched gears completely. She is now the Admissions and Marketing Coordinator for Maranatha Christian Academy in Windsor.