Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Judges 16:23-31 (NIV)
The Death of Samson
23 Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.” 24 When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, “Our god has delivered our enemy into our hands, the one who laid waste our land and multiplied our slain.” 25 While they were in high spirits, they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. When they stood him among the pillars, 26 Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. 28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, 30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. 31 Then his brothers and his father’s whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led Israel twenty years.
Trust what God will do: What did the Samson trust God would do? What resulted for him?
Holy God, Samson is another example of a perplexing story in the old testament. After Samson had strayed and made bad choices, he found himself captured and blinded by the Philistines. I struggle to understand how people can be so wicked and heartless. Samson seemed to be crushed and humbled, but he was still Your servant. His last act of service was not to deliver himself but to deliver Israel and bring the destruction of their enemies. But this time the strength he lost from his sin, he recovered by prayer and trust in You. I too have sinned because of my selfish pride or bad choices that I have made. But by Your great mercy, I am redeemed by Your great sacrifice that delivered me from my sin. I pray that even when the walls of life crash down on me, that I will put my entire trust in You because nothing, not even death can separate me from Your love. I rest in that promise. Amen