Scripture:
Judges 16:27-30 ESV
[27] Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof, there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained. [28] 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.” [29] 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. [30] 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.
Observation:
It was over they had captured Samson gouged his eyes out and had him grinding in the mill like a donkey. Victory was in the hands of the Philistines…or was it? Yes Samson was subdued and they were treating him like a Carnival freak Show trophy piece, but the LORD was not done yet. Was Samson’s secret in his hair or was his strength given to him by GOD? I want you to go back in the story before the scriptures chosen this morning and look at what happened. You see after his hair was cut off, Delilah woke him up. The scripture says he did not realize that GOD had left him. If we go even further back in the story to when Samson killed the lion we can see where his strength really came from. The scripture says the spirit of the LORD came on Samson and he ripped the lion in half. The hair was part of the vow but the strength came from GOD. We can see that in the scripture chosen for this morning’s SOAP as well. In verse 28 Samson asks GOD to give him strength this one time so that he could have revenge on his captures. The secret is not in the hair although it had something to do with it. It’s honestly all about GOD. HE gives and HE takes away.
Application:
GOD is my strength and my Refuge. A strong tower in time of need. My strength comes from the LORD. We all have things in our lives that we need to rely on GOD’s strength to get through and if we ask HIM HE will give us exactly what we need for that moment. The Bible says you have not because you ask not. I’m not saying GOD is some kind of Genie in a Bottle and honestly that’s not what the scripture is implying in those verses either. What is being said is if you need strength ask if you need wisdom ask if you need answers look in HIS word you have not because you ask not and when you do ask you ask for your own passions. let us use the gifts of GOD for HIS glory this life is not about us it was given to us that HE would receive glory. HE will not share HIS glory with anyone.
Prayer:
Father, this life is not about us. It’s about you. What you have done. We did not send your son you did that. We could not save ourselves. You had to. This life from start to finish is about YOU. YOU put us together inside our mother’s womb. YOU made us for such a time as this. YOU give us strength in our time of need. YOU are a strong tower when we need Refuge. All we have to do is run to YOU. that’s our part. YOU are the answer. YOU are the healing. YOU are the provider. Yes, that will require that we do something. But even that is found in YOUR word. It is truly all about you and I want to thank you for that because if it was about me I would mess it up. My strength comes from YOU. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.