The Church Militant Becomes Triumphant
Samson was the rock star of judges. He had the fame. He had the power. He had the exciting life.
And he had the blindness, the blindness of focusing so much on himself and what he wanted that he lost the important things.
Samson was actually blinded twice. First, he was blinded by his desires. He was so blinded that we sometimes shake our heads in wonder. When he told Delilah something that would leave him helpless—the next morning it happened. Then he told her something else that would leave him helpless—and it happened again! Then it happened a third time! What did he think was going to happen when he told her everything?
Samson lost sight of who he was and where he belonged. He forgot that he was God’s servant, a Nazirite from birth. God gave Samson great strength to do God’s will, not to serve himself. Samson lost that.
Then, when he gave everything away to Delilah, he was blinded again.
Ironically, this blinding opened his eyes. Samson was taken, imprisoned, and humiliated. And he looked once again to God. He repented. He put his life into God’s hands and pleaded that God would give him strength to serve him one more time.
He lost his life, but died in faith. Like the thief on the cross next to Jesus, he cried, “Remember me!” Once again, he was a man of faith. He had in mind the things of God rather than men. He realized that his treasure was in heaven and he gave his life in service to his Savior God.
Judges 16:28–30 (EHV)
28Samson called out to the Lord. He said, “Lord God, remember me, I pray. Give me strength, I pray, this one more time, O God. Let me get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes in one act of vengeance.” 29Samson then grasped the two central pillars supporting the building. He leaned against them, one with his right hand and one with his left. 30Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” He pushed with all his strength, and the building fell upon the serens and upon all the people who were inside.
The Philistines he put to death when he died were more numerous than those he had put to death during his lifetime.
God bless,
Pastor Tesch