Now, the Israelites, because of Samson had come to a major defeat, but Samson wasn't too worried. So casual about the gift God had given him, he didn't despair very long when he realized his strength was gone. He knew his hair would grow back and he would be strong once again. God had not left him.
In the meantime, the Philistines were enjoying their victory, shouting aloud to their god, celebrating, "Our god has delivered our enemy into our hands, the one who laid waste to our land and multiplied our dead." There was a vast crowd attending the promised ceremonies of a new temple and while they were in high spirits they begged for Samson to be brought out to entertain them. Samson, although weak, asked them to stand him among the pillars of their vast buildings that he might have some support. The crowd of man and women gladly placed him there, taunting him about his lost strength. And there he stood, a laughing stock among the three thousand men and women waiting for him to perform.
Then Samson prayed to the Lord. "O Sovereign Lord, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on our enemies, the Philistines. for taking my eyesight." Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, he 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 within it. Thus Samson killed many more of the enemy of God when he died than while he lived.
His brothers and his father's whole family went down to get him and brought him back and buried Samson in the tomb of his father. He had led Israel for twenty years.
The study makes a good suggestion to pass along to us. "In spite of Samson's past, God still answered his prayer and destroyed the pagan temple and its worshipers. God still loved him. God was willing to hear Samson's prayer of confession and repentance and use him this final time. One of the effects of sin in our lives is to keep us from feeling like praying. But perfect moral behavior is not a condition for prayer. Don't let guilty feelings over sin keep you f rom your only means of restoration. No matter how long you have been away from God, he is ready to hear from you and restore you to a right relationship with Him. Every situation can be salvaged if you are willing to turn again to Him. If God could still work in Samson's situation, He can certainly make something worthwhile out of yours."
Perhaps, you and I can use this information. Perhaps this is a lesson you have learned long ago. Either way, I do not personally feel hurt to be reminded as it is so easy to forget things that are important, but have just slipped away from my memory. I want to add, also, that although Samson seemed yesterday to be rather "stupid" in relationship to Delilah, he was only caught up in a situation that can easily look stupid in hind-sight, but when one is centered at the moment on the opposite sex, one can often appear to be "very stupid." Right?
Friends forever,
Jo INMN
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