Judges 16
Devotional:
Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” …he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime. (Judges 16:28, 30)
Samson calls to the Lord again near the end of Judges 16, just before his life comes to an end. Samson has often acted rashly and foolishly, rejecting God and His blessings. Some believe that when the Jews read the story of Samson they were meant to see a picture of themselves. They, too, had often acted rashly and foolishly, turning away from God and His love. Perhaps there are times when we can see ourselves in Samson. But as we see today, at the end, Samson turns to the Lord. His motives may not be totally pure, but God uses him to win a great battle against the Philistines and their god, Dagon. That is good news for Samson, for Israel, and for us. For like Samson, we may fail. But we, too, can turn to the Lord who can use us (see Psalm 51:9-13).
Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” …he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime. (Judges 16:28, 30)
Samson calls to the Lord again near the end of Judges 16, just before his life comes to an end. Samson has often acted rashly and foolishly, rejecting God and His blessings. Some believe that when the Jews read the story of Samson they were meant to see a picture of themselves. They, too, had often acted rashly and foolishly, turning away from God and His love. Perhaps there are times when we can see ourselves in Samson. But as we see today, at the end, Samson turns to the Lord. His motives may not be totally pure, but God uses him to win a great battle against the Philistines and their god, Dagon. That is good news for Samson, for Israel, and for us. For like Samson, we may fail. But we, too, can turn to the Lord who can use us (see Psalm 51:9-13).
Pray it:
Father, I praise you for the forgiveness you offer me for my rash and foolish decisions that forget you and your love for me. Help me to continually turn from my own evil desires and seek your kingdom with my life and actions. Amen.
Father, I praise you for the forgiveness you offer me for my rash and foolish decisions that forget you and your love for me. Help me to continually turn from my own evil desires and seek your kingdom with my life and actions. Amen.
Share it:
Who is someone you can share a verse or thought from this passage with?
Who is someone you can share a verse or thought from this passage with?
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