STRENGTHEN ME JUST ONCE MORE!

Passage: Judges 16:23-31

Key verse: 28a

NIV

The Death of Samson

23 Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon(A) 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,(B) saying,

“Our god has delivered our enemy
    into our hands,(C)
the one who laid waste our land
    and multiplied our slain.”

25 While they were in high spirits,(D) 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(E) were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. 28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord,(F) “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge(G) 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(H) his father. He had led[a](I) Israel twenty years.(J)

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Footnotes
  1. Judges 16:31 Traditionally judged
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Death of Samson

23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to (A)Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” 24 And when the people saw him, (B)they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.”[a] 25 And (C)when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. 26 And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and (D)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, (E)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. 31 Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him (F)between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.

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Footnotes
  1. Judges 16:24 Or who has multiplied our slain
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Bring Samson out to entertain us! (23-25a)

The Philistines were jubilant because the one man in Israel who was not afraid of them, the man who had made donkeys of them all, was their helpless prisoner. They gouged out his eyes and treated him like a circus animal.

2. Let me die with the Philistines (25b-31)

Samson was blind and helpless--but as his hair began to grow, his strength gradually came back. One day, the Philistines all assembled to offer a sacrifice to Dagon their god. Samson was brought in to entertain them. He prayed with all his heart for strength and God heard his prayer. He used his last strength to push down the main support pillars of the temple of Dagon. The roof fell and the rulers and all the people in the temple died with him. He killed more of God's enemies in his death than he had killed in his lifetime. God used him to lift the defeated spirits of his oppressed people and give them hope.

Prayer: Lord, you always hear desperate prayers. Help me to serve you with all my heart in life and in death.

One Word: A man used by God