SAMSON PRAYED TO THE SOVEREIGN LORD

Passage: Judges 16:18-31

Key verse: 28

NIV

18 When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines(A), “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands.(B) 19 After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him.[a] And his strength left him.(C)

20 Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”(D)

He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.(E)

21 Then the Philistines(F) seized him, gouged out his eyes(G) and took him down to Gaza.(H) Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain(I) in the prison. 22 But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

The Death of Samson

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

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

25 While they were in high spirits,(M) 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(N) were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. 28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord,(O) “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge(P) 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(Q) his father. He had led[b](R) Israel twenty years.(S)

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Footnotes
  1. Judges 16:19 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts and he began to weaken
  2. 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

18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought (A)the money in their hands. 19 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began (B)to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that (C)the Lord had left him. 21 And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. (D)And he ground at the mill in the prison. 22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

The Death of Samson

23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to (E)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, (F)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 (G)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 (H)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, (I)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 (J)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

Samson lost his power when he despised his dedication as a Nazarite to God. Delilah shaved off his hair and called the Philistines, who completely subdued him. As the spirit of God left him, he was powerless.

Being powerless, Samson had his eyes gauged out, and was put into the enemy’s hands. It must have been a time for him to ponder the privilege and blessing he had received from the Lord. Samson’s hair grew back with time (22), symbolizing the spirit of God returning to him. It was an opportunity for Samson to understand where his power came from.

One day, while the Philistines worshiped their idol and got drunk, they wanted to bring Samson out to mock and ridicule him. At this time, Samson prayed to the Lord “to strengthen him once more.” He understood the origin and purpose of his strength. As he prayed to the sovereign Lord, he pushed two pillars supporting the roof. As God listened to his prayer and strengthened him once more, he died there, taking his enemies with him. God has given us strength to glorify his name. Do you live each day in reverence of the truth?

Prayer: Father, thank you for calling me with your good purpose. Help me to remember who you are and have direction to live to serve your will each day.

One Word: Sovereign Lord strengthens me