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Judges 16 – Praying through the Bible #77 – A Prayer for Lost Strength
It is fitting Samson is a man who tells riddles (Judges 14.14), because his life is a riddle. Called a man of faith (Hb 11.32), he does not lead armies, dispense wisdom, or lead by example. The one faithful act that applies to this manly conundrum is, “gained strength after being weak” (Hb 11.34). Before faith comes the fall.
Samson and Jesus unexpectedly have much in common because both served God’s purposes. Both births are announced by “angels;” are blessed by God in their youths; are unwanted deliverers; rescue without armies; are filled with God’s Spirit doing amazing works; are handed over by their own people and betrayed for silver; are mocked by their captors before their deaths; and finally, make their most notable accomplishments in their deaths. But oh how different. Samson killed more in his death than in life; and Jesus saved more in his death than while he lived. Samson’s suffering was mainly his own sinful fault. Jesus suffered for the sins of others. Israel’s judge is characterized by self-indulgence. The Judge is selflessness epitomized. Samson’s death is vengeful. Jesus dies asking for forgiveness for his oppressors. Both die praying, one in a pagan temple and the other as God’s true temple.
Where does Samson go wrong? He takes for granted God’s blessings. Samson had accomplished many acts of strength: tearing a lion apart with bare hands; killing 30 men to get their clothes because he lost a bet; catching 300 foxes which might be more a feat of feet than strength of hands; tearing his wife’s killers limb from limb like the lion; and killing 1000 men with just an donkey’s jawbone. And then his strength is gone after Delilah cuts his hair. What does hair have to do with strength? Nothing and everything. She begs Samson to tell her the secret of his strength. He lies three times (Jesus prays three times). Finally “because she nagged him day after day” (16.16), Samson tells her the secret. Undeterred even by being betrayed four times, Samson awakes and arrogantly says, “‘I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the LORD had left him” (16.20). Either he did not know she had cut his hair, which is unlikely; or, he took for granted that God would still bless him; or, he betrayed himself thinking the real strength was his all along.
Arrested, and his eyes gouged out, the Philistines make the mistake of letting his hair grow. Poor Samson now needs a young man to lead him, and asks to be placed between two pillars. With his arms outstretched, much like Jesus on the cross, Samson prays, “Lord GOD, please remember me. Strengthen me, God, just once more” (16.28). Samson “gained strength after being weak” (Hb 11.34). Before faith comes the fall. Remembering God is his source of strength is the answer to Samson’s life’s riddle.
Prayer Challenge: Look back to remember when we forgot God is our strength. Remember when we took for granted God’s blessings. Now repent, praying for strength.
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