Judges 16:23-31
23 Now the governors of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to celebrate, for they said,
“Our god has handed Samson our enemy over to us.”
24 When the people saw him, they praised their god, for they said,
“Our god has handed our enemy over to us,
Even the destroyer of our country,
Who has killed many of us.”
25 It so happened when they were in high spirits, that they said, “Call for Samson, that he may amuse us.” So they called for Samson from the prison, and he entertained them. And they made him stand between the pillars.
26 Then Samson said to the boy who was holding his hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, so that I may lean against them.”
27 Now the house was full of men and women, and all the governors of the Philistines were there. And about three thousand men and women were on the roof looking on while Samson was entertaining them.
28 Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes.”
29 Then Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left.
30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed outwards powerfully, so that the house fell on the governors and all the people who were in it. And the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed during his lifetime.
31 Then his brothers and all his father’s household came down and took him, and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. So he had judged Israel for twenty years.
Samson’s Death
Philistine feast
It is never too late to repent. Any sinner who truly repents can receive God’s forgiveness. One of the criminals crucified with Jesus, at the moment of death, confessed his repentance and received the assurance of forgiveness from Jesus. Similarly, Samson, who was captured due to breaking his Nazirite vow, also received forgiveness through repentance in the end. The Philistines held a feast to celebrate their capture of Samson and to give thanks to their god Dagon. The five rulers of the Philistine cities and a multitude of men and women had gathered for the feast. They summoned Samson from his prison for their amusement. Samson, who had broken his Nazirite vow, became blind, enslaved, and now a subject of mockery.
Two pillars
Samson, brought out by the young man holding his hand, asked him to place him between the two main pillars of the temple. The temple was filled with a massive crowd, and even the roof had about 3,000 men and women watching, eager to witness Samson’s display of strength. At that moment, Samson prayed that he would be strengthened once more and used all his might to pull the two pillars. Then the temple collapsed, killing the five lords and all the people who were in the temple. (1) Samson restored his status as Nazirite through repentance. (2) God did not strengthen Samson for the purpose of revenge. The supernatural strength given to Samson was to judge the sins of the Philistines, who had mocked the glory of the Lord and oppressed the people of Israel. (3) On that day, the number of those killed by Samson was greater than all those he had killed before. Samson’s life is filled with paradoxes. He, who could defeat any formidable enemy, was defeated by the weakest, a woman. He, who avoided entering a vineyard to uphold his Nazirite vow, took honey from the carcass of a lion, which he was not supposed to touch. The greatest paradox of all is how such a flawed vessel was used by the Lord for His own purposes. This reflects the paradox of God’s love that applies to our lives as well.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, whether in life or in death, help me to reflect your glory. I pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.