May 31: GOD’S PLAN FOR SAMSON (part 7)

However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven. Judges 16:22

It was through a gate of humiliation and suffering that Samson finally entered into the realm of repentance. This ‘realm’ being a gift of God, he looked back with amazement at God’s patience and wondered at his own callousness in light of the kindness and goodness of his God. In favor of his own passions and preferences, Samson saw how he had despised the riches of God’s favor. (see Romans 2:4)

While the Philistines made sport of humiliating and heaping affliction upon the now blind “strong man” of Israel, Samson bore it with open spiritual eyes. This man, now looked upon as a helpless prisoner of Philistia, listened with attentive ears as the Philistines ascribed victory to their gods and made plans for a great feast in honor of Dagon, the fish god, also called “protector of the sea.”

From all over the Philistine plain, people traveled to Gaza and assembled in throngs on the big day, filling the vast temple and even crowding the galleries on the roof’s perimeter. They praised Dagon for delivering Samson into their hands (vv.23-24). So it happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, “Call for Samson, that he may perform for us” (v.25). Stationed between the two central pillars of the temple for his performance, Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them” (v.26).

Now such pagan feasts were begun with pompous sacrificial services, satanic counterfeits of the sacrifices of God’s people meant to point forward to Christ. This was followed by loud music and feasting. On this particular day in Gaza, the people and the rulers wanted to gloat in Samson’s misery while they adored Dagon for overthrowing him. Amid the pulsating music and cruel chants, a quiet prayer from Samson’s heart was heard – loudly and clearly – in the throne room of the universe: “O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!” And Samson…braced himself against [the pillars], one on his right and the other on his left… And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life (vv.28-30).  

Thus, God’s promise that [Samson] shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines (13:5) was fulfilled. But how sad and dark is the record of Samson’s life, when it could have been a testimony to Israel’s glory in the light of God’s salvation. “Many mistake strong passions for a strong character, but the truth is that he who is mastered by his passions is a weak man. The real greatness of the man is measured by the power of the feelings that he controls, not by those that control him.” PATRIARCHS AND PROPHETS by EGW (p.568)

Then [one of the criminals] said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Luke 23:42