The hair of his [Samson’s] head began to grow again.
Judges 16:22
At the end of the story of Samson’s life, the commanders of the Philistines were throwing a great party at a temple to their god, Dagon. They decided it would be fun to bring out Samson to perform some tricks. No doubt they gave him some iron bars to bend and enjoyed a good laugh at what he could no longer do.
Samson asked the servant who brought him to take him to the temple pillars so that he could lean against them. Rather naively, the servant did. Then Samson prayed, “O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes” (16:28). God did, and Samson brought the house down—literally! Pushing against the pillars, he destroyed the centre of the enemies’ power. He died as a hero and a martyr. He went out in a blaze of glory.
In his death, Samson points forward to someone else of greater gifts and nobler character, who in His death pulled down the strongholds of our enemy, and then on the third day rose again to lead all His people into freedom and victory.
Samson’s story leaves us saying, “We need a greater deliverer than this.” Maybe you have made some poor choices. You see that you have played the fool. But whatever you have done, there is a redeemer, there is grace, and God can use you. God can use you. God can take the man or woman whose passion has been out of control. He can make you useful in His kingdom. God’s grace can teach you to say “no” to worldly passions. You need that grace. And you can find it in Jesus.
Have you made some poor choices? Would you like to be made more useful for God?
