The theme of this week’s hero’s life would be one of: Reset,
Do-over, reboot, and start-again. God’s promise to Abraham is finally being
fulfilled. But after many years in their homeland, the Israelites find other
invaders also want the land. Of all their opponents, the Philistines are the
fiercest and to confront them, the Israelites need a new kind of leader. God sends them Judges, like Samson who is
blessed with immense strength but who is tested when his strength is removed at
the hands of his betraying lover Delilah. His eyes were gouged and he was taken
captive. Samson compromised his devotion as
a Nazarite and lost his hair, his strength and his victory. But God… is still
in the restoration business.
He became
repentive of his sin and evil ways. Samson prayed to God to restore him. God
answered that prayer in Judges 16:28-30, “Samson
called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and
strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged
of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle
pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one
with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me
die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house
fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead
which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.”
Praise God
for new beginnings, forgiveness, and tomorrows. Amen?
