“And Samson called unto the Lord and said, ‘O Lord God, remember me, I pray You, and strengthen me, I pray you, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes’.”
Judges 16:28
Even from the deepest depths of degradation He’ll still hear our cry.
He was the laughingstock of the Philistines. Their court jester. Town clown. A blind, bumbling buffoon (v.25). And, he heard their jeers and raucous praise to their pagan god, Dagon, and how (they thought) he’d delivered Samson into their hands (vv.23-24).
But, Samson knew Dagon had nothing to do with his being blind and bound.
His yielding to his own “lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life” had done that (I Jn. 2:16).
Yet, still in his abject humiliation he cried out to the Lord. And, even though his supplication still seemed self-centered (“that I may be at once avenged for my two eyes”), we must believe he wanted his last act on earth to show that the God of Abraham is truly the only one, true-and-living God of the earth.
Dear Pilgrim, it’s no accident that the Latin word “humilis” is the same root word for both “humility” and “humiliation”—for so often it’s through our times of deep humiliation that we learn deep humility.
Samson knew he was created for greatness, not grinding grain like a beast of burden or groveling in the dirt before drunken, pagan worshippers. But, again, he realized he was simply reaping “the wages of his own sins” and had no one to blame but himself.
Thankfully, he remembered that the same God Who created, called and commissioned him in the womb (13:2-5) was/is the same God Who specializes in “new beginnings” (II Cor. 5:17; Ez. 37:1-14; Joel 2:25-26). And, even though this prayer would be his last one here on earth, he’d at least die knowing the Lord God had heard and answered him.
Some of God’s greatest saints had times when they found themselves in the depths. Elijah did (I Kings 19:1-4). King David did (Ps. 22:1; 142:4b). Peter did (Mt. 14:30). Martin Luther did. Charles Spurgeon did. David Brainerd did.
But, all of them knew what to do.
And, so did Samson. And, so should we.
Dear Pilgrim, most likely there’ll be a time when you find yourself at “Wit’s End Corner” (Ps. 107:27). Perhaps like Samson, it’ll be because of your own sinful choices. Or, like Job or Paul (II Cor. 12:7-10) it could be through no fault of your own.
Yet, even there the “God of all comfort” (II Cor. 1:3-4) will hear your prayer and come to your aid when all hope seems lost. He is merciful (Lam. 3:21-23). And, He is faithful (I Cor. 10:13). Therefore, do not hesitate to call unto Him in your “dark night of the soul.”
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated October 7, 2010
