“Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this one time, O God, and let me take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes.” And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he stretched out with all his might [collapsing the support pillars], and the house fell on the lords and on all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.” – Judges 16:28, 30 (AMP)

Mighty Samson was the only child of his parents who had been without child for long after they were married. They’ve prayed and trusted but nothing happened, maybe it’s because God was preparing G something delicious for them or who wouldn’t love to give birth to a son like Samson who was a mighty man, feared and dreaded by the Philistines. As God spoke to Manoah and his wife in Judges 13, Samson was given birth to and he grew to be strong and heavily anointed.

What was his purpose? His assignment was to deliver the children of Israel from the oppression of the Philistines. But this purpose would not be fulfilled if he did certain things which the Lord forbade him through his parents to do or partake in. He was not to drink any strong wine, eat anything of the carcass of an animal, marry from the Godless people of the land or allow any razor to touch his head for he was a Nazarite.

All of these were instructions God gave his parents before his birth as what would preserve his relevance and strength. Unfortunately, reading through his story, starting from Judges 13 – 16, it would be seen that he broke all these laws. And ultimately, he allowed his seven locks of hair to be cut by a Philistine lady, Delilah. And all his strength was gone. The Philistines saw this as an opportunity, blinded him and tormented him for long.

But on the day he would die, he prayed to God as recorded in the text for today. He prayed for strength to destroy the Philistines one last time. God granted it. He also prayed that he might die with his enemies and God granted that as well. Even though he had been wrong, God’s mercy was available to deliver him from death. It was not God’s plan that he would die with his enemies but he asked for it and it happened, probably because he had lost hope of being any more relevant even if he had lived some years more.

Dear Believer, there are certain prayers you pray to God while in distress that are not God’s will for you. Every human is not above mistakes and going astray but God doesn’t want you to condemn yourself to death when He hasn’t condemned you. You must know that God’s mercy is always available to preserve and restore you, and you must bank on this mercy. You must not allow yourself to live a condemned life or lose hope on living a better life anymore and thereby pray as one without hopes of survival.

When all hope is lost for you, don’t forget that God’s mercy is always available to bring you back on your feet. God wants to ultimately give you victory over the enemy, not that you are consumed with them. You have to summon courage and rise again. Do not pray to die in the pit you are in. God wants to save you, take His outstretched arm and be saved.

Reflections: Have I lived a life like that of Samson or do I know someone who might have? What’s he outcome? At what point do I think God’s mercy can no longer save or restore?

Confession: I do not give up on the mercy of God for me. I find my way back to God and I hold on to His lovingkindness towards me. I am not condemned but redeemed.

Related Scripture: Judges 16

Bible Reading: Genesis 38