Lessons from Samson & Philistines
Even before his birth, Samson’s
destiny is clearly announced. He is
to be separated unto the Lord for
a divine mission, requiring him to
abstain from certain defilements.
Miraculous in his birth and equipped
with supernatural strength for the
task of delivering Israel fr Philistine
domination, Samson Instead spends
much of his life violating his Nazirite
vow. Because of his lack of self-
control, he loses his secret, his hair,
his strength, his sight & eventually his
life; but not before God uses him in
a mighty way to avenge the Israelites
of their Philistine oppressors.
Dear Lord, we hallowed You for You
are the sovereign and good God
with a perfect plan for Your people.
We note that Samson despite his
shortcoming, was listed among
the Hall of Faith in Hebrew 11 by
standing on the promises of God.
And so failures in our life need not
disqualify us from God’s service.
Help us to grow up in faith and not
merely grow old in our walk with You.
Help us learn lessons from Samson’s
life and put them to work in our life.
Help us Bring our Confusion to You.
Help us Trust You Work for Good.
Help us Call Upon You for Help. Amen
Lord, we bring our Confusion to You:
Again the Israelites did evil in the
eyes of the Lord,so the Lord delivered
them into the hands of the Philistines
for forty years… Maniah of the
Danites had a wife who was sterile…
The angel appeared to her and said:
you are going to conceive and have
a son. See that you drink no wine…
& that u do not eat anything unclean.
No razor may be used on his head,
because the boy is to be a Nazirite,
set apart to God… and he will begin
the deliverance of Israel (Jdgs 13:1-5)
Lord,thanks for being compassionate
and gracious, having a good plan for
Your people & never giving up on us.
There are many things about You
and Your promises that are beyond
our understanding. But that doesn’t
mean they are not true. It just mean
we need to bring them to U in prayer,
in Trust and Wait upon You. Amen.
Lord, we Trust You Work for Good:
(Samson’s) father & mother objected:
Isn’t there even one woman… among
all Israelites you could marry? They
asked. Why must you go to the pagan
Philistines to find a wife? But Samson
told his father: Get her for me!…
His father and mother didn’t realise
the Lord was at work in this, creating
an opportunity to work against
the Philistines (Judges 14:3-4).
Lord, when we consider our own
sinful inadequacies, we find comfort
we can’t always see the full picture
of what You are doing. We praise You
for being sovereign over our lives;
and that You can cause even foolish
choices to work together for good.
We choose to trust You’re working
in ways we can’t yet see. Amen.
Lord, we’ll Call Upon You for Help:
Now the Philistines gathered to offer
a great sacrifice to Dagon their god.
They said: Our god has delivered
into our hands our enemy. Then
Samson called to the Lord; O God
Strengthen me, just this once that
I may with one blow take vengeance
on the Philistines. And he pushed
with all his might and the temple
fell.So the dead that he killed at
his death were more than he had
killed in his life (Judges 16:23-30).
Lord, thank you that’s never too late
to call on the Lord and that you are
ready to hear and restore to right
relationship. All Praise that You God
are bigger than all our failings and
limitations. Let Your purposes for
Your people be accomplished. Amen