How many struggling saints have found hope in Samson’s final prayer, “just this once, O God” (Jdg 16:28).
From the last chapter in Samson’s life, the saying was framed, “Oh, the binding, blinding, grinding consequences of sin.” Here they are: “The Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison” (Jdg 16:21). But thank God for the “howevers” of life! “However, the hair of his head began to grow again” (v 22). The hair was just a symbol, but a profound symbol, of a man willing to bear shame for the Lord. “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?” (1 Cor 11:14, KJV). Samson’s capture was cause for celebration in Philistia, and they flocked into their temple to Dagon for the event. Samson was brought out to perform, and perform he did—he brought down the house! People have mocked this feat, saying it’s impossible. But two Philistine temples have been uncovered by archaeologists, one at Tel Qasile in Tel Aviv, and one in Tel Miqne at ancient Ekron. Both temples share a unique design—the roof was supported by two central pillars! Made of wood and resting on stone bases, they were little more than six feet apart, well within reach. Samson prayed, “‘Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!’ And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple…And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on…all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life” (Jdg 16:28-30). At last Samson knew where his strength lay; “out of weakness” he was “made strong” (Heb 11:34) and, like our Savior, gained the victory through death.