August 25, 2023

Author: Pastor David Miner
August 25, 2023

Reading: Judges 16 Optional Reading: Judges 13 - 15

“28 Then Samson prayed to the LORD, “Sovereign LORD, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” (Judges 16:28 NIV)

Samson messed up big time. Always reckless, he did not regard his special relationship with God as special. He treated it like an inconvenience. He ran after bad women. He made enemies of nearly everyone in his life. In the end, he suffered harsh consequences because of his foolish and rebellious behavior.
But Samson had faith. God departed from Samson when the big guy sold out to a loose woman named Delilah. He told her the secret of his strength was his hair. It had never been cut because Samson was a Nazirite. A Nazirite was a man utterly dedicated to God. He never cuts his hair. He did not drink wine. He drew close to God his whole life. Samuel was a Nazirite, and some scholars believe John the Baptist was too.
Samson broke his vow, though, when he told Delilah about cutting his hair. When she cut it off, Samson lost his power and God’s presence. But Samson had faith. At the end, with his eyes gouged out and the Philistines openly mocking him, he prayed a prayer for God’s power. God gave it because he always honors faith. And Samson had his revenge on the Philistines.
God answers the prayer of faith. Do you pray like that? Do you believe God is listening and will answer? If you have faith like that, you can be sure God will answer.

Lord, help me to be a person of faith, always. Amen.

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