What can we learn about God's presence from "the LORD had departed"? Setting the Scene “Then she called out, ‘Samson, the Philistines are upon you!’ When he awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.” (Judges 16:20) Key Observation: God’s Presence Is Tangible, Not Automatic • Scripture treats the presence of the LORD as an objective reality, not a feeling. • Samson’s strength vanished the moment God’s presence withdrew. • The text never suggests the LORD left partially or symbolically; He literally departed. Why God’s Presence Departed in Samson’s Case • Deliberate compromise: Samson revealed the Nazirite secret, breaking lifelong consecration (Judges 16:17). • Persistent pattern: He had already ignored parental counsel (Judges 14:3), toyed with sin (Judges 16:1–2), and trusted his own might. • Unrepentant heart: No sign of confession or turning back until captivity forced repentance (Judges 16:28). Cautionary Echoes in Saul “Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.” (1 Samuel 16:14) “Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.” (1 Samuel 18:12) • Saul’s disobedience (1 Samuel 13:13–14; 15:22–23) cost him God’s empowering presence. • The vacuum was filled by torment and fear—never neutrality. Warning Signals That God’s Presence Is Diminishing • Loss of spiritual power—Samson’s strength, Saul’s authority. • Rising fear—Saul feared David. • Moral dullness—Samson “did not know” the LORD had left. • Vulnerability—both men quickly fell to enemies they once conquered. God’s Goal Is Dwelling, Not Desertion • Ezekiel 10:18–19 shows glory departing the temple, yet Ezekiel 43:4 promises return. • God warns so we will seek Him, not so we despair (Hosea 5:15; James 4:8). Guarding God’s Nearness Today • Obedient living—John 14:21 “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me… and I will manifest Myself to him.” • Quick repentance—1 John 1:9. • Ongoing dependence—Galatians 5:16 “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” • Word-saturated mind—Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” Hope After Departure • Samson’s final prayer shows restoration is possible even after grievous failure (Judges 16:28–30). • The cross secures permanent access: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) To learn from the sober words “the LORD had departed” is to cling to the gracious promise, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) |
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