How does Samson's request in Judges 16:28 connect to God's strength in our weakness? Setting the Scene Samson had once toppled armies, yet the man we meet in Judges 16:28 is blind, shackled, and publicly mocked. Every outward sign points to defeat—until he speaks to God. Samson’s Cry for Strength — Judges 16:28 “Then Samson called out to the LORD, ‘O Lord GOD, please remember me. Strengthen me, O God, just once more, and let me pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.’ ” • A humble admission: “please remember me.” • A direct request: “Strengthen me… just once more.” • A dependent heart: Samson knows his own muscles are useless without God’s enabling. The Paradox: Weakness as the Doorway to Strength Samson’s physical power had always been a gift of the Spirit (Judges 14:6). Now, stripped of everything—including his hair—he discovers strength is not inherent but bestowed. • Weakness clarifies the source of power. • Dependence invites divine intervention. • God answers, not because Samson earned it, but because God keeps covenant mercy. Echoes Throughout Scripture God repeatedly showcases His might through human frailty: • 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 — “My power is perfected in weakness… For when I am weak, then I am strong.” • Isaiah 40:29 — “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” • Psalm 73:26 — “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” • Hebrews 11:32–34 recalls Samson among those “whose weakness was turned to strength.” Living the Lesson Today What happens in the Philistine temple is more than ancient history; it models how God works with us. • Admit the reality of your weakness—God already sees it. • Ask specifically for His empowerment. • Act in faith, confident He will supply what you do not possess. • Anticipate that His glory, not your adequacy, is the ultimate aim. Samson’s final act shouts a timeless truth: when our resources are gone and our eyes cannot see, God’s strength is still available—and more than enough. |
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