How does Samson's response connect to Proverbs 3:5 about trusting God? Setting the Scene Samson’s life in Judges 13–16 is a tapestry of God-given strength and very human weakness. Twice, however, the narrative pauses to reveal his heart cry to the Lord: • Judges 15:18-19 – after the jawbone victory. • Judges 16:28 – moments before pulling down the Philistine temple. Samson’s Cry at Lehi “Then Samson became very thirsty, so he cried out to the LORD, ‘You have accomplished this great salvation through the hand of Your servant. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?’ So God split the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it…” (Judges 15:18-19) • Samson admits his need. • He appeals to the Lord’s past faithfulness (“You have accomplished”). • He refuses to depend on his own strength for survival. Samson’s Final Prayer “Then Samson called to the LORD and said, ‘O Lord GOD, please remember me and strengthen me just this once…’” (Judges 16:28) • Blind, captive, and powerless, Samson rests his hope in God alone. • He lays aside self-reliance, asking for strength that only the Lord can provide. • His request is answered, demonstrating God’s sovereignty even through judgment. Connecting to Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) 1. Heart dependence, not head calculation – Samson stops “leaning” on natural ability and looks beyond his understanding of the situation. 2. Wholehearted trust amid weakness – Physical thirst (Judges 15) and blindness (Judges 16) strip away every prop, pushing Samson toward wholehearted trust. 3. God’s immediate response validates trust – Water flows from rock; temple pillars fall. Isaiah 26:4 echoes this promise: “Trust in the LORD forever, because GOD the LORD is the Rock eternal.” Parallels to Other Passages • 2 Chronicles 20:12 – Jehoshaphat: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” • Psalm 37:5 – “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.” • Hebrews 11:32-34 – Samson listed among those “who through faith conquered kingdoms… and from weakness were made strong.” Living the Connection Today • Victory can tempt us to rely on ourselves; need quickly reminds us where strength truly lies. • Genuine trust surfaces when our resources run out; God often allows “Lehi” moments to redirect our confidence. • The promise of Proverbs 3:5 is timeless: wholehearted trust invites divine intervention, whether through refreshing water or final vindication. Key Takeaways • Trust is an active turning from self-reliance to God-reliance. • Samson’s responses model Proverbs 3:5 by surrendering strength, understanding, and outcome to the Lord. • God answers heartfelt trust with provision in the immediate and purpose in the ultimate. |
    |