“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.” (Judges 13:3 KJV)
You cannot miss noticing in reading the story of Samson that everything God did through him; God did. Samson is characterized as being a muscular man, yet when it came down to it; he had no strength. As present day Christians, we might be tempted to think that we can take what the Lord has gifted us with and somehow enhance it. As though the Lord’s gift is just the base or the down payment. It seems, as you read through the story of Samson, that there are so many things that could have been managed better. Yet, in the end, a humble heart with a simple prayer was brought out. It’s almost a reminder that for all that we can learn and all that we can do is it really any better than being reminded of the value in humility before God?
To further highlight God’s presence in this, people often like to picture the transformation of Samson similar to how Dr David Banner transformed into the Hulk. Somehow his strength became more. Look at the end of verse 16:9, “And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire.” Do you see how this verse (and others in this story) reflect a transformation of the bonds becoming less? This would literally be true in the presence of God (in this case the Spirit). When God shows up, all other otherwise solid objects are less solid in comparison. We know this today, in our prayers, in that what we are really asking for, as we lift up our needs, is his presence. His presence rights things by fundamentally transforming them.
I think that one of the core aspects of this story is Samson’s eyes. On the one hand you can see how what he saw often got him into trouble. Of course the world today does that to us with the slogan “limited time offer”. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6 that despite the limited time that we should not worry about such limited time things and gives us something better to consider. Yet, that’s just it. When you give up the important things that you know to be your source of strength for those present pressures, they take away your ability to see correctly. Your perspective, if not your entire vision, is gone. How the enemy prowls about seeking who can be devoured, and it’s done with a vision of an offer that will take away your ability to see straight.
“And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.” (Judges 16:28 KJV)