Pay Back – April 2, 2009

Pay Back

Judges 16:28

Jim Stephens

04-02-09

 

Scripture:

 

Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.”  (Judges 16:28 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Samson was born of a miracle promise.  God brought Samson into the world to rescue Israel from the Philistines.  His parents prayed for wisdom in how to raise him right, but Samson grew up to be a self-willed, self-centered man.  He had an eye for women and his anger over things that happened to him because of women was his primary motivation for his attacks on the Philistines.  Eventually his eye for women cost him his eyes.  If you don’t see what you should see, you will see what you shouldn’t.

 

For Samson it was about revenge – Pay Back.

 

Some life lessons from Samson:

 

·        Miracle birth announcements don’t insure trouble-free lives.

·        Parental desire to raise a child well doesn’t guarantee character.  It helps.

·        God used Samson in spite of his self-centeredness and immoral behavior.  How much more could God have used him as a man of character and right values?

·        God used Samson in spite of his wrong motivation.  Loving God and loving others is a better motive than revenge.

·        Samson had little lasting influence and his life ended badly.  It still comes down to the heart – my heart, your heart – and our relationship with God.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, thanks for the Samson story.  Like most of what I read in Judges, it’s frustrating and disappointing.  Please help me to live my life out of motives and character that won’t leave you, me, or others frustrated and disappointed.  Amen.