To the Halls of Faith

The end of Samson's life looks like a terrible subscript written at the end of a movie which already seemed to end with tragedy. He is blinded bound and forced to work, grinding grain for the very people God called him to defeat. He has become physically what Israel is nationally - blind, bound and ground by their enemies.

Now if you remember, the sequence of the famous Judges' cycle it is that Israel would sin, get enslaved and then cry out to God. God would respond with a judge and deliver them for a time until the cycle repeated once more. In the Samson cycle, there all the elements minus the people crying out to God for deliverance. Yet God raises up Samson and it seems clear Samson is not just a historical story but a picture of Israel's descent into the morbid slave-state vassal of Philistines. So I consider God is using this story not only to instigate the nation's deliverance but to awaken them to pray for His help EVEN when they seem to least deserve it!

The stage is set as the Philistines drag Samson out for entertainment and mockery as they worship their god Dagon. Bound in chains, with no other option, Samson prays for only the second time in his life.
Judges 16:28 (ESV) Then Samson called to the LORD and said, “O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.”

An arm-chair theologian could pick this prayer apart. He is hardly contrite, he is only after personal vengeance, he is short, he is not seeing the big picture of Israel's major problem nationally concerning the Philistines. The best Samson can come up with is, "Remember me and avenge me for the eyes taken from me by these pagans."

And yet, God answers his very inadequate prayer.

Judges 16:29–30 (ESV) And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.

That's the end of Samson's life. It's not very inspiring but it's telling us a few things about faith. 

First, the faith you have RIGHT NOW to call out to God with your problems and how you personally see the world is enough to start a very productive conversation with Him. And YES, things will begin to change. Your faith does not need an expensive seminary degree or years of training in the church or a title. God will listen as you speak with the framework you have. If He listened to Samson here, I can guarantee you He will listen to you NOW. 

Second, this moment is clearly pointing to the future in which, through the death of the chosen Son of Israel - Jesus Christ - many more would be saved than His short 33-year life. For death would not be the end of His story. In fact, His death would be the end of death's stranglehold on you. This happened without your contribution. You receive it without payment and you are in turn accepted into the beloved by faith. Yes, the faith you have right now. 

The final picture of Samson in scripture is also a picture of your end in Christ. He is regarded as a hero of faith along with some of the great names in God's Biblical "Hall of Fame" in Hebrews 11: 

Hebrews 11:32–34 (ESV) And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

Does it seem fair that Samson should be named along with so many great men? Of course not. It's not fair, it's grace. And that's how it happens for you. You are in the hall of faith NOT because of your great acts but because you saw the only way out of the mess you were in (which you may have gotten yourself into like Samson) was the remembrance and mercy of the Lord. 

Consider the thief on the cross who went from cursing Christ to saying the same word as Samson, "Remember me..." all while being tortured and slowly dying. What was Christ's response?

Luke 23:43 (ESV)“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”

This is the God of all grace at work. Put your faith in Him. He will NOT let you down.