Samson flawed hero ∙
O Lord God, remember me! Strengthen me just one more time. – Judges 16:28
Judges 16:28-30
28 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.”
29 Then, Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands,
30 he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So, he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime.
A Tale of Two Missions
On November 4, 1979, a group of outraged Iranian students stormed the US Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. For the next 14 months, these individuals endured captivity under the regime of Ayatollah Khomeini. This crisis not only caused immense suffering for the captives but also dealt a severe blow to the reputation of President Jimmy Carter and the United States.
Desperate to resolve the situation, President Carter authorized a top-secret military mission aimed at rescuing the hostages. The operation appeared to have all the elements needed for success. Yet, instead of delivering the hostages to safety, it turned into a catastrophic failure.
Eight helicopters were dispatched to the mission’s staging point in Iran, known as cally, during the retreat, one of the remaining helicopters collided with a transport aircraft. Both were destroyed in the fiery crash, and eight brave servicemen lost their lives.
Israel’s Struggles and Samson’s Calling
The story of Operation Eagle Claw parallels the repeated struggles and failures of ancient Israel. When Israel turned away from the Father, they were handed over to the Philistines, who oppressed the Israelites for 40 years due to their disobedience (Judges 13:1).
During this dark time, Samson was born to be a hero. Chosen by the Father, he was given an assignment to lead Israel out of oppression. He was empowered to conquer Israel’s dreaded enemy: the Philistines.
At the outset, things started well for Samson. He was graciously given the opportunity for success. He had godly parents who pointed him in the right direction. The spirit of the Lord began to stir him when he was a young man (Judges 13:24).
However, Samson, though destined to be a hero, was deeply flawed. He lived in an era when everyone did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). He was plagued by poor decisions, driven by impulsive emotions and unchecked desires. Instead of walking in the strength of his spiritual calling, he was led by personal lusts and a fascination with beautiful women (Judges 14:1-4; 16:4). This lack of discipline and spiritual maturity would ultimately lead to his downfall.
Flawed but Redeemed
Despite his flaws, the Father repeatedly empowered Samson to accomplish incredible feats against the Philistines. Time and again, he triumphed over his enemies with supernatural strength (Judges 14:5-6, 14-19, 15:4-8, and more). Samson is a complicated mixture of human frailty and supernatural enablement in one person.
Could it be that many of us can identify with him? A person meant for greatness, yet stumbling because of internal struggles. Samson’s life offers a somber warning to us all to pursue a disciplined relationship with God. But his death carries a profound message of hope. At the very end of his life, Samson called out to the Father, and his final act brought a decisive victory for Israel over their oppressors.
This reminds us of an unshakable truth. No matter how far we fall, “It is never too late to call upon the name of the Lord” (Simon J. Robinson). The Father’s mercy and power remain available to those who humble themselves and seek Him. Samson’s story stands as both a cautionary tale and a testament to the enduring grace of God.
REFLECT & PRAY
Charles Stanley observes that “Samson had fallen so low spiritually that he could not tell the difference between the Lord’s presence and His absence.”
Father, I have taken to heart the story of Samson. Keep my heart focused on You, not on the fleeting temptations of sin that so easily entangle and pull me away. Strengthen me just one more time.
INSIGHT
Samson’s Fall and Spiritual Blindness
As a result of Samson’s folly, his story took a tragic turn when the Lord departed from him. Tragically, Samson was so spiritually insensitive that he did not even realize the Lord had left him (Judges 16:20). His spiritual blindness gradually led to physical blindness.
As vividly recorded in Judges 16:21, The Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and brought him to Gaza. There, they bound him in bronze chains and threw him into prison, forcing him to grind grain like a common slave.
Betrayed and Broken
The events that led to Samson’s downfall unfolded rapidly. Samson was betrayed by Delilah, his “lover,” a woman he believed cared for him. Samson’s hair was cut, his strength stolen, and his enemies captured him. He was no longer a mighty warrior. The Philistines blinded him, and he became a humiliated slave, a mere plaything for mockery and torment.
The Philistines, who worshiped their god Dagon, attributed Samson’s downfall and capture to this false god. They believed that Dagon had delivered Samson into their hands, and they triumphantly celebrated their supposed victory. Samson was summoned to the temple of Dagon to be humiliated and entertain them. Mocking a prophet of the living God is never a good idea. The Father takes it quite personally and frequently acts in defense of His servants, the prophets (2 Kings 9:7).
A Glimmer of Hope
Yet, even in Samson’s darkest hour, hope was quietly taking root. Judges 16:22 hints at a turning point with these simple yet profound words: “But before long, his hair began to grow back.” This subtle detail carried a hidden promise. Unknown to the Philistines, as Samson’s hair grew, his strength began to return. The Philistines had no idea that this was so. However, they would soon find out. They were in for the surprise of their life and, ultimately, their death.
Final Act of Strength
During a festival in Dagon’s temple, the Philistine rulers and thousands of others gathered to celebrate. They called for Samson to be brought out of prison to amuse them. The story is recorded as follows: Judges 16:23-24: “The Philistine rulers held a great festival, offering sacrifices and praising their god, Dagon. They said, ‘Our god has given us victory over our enemy Samson!’ When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, ‘Our god has delivered our enemy to us! The one who killed so many of us is now in our power!’ Ridiculed and humiliated, Samson was led to stand between the two central pillars of the temple” (Judges 16:25-27).
Here, in a pivotal moment, Samson turned back to the Father. Judges 16:28 He prayed, “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).
Gathering his renewed strength, Samson pushed against the pillars supporting the temple. With one final effort, he brought the entire structure crashing down, killing the Philistine rulers and everyone inside. Astonishingly, Samson’s death claimed more lives than all his battles combined (Judges 16:29-30).
A Prayer of Strength
This was only the second time in the book of Judges that Samson is recorded praying (Judges 15:18), yet it was a prayer of deep reliance on the Lord. His heartfelt cry, “O God, please strengthen me just one more time,” stands as a timeless model for anyone facing impossible circumstances.
But there is a little-known secret. It is pretty simple. The Father never counts how many times we pray this prayer. Thus, we can pray it repeatedly as though we have never prayed it at all. The Father has been known to answer over and over again.
When the Father calls children of the King to serve, they have only to recall and recite Samson’s prayer.
O God, please strengthen me just one more time.
¯_(ツ)_/¯6-22-2
© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 