The Unfathomable Grace of God
But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, "Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands."
. . . While they were in high spirits, they shouted, "Bring out Samson to entertain us." So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them.
When they stood him among the pillars, Samson said to the servant who held his hand, "Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them." Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there . . .
Then Samson prayed to the LORD, "Sovereign LORD, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes." Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars . . . Bracing himself against them . . . he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than when he lived. Judges 16:22-30.
Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, "Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands."
. . . While they were in high spirits, they shouted, "Bring out Samson to entertain us." So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them.
When they stood him among the pillars, Samson said to the servant who held his hand, "Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them." Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there . . .
Then Samson prayed to the LORD, "Sovereign LORD, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes." Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars . . . Bracing himself against them . . . he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than when he lived. Judges 16:22-30.
Samson violated the terms of God's covenant with him as a Nazirite. He told Delilah the secret of his strength, resulting in the shaving of his hair and the subsequent loss of his strength. God left him and he became as weak as any other man. His eyes were gouged out and he was thrown into prison to grind grain. The enemies of God were mocking the servant of God.
God left Samson but the grace of God was not removed from him. The Bible says, "the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved." The unshaved hair was the sign of the Nazirite covenant. Graciously, God allowed Samson's hair to grow again, and with it, there was a restoration of his strength. Even after violating the rules because of his reckless lifestyle, God was gracious to Samson. God heard Samson's plea and strengthened him to take revenge on the Philistines: "he killed many more when he died than when he lived." Samson knew that he had displeased God and he pleaded in prayer for God to remember him one more time and God did.
Even in our most sinful state, the grace of God never leaves us. God is never interested in our destruction. He is willing to restore and strengthen when we plead with Him for forgiveness. We can't escape the consequences of our sinful choices, but the grace of God always abounds to us even in the midst of those consequences. Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more.
No matter what bad choices you may have made in life, and no matter what devastating consequences you may be dealing with, the grace of God is available to restore and strengthen you. If we genuinely cry out to God, He will hear our plea. Don't allow your past to shackle you. Cry out to the God of all grace and He will graciously restore you. God's grace is unfathomable.
God left Samson but the grace of God was not removed from him. The Bible says, "the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved." The unshaved hair was the sign of the Nazirite covenant. Graciously, God allowed Samson's hair to grow again, and with it, there was a restoration of his strength. Even after violating the rules because of his reckless lifestyle, God was gracious to Samson. God heard Samson's plea and strengthened him to take revenge on the Philistines: "he killed many more when he died than when he lived." Samson knew that he had displeased God and he pleaded in prayer for God to remember him one more time and God did.
Even in our most sinful state, the grace of God never leaves us. God is never interested in our destruction. He is willing to restore and strengthen when we plead with Him for forgiveness. We can't escape the consequences of our sinful choices, but the grace of God always abounds to us even in the midst of those consequences. Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more.
No matter what bad choices you may have made in life, and no matter what devastating consequences you may be dealing with, the grace of God is available to restore and strengthen you. If we genuinely cry out to God, He will hear our plea. Don't allow your past to shackle you. Cry out to the God of all grace and He will graciously restore you. God's grace is unfathomable.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your grace. I ask for strength and restoration to pursue your purposes for my life. Amen.