Taking Grace for Granted
The middle of my day ended up being fairly full. I attended a luncheon event for Governor candidate Bob Beauprez. It was good to connect with some political people here in Fort Collins. I then had an appointment with my Urologist in Greeley. Debbie met me and we made the trip over to his office in Greeley for a consult. The visit was beneficial and I appreciate his thoughtful approach to investigating the cause of my reoccurring infections. There is one test that he recommended as a “rule out” possibility regarding the amount of pressure in my bladder. We have a tentative schedule for that procedure.
I am always pleased and humbled when I learn of the number of people who are following my progress and praying for me. This past Friday when I was visiting my aunts. Paula brought me a prayer pillow from the congregation of Eagle Bend Community Church. Her church makes these pillows with a scripture verse and with strings of yarn that are tied in knots that represent prayers that have been and are being prayed for someone. She was surprised when they were announcing the names of individuals for whom pillows could be picked up after a recent service and heard my name called.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “And she [Delilah] said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.” Judges 16:20
When it comes to Bible heroes, Samson is an enigma. How can God use someone who does so much wrong to accomplish His will? Samson had more glaring weaknesses in his character, than strength in his body. I once heard him described as the “He-Man” with the “she” weakness.
However we see God’s grace and sovereignty at work as He used Samson to gain victories over Israel’s archenemy the Philistines. But in the end it was as Philistine woman named, “Delilah” that became his downfall. When you read the story of multiple times that she tried to get Samson to reveal his strength, you would think that Samson would have “got it” that she was not to be trusted. He thought he was playing her, but she was playing him and in the end he found you can’t “play with God’s grace.”
God had shown his faithfulness to work through Samson for many years. He finally gives in to the continual pleading of Delilah and reveals the true source of his strength; his hair – the outward sign of an inward devotion to God. Samson’s fatal error was taking God’s grace for granted. Even though he revealed all, when he awoke he told himself, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But something was different, Samson was the same man, his muscles mass was not diminished, but his strength was gone, because the “Lord had left him.”
It is interesting to find that the same thing is said about King Saul. (1 Samuel 16:14; 28:15,16) The Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul to anoint him for leadership. But through disobedience and arrogance Saul disobeyed the Lord and the Lord reject him as King, which lead the prophet Samuel to find a shepherd boy named David to anoint was the next King of Israel.
When the Lord lifted His hand from Saul, an evil spirit began to torment him. When the Lord “turned away” from Saul his life was void of the fellowship and direction that he needed as the leader of God’s people. This led him to seek out a medium, which even Saul had banished from the land, during a time of following after the Lord. Saul found himself lost as a leader, lost as a man.
Samson found himself as the one who is ridiculed by his archenemy. He lost his eyes, he lost his freedom, he found what strength he possesses used to provide power for the grinding stone in the Philistines mill. The man who had killed 1,000 Philistines with the jaw bone of a donkey, now takes the place of a yoke of oxen. All because, “he did not know the Lord had left him.”
I have always view Judges 6:20 as one of the saddest verses of the Bible. God promised His people that they were special only to the degree that His presence was among them. The same is true of those who would follow Christ today. God’s presence is a gift of His grace and something to be highly valued, cherished and cultivated. One can find joy in many ways, but “only Jesus [and His presence] can satisfy your soul.”
Then I am thankful that God’s grace can overcome our deficiencies. When we fail, He is still faithful. His love is everlasting. As a result we see Samson crying out to God one more time for strength to have victory over his enemies. God hears his prayer and grants his request.
The end of Samson’s life, the end of Saul’s life are marked by tragedy, even in the face of God’s grace. You will always find that God’s ways are the best ways. His plan for you is the best plan you can have for yourself. Staying close to Him not only saves you from the world around, it saves you from yourself.