Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, 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. Judges 16:29-30
Over the years, I have learned to hold my plans very loosely. You probably have too. We can make the best plans, but there are so many factors out of our control. Our plans can be shifted by the weather, health, and many other factors outside our control. This can feel very uneasy or unsettling if we spend too much time talking about it. However, we can take comfort that while our plans are fickle, God’s plans are final. There is nothing that can stop God’s plan.
We learn in the book of Judges that Samson had a very specific calling on his life. God’s calling and plan was that Samson would “begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines” (Judges 13:5). Unfortunately, Samson often chose disobedience instead of living obediently. He often lived for himself and gave in to his worldly desires. This lifestyle eventually caught up with him, and he was captured by the Philistines. At this time, he turned to God and asked Him for strength one last time to destroy the Philistines (Judges 16:29-30). God granted Samson’s request, and Samson defeated the Philistines by tearing down the pillars supporting the Philistine temple, causing the entire temple to crash. Samson, along with many Philistines, died that day. There is an interesting summary about Samson’s story in Judges 16 as his story comes to a close: We are told that Samson “killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime” (verse 30). These people referred to in this verse are enemies of Israel, namely the Philistines. God carried out His plan to rescue Israel from the Philistines through Samson, despite Samson’s disobedience and missteps. Nothing will ever stop God’s plan.
God’s plans will always prevail, my friends. We can take complete confidence that absolutely no one or nothing can stop Him or His plans. This is a good thing. After all, he is all-knowing, all-powerful, and sound. His plans are good, and we can have confidence that these good plans will always prevail.
While we are not in control, we can take comfort in knowing that we know the One who is. So, take a few minutes to go on a walk. Listen to worship music, listen to a passage of Scripture, read through your favorite app, or go silently. As you go, find peace in the fact that God, the Creator of the world, is also holding it together. He can be trusted, and His plans will always prevail.
Read Judges16:23-31 (NLT)
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!”
Half drunk by now, the people demanded, “Bring out Samson so he can amuse us!” So he was brought from the prison to amuse them, and they had him stand between the pillars supporting the roof.
Samson said to the young servant who was leading him by the hand, “Place my hands against the pillars that hold up the temple. I want to rest against them.” Now the temple was completely filled with people. All the Philistine rulers were there, and there were about 3,000 men and women on the roof who were watching as Samson amused them.
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.” Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, 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.
Later his brothers and other relatives went down to get his body. They took him back home and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol, where his father, Manoah, was buried. Samson had judged Israel for twenty years.
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