Bible in 365 Days – Day 95

Focus Chapters:

• Judges 16-18

Standout Verse(s):

THE ACTION

Judges 16:20-21 NLT

Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!”

When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.

So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison.

THE REACTION

Judges 16:22, 28-30 NLT

But before long, his hair began to grow back.

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.

Observation (s):

1. Samson was spiritually blind. He didn’t realize that the Lord was not with him when he awoke after telling Delilah the secret of his strength.
   
   

   Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!”

   When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.

   
   
2. The Philistines gorged out Samson’s eyes making him physically blind.
   
   

   So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison.

   
   
3. Even though Samson was physically blind, he grew and eventually his spiritual eyes were opened. He connected with God and his strength returned.
   
   

   But before long, his hair began to grow back.

   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.”

Application:

Spiritual blindness, caused by our dependence on our physical senses and strengths, can lead to our downfall. Samson was handsome and strong. He grew up with these characteristics and placed a heavy dependence on them despite the source of his strength being linked to his covenant with God. Despite his covenant, Samson was spiritually blind. Examples of his spiritual blindness are demonstrated by:

1. His disobedience to God’s law regarding marrying women of other nations.
2. His lack of awareness that God’s presence was no longer with him after his head was shaved while he was asleep.

In the end, Samson’s spiritual blindness led to his downfall. Curious to note is the Philistines move to physically blind him. With that move, over time, a curious shift is noted in Samson. His hair grows back and his dependence and reliance shifts to God. Samson’s physical blindness becomes the catalyst to the clearing of his spiritual vision. He acknowledges that God is the source of his strength! With his spiritual vision cleared, he was given quite a victory! He killed more men in that moment that his entire lifetime!

Which of your senses or strengths are you heavily dependent on. Is your dependence leading to your spiritual blindness? Be careful that it doesn’t lead to your downfall.