We see Samson’s death today, a story that many of us are familiar with. But when you read it, you see something perhaps unexpected. Samson asks for strength so that he can be an instrument of revenge. That is not something that we are supposed to be about as Christians, is it? We are supposed to forgive and not seek vengeance. So, even though Samson doesn’t have the best of intentions, God was still able to use him for justice. Samson, and really all of Judges, is an embodiment of Romans 8:28; all things work for good. Not all things are good, but God can bring good out of every situation.

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Well, good morning! Today, on this Tuesday, we’re going to finish the story of Samson by reading Judges 16:23-31. Even though this book is called Judges, Samson is really the last judge we talk about. What’s coming next will be more interesting and a bit weird!

The Philistines gathered to celebrate and thank their god, Dagon, for capturing Samson. They brought him out of prison to entertain them. Samson asked the attendant to help him lean against the pillars of the building. The place was crowded with people, about 3,000 watching him. Samson prayed to God for strength one last time so he could take revenge on the Philistines for what they did to him. He pushed against the pillars with all his might, causing the building to collapse, killing more people than he had during his life.

Samson’s family later came to collect him, and he was buried between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father, Manoah. He had judged Israel for twenty years. Many people find Samson’s story fascinating, almost like a myth.

We talked before about God’s covenant with Samson, shown through his hair, and how important these things are. Now, when Samson asks for revenge, we need to think about what that means, especially for us as Christians. Revenge usually seems wrong. It’s understandable to feel wronged, but we shouldn’t focus on getting even.

Samson reminds me of those stories where a wronged person can strike back at evil. The book of Judges often shows how God uses imperfect people, even when their motivations aren’t perfect. It’s a reminder of Romans 8:28, which tells us that all things work together for good for those who love God.

Not everything that happens is good—injustice, sickness, and loss can occur in our lives. Even Samson’s motivation for revenge wasn’t good. But God used his actions to bring justice to His people. God can take the things we see as bad and turn them around for good.

In our lives, God can bring beauty from our struggles, life from death, and restoration from loss. We see God’s grace at work, transforming our pain into healing. Samson may have wanted revenge, but God gave him strength to carry out justice.

As we think about our own lives, we may see where things have gone wrong. It’s important to let God’s grace restore us. Anyway, that’s the end of Samson’s story, and things are about to get really interesting moving forward. Tomorrow, we’ll begin talking about chapter 17. Thanks for joining today! See you then.