He Did Not Know

He Did Not Know by Kirk Hunt

And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.

Judges 16:20 NKJV

Samson woke up and engaged with his enemies, but he did not know.  As a man of God, he should have known that God’s Spirit and power had left him.  His education and experiences should have told him that he was being set up, again, by a betrayer.  He ran headlong into a trap and defeat.

Samson’s humiliation (and mutilation), at a minimum, should have impossible or at least more difficult.  Instead he has become a byword for wasted potential and squandered opportunity.  A man born a Nazarite ignored his upbringing.  Intended for greatness in God, he ended humbled in prison.

Samson used God’s power and strength through God’s mercy and grace.  God is full of love and tenderness for us, but He is also a God of justice and judgment.  God eventually moves against deliberate sin and error.  Psalm 103:9 warns us: He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever.

So God withdrew from Samson.  He allowed Samson to operate without Him.  Deliberate sin and disobedience is a way of telling God you do not need Him or you know better.  And Samson learned the truth.

We have all sinned and fallen short.  After your error, do you repent and try to do better?  Do you deliberately sin again and assume God is still with you?  You may not know the truth when you start, but you will know at the end.

Think:      Do I know the truth of how close I am to God?

Pray:         “Lord, forgive my sin.  Help me to be Your obedient child and know Your truth.”

 

Copyright © January 2020, Kirk Hunt

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