The Cry of the Broken

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Opening Prayer

Gracious God, let all that is within me bring willing praise to You today, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Read JUDGES 16:23-31

^[23] Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.” ^[24] When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, “Our god has delivered our enemy into our hands, the one who laid waste our land and multiplied our slain.” ^[25] While they were in high spirits, they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. When they stood him among the pillars, ^[26] Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them.” ^[27] Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. ^[28] Then Samson prayed to the LORD, “Sovereign LORD, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” ^[29] Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, ^[30] Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. ^[31] Then his brothers and his father’s whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led Israel twenty years.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light” (Mic. 7:8).

Think Further

There’s only one picture of a broken man in the Bible more poignant than this image of Samson. He’s bound, blind, wretched, the object of Philistine ridicule; his enemies gloat over him. Worse, they gloat over Samson’s God. To the Philistines, Samson, the deliverer, has become the reason to gloat over Jehovah as they glorify Dagon. The one picture that is more poignant, of course, is of Christ on the cross. Physically ruined, mocked, in mental anguish and in the deepest spiritual agonies, he is scorned, mocked and insulted (Psa. 22:6,7).

It’s at this point that Samson, the deliverer, most clearly resembles God’s delivering work in Jesus. Both are working to God’s plan. Both appear to be at the point of lowest defeat. Both gain their ultimate victory through their apparent humiliation. Both save through self-sacrifice. Both are touchingly honored in death by those close to them. Both cry out to God from their brokenness and pain. And God answers them. They know that they cannot do the heroic deed in their own strength; and they know to whom they can turn. Both are fortified and sustained by the one who hears and who alone gives his people strength. Both, in death, glorify God. Compare with the psalmist: “You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help” (Psa. 22:23,24).

A recurring sinner and the spotless Son: both heard by the Father when their humanity is at its lowest point. There’s no place so desolate that the Father won’t hear you and answer you.

Apply

If you could pray like Samson for one thing, what would it be? Lift that matter to God, confident he hears you and will answer out of his wisdom.

Closing prayer

Father, I cry to You from the depths of shame and sorrow: grant me forgiveness. May my friends, too, put their hope in Your unfailing love and full redemption.

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