²⁸ Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” ²⁹ And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. ³⁰ And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. ³¹ Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.

Judges 16:28-31

Dear God, I need to look some things up. There’s a quick reference in verse 31 to Samson’s “brothers.” Was Manoah’s wife able to have more children after Samson or is this a vague reference to cousins or something? Here’s how the New American Standard put it: “Then his brothers and all his father’s household came down, took him, brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. Thus he had judged Israel twenty years.” We know at least his father is dead. Likely his mother as well, otherwise I would think she would have been mentioned here.

I’d be curious to know, just through the “butterfly effect” of Samson’s life and all of the killing he did, how this moved the needle for future generations. How did the deaths of the Philistines who died during Samson’s time ripple through Israelite and Philistine (and even our own) history. For me and my ignorant perspective, Samson’s life seems like a wasted life. He doesn’t seem worshipful of you. He seems completely self-centered and selfish. I can’t help but wonder how many people in Israel celebrated the day he died. Maybe now they could go back to “going along to get along” with the Philistines.

I can only imagine how much more so Manoah and his wife had at least some of these same feelings. If I had been them, I would hav felt like I failed you. But the auther of Judges gives us no hint that you are displeased with how any of this turned out. In fact, they actually intimate you were okay with it because you heard Samson’s selfish prayer and granted it. The only thing that makes this story make sense to me is that all of these events must have combined to get the world to the place you needed it to get to in order to ultimately set up Jesus coming to earth thousands of years later.

Father, the good news is that I don’t have to understand. What I can do is use these stories from the Bible to embrace my smallness and ignorance. You are my God. I will worship you today. I’ll do my best. I’ll do my best to love others, do good work in my job, and then do the other things you’re calling me to do. I love you.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen