Judges 16

The Explanation

There was once a man called Samson. Samson was strong. Very, very strong.

His hair was long. So long it hung down his back, in seven thick braids. Samson never cut his hair. Not once. That was his promise to God.

And God made Samson strong.

One night, bad men waited by the city gate. They wanted to catch Samson. They sat still in the dark. Very still. They waited and waited.

But in the middle of the night, Samson stood up. He walked to the big city gate. He took hold of the heavy doors. And he pulled. He pulled them right out of the ground!

Then he lifted them onto his shoulders. And he carried them up a hill. Just like that.

Nobody was that strong. Nobody but Samson.

What Does This Mean?

Samson knew a lady called Delilah.

Delilah asked him something. Every day, she asked. "Samson, why are you so strong? Tell me. Please tell me."

Samson said, "Tie me with ropes!" So she did. Snap! The ropes broke.

"Tie me with new ropes!" Snap! Those broke too.

But Delilah kept asking. And asking. And asking some more. Every single day.

Until Samson was tired. So tired of the asking. And he told her the secret.

"My hair," he said. "I never cut my hair. That is my promise to God."

That night, Samson fell asleep. And while he slept, snip, snip, snip, someone cut off all his hair.

"Samson!" shouted Delilah. "They are coming!"

Samson woke up. He stood up. He thought, I will shake myself free, like always.

But he could not. His strength was gone. And God was not with him anymore.

The bad men grabbed him. They took his eyes away, so he could not see. Everything went dark for Samson. They put him in prison and made him work, round and round, all day long.

Poor Samson. So dark. So sad.

The Common Thread

But listen. Something was happening in the dark.

Samson's hair began to grow. A little bit. And a little bit more.

One day, the bad men had a big party. A huge house, full of people. On the roof, more people. Everyone laughing.

"Bring Samson!" they shouted. And a boy led Samson in by the hand, because Samson could not see.

Samson said to the boy, "Let me feel the big pillars."

He put one hand on one pillar. One hand on the other.

And then Samson prayed. He could not see God. But God could hear him.

"Lord, please remember me," said Samson. "Please make me strong. Just one more time."

And God heard.

Samson pushed. He pushed with all his might. And the whole house came crashing down.

God had not forgotten Samson. Not even in the dark.

For You

Samson could not see anything. Nothing at all. But he could still talk to God.

You can too. In your bed at night, when it is dark and quiet. God hears you. Every time.

Talk About It

What made Samson strong? And who gave him that strength?

Samson prayed when he was sad. What would you like to say to God?

Praying Together

Dear God, thank You that You hear me. Even in the dark. Even when I am sad. Please stay close to me. Amen.