04/01/18 It’s Not Over

READING: Judges 16

“[They] buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah.”

Judges 16:31

The Philistines were apparently having a great time of fun and partying. Samson had been captured and imprisoned. His enemies had gouged out his eyes, and now the people had gathered to ridicule him. They had, in fact, praised Dagon, their god, for his power: “Our god has handed over our enemy Samson to us. . . . Our god has handed over to us our enemy who destroyed our land and who multiplied our dead” (Judg. 16:23-24). Likely in a drunken state, they brought Samson into their temple to amuse them. That amusement would not last long, however.

Their god was not strong enough to protect them from the wrath of Samson’s God, who brought judgment on them through the collapse of the building at Samson’s hands. Scholars differ as to whether Samson had come to full repentance, but none deny that his God reigned over all gods. Despite the deeply entrenched sin of the people—some of which was almost hard to believe—God was still working in the midst of the evil, preparing the people for a king to come. They buried Samson, but the story was not over. 

This day (Easter Sunday in the United States), we celebrate again the truth that the death of Jesus was also not the end of the story. It surely looked like the enemy had won when Jesus was buried in a tomb. The people mocked, and the demons must have rejoiced. The account of the apparent religious rebel had ended with His last breath. . . . or so it seemed. The story, however, was not over.

We praise the Lord today for that truth.

ACTION STEPS: 

  • Take time today to genuinely celebrate the resurrection.
  • If you are facing a tough time in life today, trust that the story is not over.

PRAYER: “God, I thank You that the story doesn’t end in death. I praise You for resurrection.” 

TOMORROW’S READING:  1 Samuel 1-3

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