How to pray when you have failed in life (Judges 16.24, 28)

When the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.”
Then Samson called to the LORD and said, “Lord GOD, remember me and strengthen me only this once, O God, so that with this one act of revenge I may pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.”

Background

These two prayers come at the end of the story of Samson. Samson was dedicated to God at birth and was a “life-time” Nazarite. He did not drink alcohol, or cut his hair, or do any of the other things as required by the vow. He was a powerful leader of the Israelites and renowned for his feats of strength.

Temptations come to everyone. For Samson, it was the intimacy and love of a romantic relationship that was his downfall. Perhaps his calling had made him an outcast and he was lonely. Our greatest temptations do not usually come when we want to do something evil. It is our weaknesses that make us vulnerable to sin. Samson did not tire of serving God or become weary of his Nazarite way. Wanting to have someone to love is not a sin. But perhaps he wanted some companionship so much that it became a blind spot, which allowed his enemies to exploit it.

Samson fell in love with Delilah. When his enemies found out, they promised her a fabulous amount of money if she would discover his weakness. At first, Samson was firm. Joking, he gave her fake answers. He was light-hearted about her questions, and did not get angry.

But Delilah wore him down. We might wonder why he could not see she was not trustworthy. Why did she want to know? For whatever reason, he allowed her to manipulate him. Or perhaps, in a moment of sincerity and hopefulness, he thought he could trust her. He told her of his vow. She then cut his hair while he slept, which enabled his enemies to capture him. Delilah had betrayed him; his own actions allowed her to do it.

Meaning

On its most basic level, this is a tragic story about a man with divine power who was undone by forgetting, for a moment, his calling. It is another story of a failed judge in this book. Israel and her leaders seem incapable of remaining faithful. Even good judges like Samson. Of course, we all have weaknesses, and every one of us fails. Why do the writers of the book of Judges keep pounding that message home? Because it emphasizes an important theological truth: our only hope is reliance on God’s grace. If we trust in our own strength and wisdom, no matter how sincere, we will fail.

The two prayers are of a different character. The first is not a prayer to the God of Israel, but to the Canaanite god Dagon. Israel’s enemies, having the humiliated Samson, praise Dagon for allowing them to capture him. It shows how far Israel has fallen: No longer is it Israel who has been delivered, it is the Philistines. It is not God being praised, it is Dagon.

The second prayer offers a bit of hope. Samson, tortured, his eyes gouged out, is brought before thousands of Philistines in a massive temple. It is a public humiliation. This strong man is now weak and defeated. Samson leans against the massive pillars of the building and offers a final prayer. He asks God to remember him, and, one last time, to give him strength. God hears, and Samson pulls down the pillars, and more of Israel’s enemies died at that moment than in Samson’s entire life. Samson is killed as well.

What do we learn from this tragic story and final prayer? First, God negates the prayers of the Philistines—not to let Samson have one last moment of triumph, but to emphasize which God is sovereign. Dagon did not deliver the Philistines; God had the final word. This is important for us to remember as we pray. God is the Master of all history, all people, and each one of us. We do not get to decide what is fair, or not; what should be done or not. We can complain, but it is God’s creation, God’s story, and His to do as he wishes.

The second point is connected to the first. Because God is sovereign, there is always hope. Even if we suffer, even if we die, we take comfort in the fact that we are part of God’s larger plan. Our role may be to lead, it may be to follow; it may be to win, it may be to suffer; it may be to be honored, it may be to experience humiliation. But in following the One who directs and sustains all things, we are His, and we play a part.

If we allow these two attitudes influence our prayers—God as sovereign and our connection with Him—then our prayers can be prayers of praise and thanksgiving, regardless of our circumstances.

Application

Today, recall a time you have failed or a time you let God and others down. What did you say to God (or fail to say)? How can you pray today about that failure, that tragic point in your life, in a way that acknowledges God’s sovereignty?

Become a supporter of the Praying Through the Bible project for only $5 a month. Support our ministry, and get access to all posts, discounts on our books, excerpts of upcoming books, free books, and more. Cancel any time.