Seeing Out the Sockets

One last time the cruel, heartless woman calls out, “The Philistines are upon you!” One last time he charges into action. Out go the lights, up come the chains, down goes Samson. Round and round goes Samson, grinding grain. Woman’s work. He would’ve laughed at the irony — God’s gift to women! — if he weren’t in such pain.

But when Samson got hurt, Samson got real. That’s often what it takes, you know. A.W. Tozer said, “Before God can use a man greatly, He first must hurt him deeply.” According to Steve Brown, “Authenticity is possible only in the context of public shame, forced honesty, or Christian experience.” Shame forced Samson into honesty and back into the arms of the God he’d spurned. In his pain, he became the authentic Samson, the Genuine Article.

Power. We grab it, hold it tight, only to lose it so quickly. Somehow, in losing power, we find it again. But it’s never the same as we had before. Samson could never be the way he used to be–not with empty sockets where his eyes used to be. But he seems to have found another pair of eyes, spiritual eyes. He finally saw where his power came from, the source of all power and glory.

Many are blind, but not many know it. Many can’t see with two eyes, but their eyes have seen the glory.

Lord, it’ll hurt, I know. But, please, let me see Thy glory.