When You're at Your Worst, God is at His Best

Introduction

Judges 16:28–31 NASB95

Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.” Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left. And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life. 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.

Background

This is the period of the Judges (depraved time, sin-servitude-salvation cycle)

Israel have gone through many judges

There is no one quite like Samson

Samson’s Gain

He has a Nazirite (Judg 13:5)

He was strong (Judg 13:25) - Some of his great feats include:

Slaying the lion with his bare hands Judg 14:5

Slaying 1000 men with a donkey’s jawbone Judg 15:15

Slaughter in Philistine Judg 15:4-8

He had status Judg 14:11

He had women Judg 14:2; 16:1; 4

One might say that Samson was at his peak, he had everything going for him.

Samson’s Loss

In a moment of trickery and deceit to Delilah, he begins to plummet Judg 16:4-20.

He loses:

His dignity, freedom, eyesight, strength. One could argue that He lost the favour of his God

This is where its easy to give up

This is where we begin to worry because it looks humanly impossible to fix a situation like this. Or bring about any good from a situation like this.

This is where the anxiety can take its toll

This is where the devil starts saying

BUT: When You're at Your Worst, God is at His Best

The quality of God’s work is not determined by the quality of my state.

Judges 16:30 NASB95

And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life.

Application

Consider Paul

2 Corinthians 12:7–12 NASB95

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.

Boast Reason to rejoice/brag/have confidence

Content preference, what pleases

Dwell Take up residence (pick out a place to stay)

Consider Jesus

Luke 17:5–6 NASB95

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.

Will you hand it over to Jesus?

Will you hold on to Jesus?

Will you give your life to Jesus?