Blessing of strength between two pillars

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid …. Not one (of the sparrows) is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:4, 6-7 NIV)

This article is a devotional lesson based upon the Bible’s Samson Story (Judges 16:15-31), with your Thought for the Day being “I Choose to be a Pillar of Strength, for the Lord God is with Me.”

Neal was a teammate of mine back in high school. Good-naturedly, teammates of Neal called him “Samson” especially after he “baldheaded” the soccer ball past the opponent’s goalie, or when his super slick skin helped him escape the tactical holds of a wrestling adversary.

You see, our “Samson” was completely hairless. Neal told us that this condition stemmed from the lingering effects of a tick bite.

Neal’s “pillars of strength” attitude of fortitude itself was a lingering effect of having the patient endurance as a survivor of the often fatal tick-borne disease.

In contrast, the Bible’s Samson needed to become hairless, blinded, and humiliated by his opponents in order for him to eventually realize that his “pillar of strength” condition was not due to long locks of hair.

Instead, Samson had been invincible in his younger years because the Spirit of the Lord had been with him.

The Holy Bible is silent as to the length of time it took (Months? Years?) for Samson to realize this faith — fact. But we do know for certainty that the Lord heard Samson’s prayer when his opponents paraded their “big bad blinded man” around at their pagan festival

For the Lord returned to Samson as a final blessing of strength between the two pillars that came tumbling down to defeat their common adversary.

Neal’s doctors had told him to not give hope, as many survivors’ hairlessness is temporary. Months and months went by ….

Then, on one fine day of his senior year, the entire student body heard Neal’s shouts of joy, when he discovered that one solitary hair follicle had popped out of his scalp! Soon it was joined by dozens, then hundreds, and thousands of its friends (“teammates” for sure)! As for the exact number, God only knows (“the very hairs of your head are all numbered ….” Luke 12:7).

Let us close now in prayer: O sovereign Lord, remember us always and everywhere. Forgive us our sins and misgivings. Strengthen us in our weaknesses and losses, all for your glory. Amen.