Then he became very thirsty; so he cried out to the LORD and said, “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of Your servant; and now shall I die of thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?” So God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out, and he drank; and his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore he called its name En Hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day. And he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines. Judges 15: 18-20, NKJV.
God of our salvation, as we call upon You today; help us never to forget who called us to his service. And in remembering, may we renew our covenant with You and go forward by faith, until we see You face to face. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
The story of Samson is such a tragic one, and yet so full of hope! When I read stories like that of Samson, I rejoice in the fact that I serve the only true God – YHWH! Samson was chosen by God, from the womb. Listen as the Angel of the LORD speaks to Samson’s mother: “For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13: 5). Emphasis provided.
Not many can boast of such a direct calling. But in all ages, including our day, there are men and women, who have heard the call of God, as surely as if He had called us by our name. We must never forget that calling. It is what will keep us in the race when “the gates of hell” try to “prevail against” us (Matthew 16: 18). If we can hear the voice of God giving us our marching orders anew, every day, then we will be safe, in the day of discouragement.
Samson had been called by God, and dedicated to Him, and to His cause, from the womb. Now on this day, when he is discouraged, feeling rejected and alone. His wife had been given in marriage to his best man. He had been hoping and praying that his own people would not take his life. He is experiencing extreme thirst. Could it be that God Himself has turned His back on him? But he remembers who just gave him the victory. It is the same God who called him to begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines. He knows that his work is not finished. So he cries out to the LORD! And God heard him!
My fellow minister, do you feel as if you have been dealt a real bad hand of cards? You are not alone. Remember, God did not call you to defeat! In heaven’s eyes there are no losers! The One who won the victory on Calvary, is the same One who is calling you to win this victory in His name, for, “All of God’s biddings are enablings” (E. G. White)!
Our Scripture informs us that “ God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out, and he drank; and his spirit returned, and he revived.” God will do whatever He has to do to save His child! He will make a way where neither you nor ! see a way! God brought water out of the Lehi (jawbone) and quenched his thirst! Deliverance will come from the least expected places, because God is not a man – He is YHWH, God!
When you believe that you have come to the end of your rope, God is just beginning to work on your behalf! Do not give up, because God has not given up on you, nor has He given you up! Drink from the living water that is to be found in His Word, and allow Him to revive Your soul! When you believe that all is gone, God will restore for you the years that the locust have eaten” (Joel 2: 25)!
Do not give up! Look up! And remember Who called you. Hear ye Him! Then leave your own En Hakkore (Spring of him [or she] who cried), that some soul might drink from it and live!