Unexpected Wellsprings: Samson's Moment of Renewal
Judges 15:19a
But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived…
Samson was tired. In fact, he was on the verge of death. He slew a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. The battle was so intense that what he was empowered to do, though successful, took its toll on him personally. Apparently he gave until he couldn’t give any more. Before we ridicule him for not stopping to replenish during the fight, let us consider that he may not have had any real chance to take a break. I want to talk to someone who is weary, who knows the value of rest, and yet who does not get the luxury of rest. You feel like it is about over for you. You feel like you have invested more than you will ever get back. You are thinking to yourself, “What’s the use?” In fact, you may be as Samson, who prayed, “Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?” You have waged war against hell itself, and have held at bay the powers of darkness all the way to your breaking point, and now you feel like you can’t hold them back any more and they are about to crush you. Hear this; The Lord has already made provisions. Mind you, they will come from the most unlikely and unexpected sources, but they will come, none the less. For Samson, the same jawbone that spent his strength for victory, which he thought left no strength to maintain the victory, then became his sustenance. For some reading this, the very tools you have invested your entire ministry utilizing for God’s glory, be it your time, talents, or treasures, leave you on life support, while you wonder if it has been worth it. You wonder if it will produce lasting results. You wonder if you will ever reap what you have sown. But let me remind you that they who sow in tears shall reap in joy! Let me remind you that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning! Let me remind you that in due season ye SHALL reap, if ye faint not! Let me remind you that from the very tool that took all your strength will flow the water of life to revive your spirit and revitalize your soul! God clave a hollow place; He designed it with your spiritual renewal in mind! Hollow places are only designed for one purpose; to be filled and to overflow. Look to your hollow places and wait for the water of life, for out of your belly which you thought was empty shall flow rivers of living water. Do not worry, weary saint of God, for our God SHALL supply!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived…
Samson was tired. In fact, he was on the verge of death. He slew a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. The battle was so intense that what he was empowered to do, though successful, took its toll on him personally. Apparently he gave until he couldn’t give any more. Before we ridicule him for not stopping to replenish during the fight, let us consider that he may not have had any real chance to take a break. I want to talk to someone who is weary, who knows the value of rest, and yet who does not get the luxury of rest. You feel like it is about over for you. You feel like you have invested more than you will ever get back. You are thinking to yourself, “What’s the use?” In fact, you may be as Samson, who prayed, “Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?” You have waged war against hell itself, and have held at bay the powers of darkness all the way to your breaking point, and now you feel like you can’t hold them back any more and they are about to crush you. Hear this; The Lord has already made provisions. Mind you, they will come from the most unlikely and unexpected sources, but they will come, none the less. For Samson, the same jawbone that spent his strength for victory, which he thought left no strength to maintain the victory, then became his sustenance. For some reading this, the very tools you have invested your entire ministry utilizing for God’s glory, be it your time, talents, or treasures, leave you on life support, while you wonder if it has been worth it. You wonder if it will produce lasting results. You wonder if you will ever reap what you have sown. But let me remind you that they who sow in tears shall reap in joy! Let me remind you that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning! Let me remind you that in due season ye SHALL reap, if ye faint not! Let me remind you that from the very tool that took all your strength will flow the water of life to revive your spirit and revitalize your soul! God clave a hollow place; He designed it with your spiritual renewal in mind! Hollow places are only designed for one purpose; to be filled and to overflow. Look to your hollow places and wait for the water of life, for out of your belly which you thought was empty shall flow rivers of living water. Do not worry, weary saint of God, for our God SHALL supply!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill