Contemplative Bible Reading

Judges 16:28 (New International Version)

Then Samson prayed to the LORD, “O Sovereign LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.”

Samson prays the above just before his death. Samson’s history is recorded in Judges chapters 13 through 16. This man led quite a life. I cannot say that he exercised good judgment in much of that life. He married he wrong women; he spent time with the wrong sorts of men, and he generally was a mess.

Still, at the end of his life, Samson turned to the Lord. He said this one last prayer, and in the beginning of this prayer he utters the words, “Lord, remember me.”

Three simple words. Yet, what else can a person pray? I see Samson doing two things with these three words.

First, Samson acknowledges God as Lord, as leader, as ruler. I am only a person while you are Lord of everything. I submit to you.

Second, Samson asks God to acknowledge himself. God, please keep me in mind. Know that I am here, know my needs, know my failings, do with me as only you can do.

There is much that most of us raised in Sunday school remember about Samson. There is Delilah, the strength, the hair, burning the fields by tying torches to the tails of foxes, killing men with an animal’s jawbone, and so on. From now on, I will try to remember these three words from Samson. When in doubt, I will pray these three words:

Lord, remember me.