"Not Alone In The Dark" by Kirk Hunt

But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. (Judges 16:21 KJV)

The mill stones crushing the grain would have made a low, steady growl in Samson's ears. In weather hot and dry, or cold and wet, Samson did the work of a horse. Or mule. Or ass.

Either in haunting silence or with a chorus or tormentors, Samson walked his circle in darkness. The man who had once burned Philistine grain fields now made flour for them. I'm certain the irony was not lost on Samson or his Philistine captors.

Samson's life had been shrouded in darkness for years. The Philistines simply called his attention to the fact. Samson's lust, willfulness and disobedience had long since blinded him to God's call on his life. The heathen foreigners simply made his lack of vision literal.

Blinded and in prison, Samson finally saw the light. Chained to a millstone, he was free to spend time with God. Despite all he did wrong, he still remembered how to love God right.

God had not abandoned Samson. When Samson finally figured out where he went wrong, God was there. Arms open. Restoration was just a prayer away.

Samson is named as a hero of faith in Hebrews 11. Despite his mistakes and errors, he returned to God. God always faithfully restores the truly repentant. No matter how dark it seems, you are not alone. God is waiting, arms open, to restore you.

Think: God is faithful and constant, if if I am not.

Pray: “Lord, forgive me. Lord, restore me.”

Copyright © January 2008, Kirk Hunt