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At the end of his life, Samson again turns to the Lord for help and strength. May we all be looking to the Lord in our last moments too!

BibleGateway: Judges 16:21-31

ESV Text: Judges 16:21-31


KJV Text:

The section starts at about 3:45 and ends at about 5:54

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21 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.

     22 Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven. 23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand. 24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us. 25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars. 26 And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them. 27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport. 28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. 29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. 30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. 31 Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.(KJV)


Hymn: TLH 292 (LSB 585):
Lord Jesus Christ, With Us Abide

Hymnary.org — Organ Audio

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1. Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide, 
For round us falls the eventide; 
Nor let Thy Word, that heavenly light, 
For us be ever veiled in night. 

2. In these last days of sore distress 
Grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness 
That pure we keep, till life is spent, 
Thy holy Word and Sacrament. 

3. Lord Jesus, help, Thy Church uphold, 
For we are sluggish, thoughtless, cold. 
Oh, prosper well Thy Word of grace 
And spread its truth in every place! 

4. Oh, keep us in Thy Word, we pray; 
The guile and rage of Satan stay! 
Oh, may Thy mercy never cease! 
Give concord, patience, courage, peace. 

5. O God, how sin’s dread works abound! 
Throughout the earth no rest is found, 
And falsehood’s spirit wide has spread, 
And error boldly rears its head. 

6. The haughty spirits, Lord, restrain 
Who o’er Thy Church with might would reign 
And always set forth something new, 
Devised to change Thy doctrine true. 

7. And since the cause and glory, Lord, 
Are Thine, not ours, to us afford 
Thy help and strength and constancy. 
With all our heart we trust in Thee. 

8. A trusty weapon is Thy Word, 
Thy Church’s buckler, shield and sword. 
Oh, let us in its power confide 
That we may seek no other guide! 

9. Oh, grant that in Thy holy Word 
We here may live and die, dear Lord; 
And when our journey endeth here, 
Receive us into glory there.