Judg 15:18-19 | KingComments | STEP | After his impressive victory Samson becomes very thirsty, that thirsty, that he is afraid he will die. In his distress he calls to God. His prayer, the first prayer mentioned of him (!), is short and powerful. First we see that he gives glory to God for the victory: “ You have.” That’s beautiful. Unfortunately, his faith falls short and he complains that he will die, but now of thirst, and that he will fall into the hands of the enemy. We can learn a few things from this. In the first place that battle does not quench thirst. We may gain victories for the Lord, but the real refreshment lies not in victory, but in the Lord Himself. Then we see that having thirst is a challenge to ask God for an outcome, for He likes to hear. God has already given an outcome before when a whole people were thirsty ( ). Samson calls twice in total to God, here in and in Judges 16 ( ). Both times he is heard. If we consider that the time Samson lives in is comparable to the last days and hard times mentioned in 2 Timothy 3 ( ), then we have a great encouragement here. We see that calling upon the Name of the Lord is a special spring for the last days. En-hakkore means spring of him who called. God opens that spring for everyone who calls. Those who drink from it will experience the power that Samson experiences. Life strength and revival are coming again. The only possibility to experience a personal or communal revival lies in: 1. realizing that we are thirsty; 2. in calling to God in our distress; 3. in drinking from the spring which God opens. It is as if the author of this book wants to focus our special attention on it when he says that the “spring of him who called” is in Lehi is “to this day”. Literally it means that the spring is still there at the time this book is written. The spiritual meaning of this expression and the spiritual power that emanates from it is surely that the spring that God has made available is always available to everyone who calls, also today. John 4 has been mentioned before, where the Lord Jesus, in His conversation with the Samaritan woman, points to the spring of living water “springing up to eternal life” ( ). Drinking from the spring He has made accessible brings ‘him who calls’ in connection with eternal life. Eternal life is life in the atmosphere of the Father and the Son in which the believer is brought by knowing the Father and the Son ( ). Eternal life is also the Lord Jesus Himself ( ). This is where the Holy Spirit will bring him who calls and what will quench his thirst. Eternal life cannot be affected by decay or apostacy. Precisely the letter that speaks of last days and hard times begins by pointing out “the promise of life in Jesus Christ” ( ). This directs our eye on the Lord Jesus and everything found in Him. This gives an inner satisfaction that is greater than the most resounding victory.

‏ Judges 15:18-19

Spring of Him Who Called

After his impressive victory Samson becomes very thirsty, that thirsty, that he is afraid he will die. In his distress he calls to God. His prayer, the first prayer mentioned of him (!), is short and powerful. First we see that he gives glory to God for the victory: “You have.” That’s beautiful. Unfortunately, his faith falls short and he complains that he will die, but now of thirst, and that he will fall into the hands of the enemy.

We can learn a few things from this. In the first place that battle does not quench thirst. We may gain victories for the Lord, but the real refreshment lies not in victory, but in the Lord Himself. Then we see that having thirst is a challenge to ask God for an outcome, for He likes to hear. God has already given an outcome before when a whole people were thirsty (Exo 17:1-7).

Samson calls twice in total to God, here in Jdg 15:18 and in Judges 16 (Jdg 16:20). Both times he is heard. If we consider that the time Samson lives in is comparable to the last days and hard times mentioned in 2 Timothy 3 (2Tim 3:1-5), then we have a great encouragement here. We see that calling upon the Name of the Lord is a special spring for the last days. En-hakkore means spring of him who called.

God opens that spring for everyone who calls. Those who drink from it will experience the power that Samson experiences. Life strength and revival are coming again. The only possibility to experience a personal or communal revival lies in:

1. realizing that we are thirsty;

2. in calling to God in our distress;

3. in drinking from the spring which God opens.

It is as if the author of this book wants to focus our special attention on it when he says that the “spring of him who called” is in Lehi is “to this day”. Literally it means that the spring is still there at the time this book is written. The spiritual meaning of this expression and the spiritual power that emanates from it is surely that the spring that God has made available is always available to everyone who calls, also today.

John 4 has been mentioned before, where the Lord Jesus, in His conversation with the Samaritan woman, points to the spring of living water “springing up to eternal life” (Jn 4:14). Drinking from the spring He has made accessible brings ‘him who calls’ in connection with eternal life. Eternal life is life in the atmosphere of the Father and the Son in which the believer is brought by knowing the Father and the Son (Jn 17:3).

Eternal life is also the Lord Jesus Himself (1Jn 5:20). This is where the Holy Spirit will bring him who calls and what will quench his thirst. Eternal life cannot be affected by decay or apostacy. Precisely the letter that speaks of last days and hard times begins by pointing out “the promise of life in Jesus Christ” (2Tim 1:1 ; 9).

This directs our eye on the Lord Jesus and everything found in Him. This gives an inner satisfaction that is greater than the most resounding victory.