Text: Judges 15:14-20

“But God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out of it. When he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: therefore its name was called En Hakkore, which is in Lehi, to this day.” —Judges 15:19

Many years ago, while our mission team was painting a hospital in Savanna la Mar, Jamaica, I thought we might die of dehydration. We had two teams going out to serve on different sides of the town and those responsible for stocking both vehicles with water bottles mistakenly put all the water bottles in one vehicle—and it wasn’t ours! By the time we realized that our crew had no water, we were already in the middle of the job, and it was scorching. We prayed, and out of nowhere came a Jamaican “angel” with gallons of drinking water.

Samson was worn out “dying” of thirst. He had been battling the Philistines in a back-and-forth grudge match that would’ve made the Hatfields and McCoys put down their guns and pick up a bowl of butter-baptized popcorn. It was a tussle for the ages. The Lord had given Samson a great victory, but when he came to Ramath-lehi, Samson was weary to the point of death. That whole revenge business sure can be exhausting!

In desperation, he called upon the Lord saying, “You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?”

Maybe you’ve experienced a similar kind of weariness or anxiety. God gave you a great big victory over one dilemma but then you found yourself at a place where it felt like other circumstances were going to eat you alive, as if God was mighty over the bigger giants such as those oppressive Philistines, but not so sufficient to handle the “littler” things like dehydration or fatigue. For Samson, this tension was at Ramath-lehi, or “the hill of the jawbone”—the place where he experienced both a decisive win and a desperate need. Here, he “called upon the Lord,” and the Lord answered.

“God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi, and water came out from it. And when [Samson] drank, his spirit returned, and he revived.”

It was a miraculous supply of water. Therefore, the name of that place was called “En-hakkore,” meaning “the spring of him who called” or “the fountain of the crier.” Samson needed this thirst to remind himself of his own weakness, especially right after such a great victory.

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “It is very usual for God’s people, when they have had some great deliverance, to have some little trouble that is too much for them. Samson slays a thousand Philistines, and piles them up in heaps, and then he must die for need of a little water!… With that simple minded faith which was so characteristic of Samson, who was nothing but a big child,” he turned to his heavenly Father and cried out for help.

I am no less childlike in my faith at 52-years of age, than I was praying for water in Jamaica at 28-years of age. In many ways, I am a “bigger child,” because I lean into my Father’s grace more today than I did then, and hopefully more tomorrow than I do today. God always has ways of reminding us of our childlike dependency on Him, and oftentimes it will come right after a big win. When we learn to accept that as part of His faithfulness in our lives—constantly reminding us of our need for Him—we too can have our spirits revived. For Samson, that reality was only one prayer away. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I don’t need to heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do to be heard by You. My prayer is not potent because of its many words, for You know my need before I even ask. Potency is linked to dependency. You simply want me to ask from a heart that has a posture of childlike reliance on Your faithfulness. So, I come, asking you to meet me in my own Ramath-lehi and show Yourself strong. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion:

1. When have you experienced a great need after a great victory?
2. Samson took his strength for granted many times over again, but the Lord was always faithful when Samson cried out to him. Can you relate to this?
3. Jesus taught his disciples to have a “childlike” faith (meaning humbly and helplessly dependent), not “childish” (as in immature). In what ways have you practiced childlike faith before your heavenly Father?
4. How have trials been a “revealing” of God’s faithfulness in your life?
5. What is your prayer to the Father today? How will you worship Him for His faithfulness?