Judges 16:28
*Then Samson called to the LORD and said, “O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.”* (v.28)
Samson was an Israelite judge from the tribe of Dan, active during a broader era known as the Period of the Judges, lasting roughly between 1375 and 1050 BC. He was renowned for divinely granted strength, which the account in Judges attributes to his Nazirite vow and the Spirit of the Lord empowering him. In this moment of desperation, Samson stood in the Philistine temple, blinded and humiliated, reaching out to God for one final act of deliverance. Much like he did multiple times before, he acknowledged that only the LORD could restore the might he had lost, asking specifically for remembrance and renewed power. By describing his suffering—his loss of sight—he expressed genuine dependence on the divine hand to bring judgment upon the Philistines, illustrating both his confidence in God’s sovereignty and his remorse over prior failings.
In praying, “please remember me,” Samson recognized that victory depends fully on God’s intervention. His request to “please strengthen me just this time” underscores that God’s power alone could accomplish what Samson on his own could not. Despite the years of wayward choices that led him to captivity, Samson’s petition shows that the LORD remains attentive to those who earnestly call upon Him, even at their lowest point. The narrative demonstrates how God graciously responded to Samson’s cry, using him to defeat Israel’s oppressors and emphasize the recurring Judges theme: God’s mercy triumphs whenever His people humbly turn back to Him. citeturn0file0 citeturn0file9 citeturn0file12
Historically, Samson’s life belongs to the time before Israel’s monarchy, when leaders rose as God-appointed deliverers in response to oppression. His final prayer hints at the broader biblical truth that human strength is fleeting, yet divine strength is unconquerable. New Testament believers might reflect on how God’s power is made perfect in weakness, as Paul states in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NASB-95). In that sense, Samson’s moment of calling out to the LORD foreshadows the future reality that redemption and true victory come from acknowledging our need for God.
Samson’s plea to the LORD exemplifies that even a flawed life can show God’s grace when it ends in repentance and dependence on Him.
Brief summary: Samson’s prayer in Judges 16:28 reveals his final appeal for God’s strength, demonstrating repentance, dependence, and the power of divine intervention even in dire circumstances.
This quick synopsis was AI autogenerated utilizing existing TheBibleSays commentaries as the primary source material. To read a related commentary that has been fully developed, see the list below. If there is an issue with this summary please let us know by emailing:[email protected]
Other Relevant Commentaries:
- Judges 1:16-21 meaning. The descendants of the Kenite join the tribe of Judah in their territory. Despite the Lord’s presence, Judah fails to drive out the inhabitants of the valley, beginning to show the start of their failures. Caleb is given Hebron and drives out the Anakim, but the tribe of Benjamin also fails in their war efforts.
- Judges 1:22-26 meaning. The tribes Ephraim and Manasseh, with the Lord’s assistance, goes up against Bethel, previously known as Luz. They use a local man to find the city’s entrance, conquer Bethel, and spare the man’s family. The man then relocates to the land of the Hittites, where he builds a new city and names it Luz.
- Judges 2:1-5 meaning. The angel of the Lord delivers a message of rebuke to the Israelites at Bochim, reminding them of God’s faithfulness and their disobedience. The angel warns of the consequences of their actions, leading the people to weep and offer sacrifices to the Lord.