Samson - Death of an Engineer

Judges 16:25-30 While they were in high spirits, they shouted, "Bring out Samson to entertain us." So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. When they stood him among the pillars, Samson said to the servant who held his hand, "Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them." Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. Then Samson prayed to the LORD, "O Sovereign LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes." Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.

The average base salary for a structural engineer in Florida is between $50,000-$100,000 - based on how high of a level you are at. Not a bad option as far as career choices go. I don't think the primary goal of the structural engineer has changed much since it's beginning: Goal = Make building that won't fall down. I find it hard to believe - even in Bible times - that a building would be made that would completely collapse if two of its pillars became unstable.

That being said - let's look at what happens to Samson. We all know that this is where it happens, Samson asks God for strength one last time and pushes the pillars and the whole building comes down and everyone dies. Let's look at some statistics. The Bible states that there were about 3,000 men and women on the roof - ON THE ROOF - it doesn't even say how many were down below, but if the roof could hold that many. . . That building had to be pretty big to hold all those people. In a building this size - even in the center of the structure - is it logical to think that it would all come crashing down because two pillars were pushed?

Now, it is possible that when the pillars were pushed they came lose and knocked other pillars down and it was a domino effect - however, that's just conjecture. Why am I harping on engineering? Because the bottom line here is - God didn't need Samson. Samson was given an opportunity to be used by God because he asked. If God wanted that building to come down on those Philistines, He could've just blinked His eye or sent a strong wind or hopped a million frogs that way, but that's not what happened. Samson asked to be used by God and so he was used.

God doesn't need us to complete whatever purpose He has planned. God does not need our "help". He wants to bless us because we 'want' to help. Like the little girl who asks mommy if she can help cook dinner - Mommy doesn't NEED her help - but what a wonderful enthusiasm for cooking the daughter will walk away with. Will we ask God if we can help so that we can walk away with a renewed enthusiasm for Him?