“And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, ‘Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I tell you.'” Jonah 3:1,2
Even though Jonah, being blinded by his prejudice and intense dislike for the Ninevites, was as a result cast into the sea, carried into its depths in the belly of a fish, there to cry out to God on the third day, God would give to him a second time the commission that was his to embrace. It is very clear here that the “gifts and the calling of God are without repentance,” for as long as God could find the essential element of devotion in the heart, then He could and would raise His servant up again to accomplish His will, in this case, the salvation of the Ninevites, Israel’s historical enemy.
The same would be true of Samson, who had forsaken his singular devotion to Christ, and the mission that God had given him to “begin” to deliver Israel from the domination of the Philistines. Though there is little evidence that Samson was a “preacher” of righteousness, he did judge Israel for approximately twenty years. Samson turned aside from his calling, and the accompanying strength and power for its accomplishment, when his consecration vow was compromised. He was a Nazarite unto God, separated unto God for a singular purpose until the day that he broke that vow. Yet this was not the end of his calling, nor the power by which he would accomplish the will of God. Like Jonah, he would descend into the depths and darkness of night, not at the bottom of the sea in a lightless belly of a fish, but because the Philistines had put out his eyes, that he could not see. Like Jonah, there in that darkness, his attitude of heart began to change, and return to what it had been in the beginning. We see this by the fact that his hair began to grow again, which was in Samson’s case, the evidence and symbol of his devotion to God which was returning daily becoming entire and strong by virtue of God working in his heart. There came a moment in his life, like the crucial moment in the life of Jonah, when a prayer rose from his lips. It was one final plea to God for full restoration, and consecration to Him, with the capacity to receive just one more time the strength that he had known before. His prayer was simple and singular: “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.” (Judges 16:28) God answered Samson’s prayer and accomplished through Samson the overwhelming accomplishment of his mission and purpose. At the moment when he bowed himself with all his strength, pushing against the pillars of the house where were found “all the lords of the Philistines…, there being about three thousand men and women, also who were there,” the house fell upon them. More of Israel’s enemies died that day than in all others during the twenty years of Samson’s life and work.
Jonah was recommissioned by God for his original purpose, the salvation of men. Samson was briefly recommissioned also, accomplishing that which was only possible by God.
There was another person who was recommissioned by God, not to mention David of old, who repented of his sin and failure, to again serve God effectively. It was Joshua, the High Priest, in the days of Haggai and Zechariah the prophets. In Zechariah’s vision, we discover Joshua standing before God, or the “Angel of the Lord,” with Satan at his right hand accusing and condemning him because of his sin. God rebukes Satan, forgives and removes all of Joshua’s iniquity, cleanses him, clothing him with clean garments. God then recommissions him: “If you will walk in My ways and if you will keep my charge, then you shalt also judge My house.” (Zech. 3:7)
Dear Father, Grant us singular devotion. In Jesus’ name, Amen.