Judges 16
It was midnight, and the town of Gaza was in silence save for bands of men who laid wait near the gate of the city. Around one house a guard was set, for the Gazites (who were Philistines) had heard that Samson the Israelite was there, and they counted on taking his life in the morning.
Great deliverances had been wrought for the people of God (the Israelites) by the hand of His servant Samson. Now Satan and all his legions were in league against him.
At midnight Samson arose. Gates and bars could not hold God's man, and the watchful hosts were vanquished without a blow.
Strong men armed had been keeping the house, but a stronger came upon them and overcame them and spoiled their house. Of the Gazites we hear no more; but the doors of the gate of the city, with the two posts, bar, and all, Samson carried away upon his shoulders to the top of a hill before Hebron!
The devil was defeated.
Again it was night: the darkest night this world has known. God's Man, God's Son, was in the grave, the citadel of Satan, and against Him were arrayed all his demons. He was in the place of weakness and death.
The Pharisees and chief priests had taken every precaution at the bidding of Pilate.
They had rolled a great stone to the door.
They had sealed it and set a watch. Through the long hours of darkness and night they watched; they made the grave as sure as they could (Matthew 27). The devil, who had hitherto wielded the power of death, did not want to relinquish it. "Who shall roll us away the stone?" (Mark 16), say the trembling followers of the One whom Satan seemed to hold so securely. Ah, none apprehended who He was. "It was not possible that He should be holden" of death! Acts 2:2424Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (Acts 2:24).
"He hell in hell laid low;
Made sin, He sin o'erthrew;
Bowed to the grave, destroyed it so;
And death by dying slew."
The morning of His resurrection came.
There was a great earthquake. An angel of the Lord descended (Matthew 28) and rolled away the great stone and sat upon it.
They who had been watching became as dead men. The gates of Gaza were upon the top of the hill! The Pharisees, chief priests, Herod and Pilate, with Satan at their head were conquered, for the Lord was risen!
"By weakness and defeat
He won the meed and crown,
Trod all our foes beneath His feet
By being trodden down."
The fearful women, the unbelieving disciples, who all their lifetime through fear of death had been in bondage, were free now, for the devil's power was broken. "God raised Him from the dead." Acts 13:3030But God raised him from the dead: (Acts 13:30).
The gates of Gaza could not confine Samson. Far less could the great stone or the watching soldiers be any impediment to the Son of God.
Do you know what this means for you, dear believer? He "was raised again for our justification." Romans 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25). The Lord Jesus bore your sins on the cross; He endured the penalty of death for you; He rose triumphant over death, hell, and the grave. Your sins are gone, for Jesus has risen without them, and He is in God's presence in proof of it. Look up and see Him there, a Man in the glory of God. No more need you fear the power of Satan in death, for Jesus rose from amongst the dead. When the disciples gazed within the empty tomb, they saw and believed. Dear soul, "be not faithless, but believing." John 20:8, 27, 318Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. (John 20:8)
27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. (John 20:27)
31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:31). You too may thus have the full assurance that in Jesus, the Son of God, you are free indeed. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:3636If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36).