During the time the judges ruled Israel and the people were in bondage under the Philistines, the Angel of the Lord appeared to the wife of Manoah, who was barren, and he declared to her that she would have a child. And the Angel said unto her, “Lo, thou shalt conceive and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head, for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb, and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Manoah (“rest” in Hebrew) and his wife named their son Samson (“Shemshon”), derived from “shemesh” in Hebrew, which carries the connotation of being like the sun, full of strength and radiance.

As it was prophesied before Samson was born, he would be a light (shemesh) of hope to the Lord’s people, and Israel would find rest (menoah) from their oppressors. And so it came to pass; when Samson was grown, he was made judge over Israel, and he began to deliver Israel from their enemies, giving them hope and rest from their oppressors.

After the discovery of America, the Lord began to separate his people from the Old World so they could serve him in a new land. Coming to the New World to freely exercise their faith, and after gaining independence from their European oppressors, the people waxed exceedingly strong and became a shemesh to the nations, a shining light, a city on a hill, and a manoah, a place of rest for the persecuted who would be drawn by the light of America from all around the world. The word of God flourished and spread throughout the land.

Like the Lord made Samson a superpower among men for his glory, so he raised the United States of America as a superpower among the nations. America exists today because, by faith, people sought after God and separated themselves to worship as dictated by their conscience.

Christianity had a profound impact on the USA, and as the teachings of Christ flourished, so did the nation. Missionaries left America, spreading the word of God throughout the world; America was blessed in the process.

The God of Israel was exalted, patriotism flourished, and devout or not, the majority of Americans stood up to defend the principles rooted in the Bible. Both Christians and the greater part of non-Christians loved America because of the basis laid down by Biblical teachings. Without the Bible, there would never have been America as we know it. It would merely have been another authoritarian state, as it has been becoming.

The song “God Bless America,” written by Irving Berlin, a secular Jew born in Russia, declared the song ‘an expression of gratitude for what the country had done for its citizens.’ And God did bless America for the sake of his people and to be a light of hope to all nations, as he had done with Samson and ancient Israel.

Biblically, the ox is a clean beast, symbolizing the laboring servant of God, and an ass is an unclean beast, symbolizing the stubborn and rebellious people. Therefore, the commandment states, “Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.” And again, it is written that believers should not be yoked together with unbelievers. However, the Lord can use an ass as well as an ox; he rebuked Balaam by speaking through the mouth of an ass. He also used Balaam to rebuke the enemies of Israel and prophesy great things concerning Jacob. God can and does use whomever he will, believers and unbelievers alike.

Certainly, there are many who have been unrighteous before God; however, just as Samson used the unclean jawbone of an ass as a weapon to slay many Philistines, the nation has also had leaders who, despite not being devout men, served similarly as instruments in God’s hand to defeat his enemies. God uses whomever he will for the sake of his people. Throughout scripture, we see that the Lord uses both his people and his enemies to accomplish his will.

Although Samson, as a Nazarite, was called to be set apart, he loved strange women and became entangled with foreigners. Seduced into cohabitation, he gave up secrets and succumbed to temptation. Falling into a deep sleep in Delilah’s lap, his head was then shaven, and he was robbed of his power. Being a Nazarite, his hair was never to be cut; it was a covenant of his consecration to God. Once his hair was cut, he became as weak as other men. He was then bound, and his eyes were put out.

As a parallel, America has also embraced foreign ideologies and practices, and in doing so has fallen into a deep spiritual sleep. Being bound and shaven from consecration, many Americans have been blinded by the influence of harlot nations and people.

When Samson finally awoke, he fought to free himself from his bands, but he found his strength was gone and that his enemies had gained the upper hand. Only then did he come to the realization that his power had departed; he was a captive of his enemies.

Likewise, many Americans have awakened to the reality that their freedoms have largely been taken, and they are now struggling to break the bonds of their captors.

Blinded by the worldly pleasures he embraced, Samson fell to his enemies. Only after blinding his eyes did he truly begin to see. Then, in his distress, he cried out to the Lord.

Like Samson, the pleasures of this life have blinded many people. To be restored to the power of God, people must become blind to the world and fix their sight on Him. Often, this will only come after having been blinded, then suffering, and coming to self-realization.

After Samson was bound, blinded, and imprisoned, his hair began to grow back, and as his heart turned back to the Lord, his strength began to return. He was never fully restored to his former state of glory; however, he wrought one last victory that became his greatest when he destroyed those who had taken him captive.

In America today and around the world, revival fires are burning; the hair of consecration is regrowing. God has not forsaken his people; nevertheless, we should consider whether America will be restored to its former power and glory. Will God make America great again? If so, will it be in a different manner?

Was Samson restored to the former state of his glory as before after he fell to deception and suffered affliction by his captors?

Samson never fully recovered from all of his affliction. They were a consequence of his sins that remained with him until his death. Nevertheless, in the end, Samson’s victory overshadowed all of his other accomplishments before he was blinded and taken captive—he slew more of his enemies in his death than in his life.

The Lord commands us to die to the lust of this world so that He may live and work in our lives. It is in the death of self that the Lord accomplishes His victory.

Whatever is to come—life or death, a fall or restoration—there is a mighty victory to be won if we walk not after our personal desires but after the Lord. However, we must confess our sins and humble ourselves before God. Then, regardless of any worldly outcome, we will achieve victory and be avenged on our enemies.