Bound For Glory!

Did you know that Samson, the great strong man of God, was once bound and delivered over to his enemies by his own people to save them from death?

It is true! The Philistine army deployed itself against Israel. Israel asked them why. The Philistines replied, “We have come up to arrest Samson...” So, 3,000 Israelites approached Samson, and said to him, “We have come to arrest you, to deliver you into the hand of the Philistines.” They bound Samson with ropes and brought him up to the Philistines. Thankfully, the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon Samson. He broke the ropes. He slew 1,000 Philistines. He was free again. [1]

The Apostle Paul was also bound but later freed.

A man with a prophetic gift took Paul’s belt and bound his own hands and feet with it. He said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” Paul’s friends were quite upset by this prophesy. Paul responded to them by saying, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” [2]

Jesus was also bound. “The detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.” [3] Jesus was also bound by strips of grave clothing. “Then they took the body of Jesus and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.” [4] But no bonds, no grave clothing and no sealed-shut tomb were able stop Jesus. He had the power of an endless life. [5]

In all these cases, God’s messengers were set free from the bonds that people tried to bind them with. And in all these cases, these who were bound by the world, were also bound for glory.

“Dear Heavenly Father, please keep us ever mindful that all the world’s bindings against Your servants are destined to burst. You have bound us for glory. We are bound for glory thanks to You and Your Son Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. It is in His Name that I praise You. Amen.”

[1] Judges 15:9-15
[2] Acts 21:10-13
[3] John 18:12
[4] John 19:40
[5] Hebrews 7:16