Samson Did As Before, Daniel Did As Before

I distinctly heard these words:

Samson did as before, Daniel did as before.

God, you have my attention!

I had never heard these words uttered by anyone, and I certainly wasn’t thinking of anything at that moment. I instantly knew it was God speaking to me, which to be sure has only happened a couple of times in my life in that manner. Instantly, being tired was the last thing on my mind.

I immediately went to the Bible and looked up these two men and the moments when each did as before.

I found the incident where Samson did as before….

Judges 16:20 And she (Delilah) said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out …..as at other times before……., and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.” Just as God had spoken to me, Samson shook himself as before. ‭

This is the only place where the Bible reveals what Samson had done when trouble came. When he needed the supernatural strength to defeat the Philistines he shook himself. However, this last time (It) didn’t work.

I had found the first one, now to look up Daniel. I had never been more determined and focused to look up bible verses in my entire life.

Just as God had spoken, In Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, ……..as he did aforetime.

I had found in short order the two incidents: Samson did as before, Daniel did as before. God what are you wanting me to learn from this?

I believe God wanted to show me the contrast of their yesterday’s. He wanted me to see the results of their investments. There was a great contrast in the results of the yesterday’s, or their “befores.”

I searched and read as much as I could and determined that Samson’s investment was an investment in himself. Again, while this shaking of himself is only mentioned this one time, the Bible lets us know this is what “he’d done before.” How can I summon supernatural strength? I’ll shake myself. Paul said in me dwelleth no good thing. No Samson, it’s not in you or about you.

Early in Samson’s feats of strength he made a false connection between shaking himself and summoning superhuman strength. Listen Samson, listen Wylie, you might shake, and we might shake because of the Spirit of God, but our shaking could never and will never bring the power of God.

This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Zechariah‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭

It’s not anything that we do in and of ourselves. Like the superstitious baseball player who hits two home-runs and thinks it’s the new pair of socks that did it, and wears them every game after, Samson thought his shaking brought on the power of God. The only record of Samson praying is at the end of his life after his eyes are removed from his head and he is bound and made sport of. I will add here, if the only time you pray is at the end of your life, you are certainly doing the best thing you can do at that moment. Shaking yourself is a poor investment.

Contrast Samson and Jesus if you will.

The man Samson: He said to his parents Bring her to me for she pleases ME.

The man Christ Jesus:

And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please HIM.

Samson is the only man in the Bible who says those words: Please me.

When we do what pleases us God won’t be pleased. That’s backwards. That’s shaking to bring the Spirit of God, instead of shaking because of the Power of God.

I am convinced that the way to be pleased with your life is to please God. If your pleased, but God isn’t, trouble isn’t too far away. Samson was self centered whereas we must be God centered. Paul said I have suffered the loss of all things that I may win Christ. Paul was God centered.

Suffice it to say, Samson’s go to wasn’t worth going to. His shallow, powerless solution was to shake himself.

Enter Daniel.

The decree was made, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Daniel‬ ‭6:7‬ ‭

In spite of the decree, Daniel kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime…. as he did before.

Daniel didn’t pray in response to the kings decree. He didn’t pray so he wouldn’t be thrown in the den of lions. Daniel prayed because that’s what Daniel did. Daniel did what he had done before. As God said, Daniel did as before.

We need to have a “what we did before” in our lives thats worth repeating. What did you do yesterday that’s worth doing today? What did you say yesterday that’s worth saying today?

You took drugs yesterday? That won’t help you today. Alcohol? Cursed God, cursed life? Cursed others? That won’t help. Indulged in addictions? That won’t help. Smoked cigarettes, marijuana or crack? That won’t help. None of those things will help you. None of those things are worth repeating. None of those things will save you.

We need to do and say things today that are worth repeating tomorrow and every day after.

Daniel did as before. Daniel didn’t pray in response, he prayed because that’s what he did. Daniel prayed as before. It wasn’t new. It was a pattern. It was a lifestyle. It was an investment.

Samson shook himself like he did before. Daniel prayed like he did before. One is powerful, the other is powerless. One is trust in God; the other is trust in self.

Samson lost his vision, Daniel started seeing visions. We must strive to live out a day worth repeating tomorrow.

Daniel didn’t have to change anything. He did the same thing he did yesterday. Is what you did yesterday worth repeating today? If not, change your yesterday by changing your right now.

We exist simultaneously in three dimensions of time. Our current moment, this current second even, cannot be separated from our past as this moment is our past. It is also our arrived at future. Seamlessly our past, present, and future exist with nothing differing, even down to the smallest element. You are living your yesterday now. If you want to change your past, there is only one way to do it: change your present moment.

Even though it’s been over a year, even though I know it was God that spoke those words, I find myself acting like Samson at times instead of Daniel.

Wherewithal shall a young man/woman cleanse his ways? By taking heed to the Word of God. You can defeat everything that’s wrong in your life by hearing and obeying the Word of God.

Don’t try and fix yourself by yourself. You can’t defeat the smallest foe that way. Shaking yourself won’t do. Praying today, and praying tomorrow and praying the next day, that’s a day worth repeating. Dying to self today tomorrow and the next day? That’s worth repeating. Praising God today tomorrow and the next day? That’s worth repeating.

May we say, yesterday I prayed, yesterday I worshipped. I will do the same today. Samson did as before, Daniel did as before. Those words left an indelible mark on me that morning, but I have failed to allow them to change me in a way that is satisfying to me. But today I have a chance to live out a day worth repeating, and worth sharing.

What you did yesterday matters. What you’re doing right now is your yesterday.

Let the Samson in you die. Be a Daniel. Start living a day that’s worth repeating tomorrow.