He broke the doors !

He brought them out of the darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their bonds... Let them celebrate the Lord for his goodness and for his wonders to the sons of men. For he has broken the doors of brass, and smitten the bars of iron." Psalm 107. 14-16

The book of Judges abounds in picturesque and surprising tales. One of them concerns Samson. One day he was in Gaza, a city of the Philistines. While his enemies are in ambush during the night to seize him in the early morning, he rises at midnight and realizes an incredible feat : he seizes the doors, the two poles and the bar of the city gate, pulls them out , Puts them on his shoulders and carries them to the top of the mountain that is in front of Hebron (Judges 16: 1-3).

To appreciate what Samson has done, let us think of the gates of the cities of the East, made of hardwood, often several meters high ; Let us think of the poles firmly fixed on the wall of the city ; Let us examine the iron bar which binds together the whole; Measure the distance between Gaza and Hebron : 60 km as the crow flies; 1000 m of unevenness! What strength God had given him !

Without seeking to find spiritual significance in every detail, this narrative can no doubt be taken as an illustration of the "feat" realized by Jesus on the cross. He came into the world to visit those who were his enemies and who were prisoners. And, in the night of Golgotha, he tore the gates of the fortress that held us captive. From now on, we are free thanks to him and the testimony is given even in the face of death.

It is possible that the author of Psalm 107 had in mind this episode when, in the second stanza, he evokes those who were prisoners; God delivered them by breaking the doors of brass and breaking the iron bars.

This is what Christ has done for us : he has triumphed over the powers and authorities on the cross (Col. 2:15) ; He has broken the chains of sin that bound us together; He opened the door of freedom and salvation.

May this narrative of Samson, in its apparent excess, help us to appreciate the extraordinary work realized by our Savior on the cross and lead us to proclaim loud and clear his final victory !

Source (To pleasing the Lord)