Samson single-handedly killed 1,000 Philistines with the only weapon at his disposal: the jawbone of an ass. Then he composed an impromptu rhyming poem about his victory, failing to give any credit to the Lord. Today we see that he immediately complained that God would leave him to die of thirst! Samson’s plight would be funny, if we were not so much like him.

I. Samson’s Unrest (Judg 15:18). After defeating the Philistines, Samson was thirsty, literally, dried out. In every scene God provided, but Samson believed he was self-sufficient. Now he was unable to provide water to quench his thirst. He didn’t know it, but he was fully dependent upon God for all things (Mt 5:45; 6:11, 25-34).
Very often the record of Scripture is that God gives testing after triumph. It was true for Israel after crossing the Red Sea (Ex 15:22-27), David killing Goliath (1 Sam 17:1-18:16), Elijah after Mt Carmel (1 Ki 18-19), and Jesus after being baptized in water (Mk 1:9-13). Triumph without testing usually produces pride.
This is the first time in Samson’s story that he called upon God, but it was for a personal reason rather than for his people. Samson was like the prodigal son who said, "Give me without any thought to make me" (Lk 15:12, 19). Though he demonstrates some degree of faith in his request, Samson was also fully focused on his physical need not his greater spiritual need.
In his prayer for water, Samson called himself God’s servant. He really was God’s servant, but Scripture doesn’t give us the picture of a servant but of a man flying to fulfill his own desires. He suggests that God had to help him or God would be helpless without him. Even in his prayer, Samson gave himself the victory. His prayer literally reads, "You have given by the hand of Your servant this great victory." God didn't win the victory, the servant did! If God didn’t help him, he’d fall into the hands of the un-circumcised Gentiles, yet he’d fraternized with them and even married one of them. Samson’s prayer is one of trying to manipulate God into quenching his thirst.
Samson was a perfect picture of Israel. God gave His people the leader they deserved, choosing Samson from among those he’d lead.
God raised up Samson to show what He could do and reveal man’s nature and inability apart from Him. He created conflict between Israel and Philistine to deliver His people, and did the same within Samson. God is yet gracious though Samson is undeserving. He never leaves us to the destruction of our sin, but mercifully lifts us from the miry clay.

II. God’s Mercy (Judg 15:19). God had mercy on prideful, disobedient Samson, and graciously provided a miracle source of water. He is ever-willing to answer the prayers of His people when in accord with His will. We must never allow our circumstances or sins, to keep us from Him. He knows we are weak and children of dust, yet He has compassion on us (Ps 103:14; 2 Cor 4:7).
God is faithful in our troubles (Judg 14:5-6), stupidities (Judg 14:19), and simplest but deepest needs (Judg 15:19).

III. Israel’s Rest (Judg 15:20). If only, once again, the story ended here on a high note. All is well. Everyone lived happily ever after. O that Samson would disappear from the pages of holy Writ as a hero! But as we’ve said before, God isn’t in the business of making heroes, but servants.
Samson moved beyond Timnah to Gaza and continued his 20 years of working to deliver Israel in the days of the Philistines. The text says nothing about God giving Israel rest, peace, or prosperity, however. That would not come until the reigns of kings David and Solomon (1 Kings 8:56-57).