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Study the Word. Meditate on it and let it be your delight and holy guide.
Youth Ministry
Children's Nurture
Mission & Food Pantry
Samson
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The story of Samson begins with the story of his
mother. She was barren, but God appeared to her
and said, “...you shall conceive and bear a
son.” Do those words sound familiar? God
instructs this faithful woman to avoid alcohol
and unclean things during her pregnancy. Then
God tells her that her son will be a Nazirite,
set apart for God. He will not shave his head
or cut his hair. He will save Israel from the
Philistines. After several appearances of the Lord, Samson’s father fears, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God” (13:22). In a little biblical humor, his mother essentially says, “Get a grip. God wouldn’t be doing all of this to kill us.” Samson’s mother is a strong, logical, intelligent and faithful woman. Samson’s troubles began when he didn’t listen to his parents. They wanted him to marry a nice Jewish girl, but he wanted a sexy Philistine. The Bible tells us God used this marriage as “an opportunity against the Philistines” (14:4). You may be familiar with Samson’s clever riddle and his wife’s whining cries to be let in on its secret. For seven days she pestered him and he finally gave in. The Philistine men learned the secret of the riddle from Samson’s wife, whereupon Samson made up another “poem” in which he essentially called his wife a cow (“If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle” 14:18). This story is not without its poignant and pointed humor. The humor ends. Samson’s wife and father-in-law are killed; he slays a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass; then in his rage and grief falls prey to Delilah. Samson’s power is in his Nazirite uncut hair. When his hair is cut, the Nazirite vow is violated. Samson is captured,blinded and imprisoned. But hair regrows! Samson’s final act of strength is well-known. Pulling down the pillars of the idol god’s temple, in his death Samson destroys more Philistines than he’d killed during his life. Think about this story. The tensions between Israel and Palestine date back for centuries upon centuries. This is their history. Samson is remembered as someone whose charisma and call was ultimately destroyed by selfishness and unrestrained passion. His actions tended to be motivated by personal revenge and personal agenda rather than nobility and integrity before the Lord. Once again, the Bible reminds us that no one, no matter how set apart or called, is without weakness. Israel remains a nation not because of any judge or hero in her history, but because of the hand of God. Copyright Carrie Scott 2002 |
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