Today's readings are Judges 14.1-20 and Galatians 3.1-22
Samson, the Nazirite from birth, grows up to be an inspiration to us all. I'm not being sarcastic in any way here. I know we've all seen the children's Bible story version of Samson, a huge guy with really long hair, who does super strong guy things. But that isn't the Samson of the Bible. In fact, as a mere point of interest, Samson probably wasn't unusually big or strong looking. His strength came from the Lord and he amazed everyone. He probably looked perfectly normal. No, what he was able to do was simply because of the Lord working in and through him.
So what do we find in today's reading? Samson is a young adult. He seems to be pretty self-centered. He wants to marry outside of his tribe. In fact, he wants to marry outside of Israel. These are definitely not allowed to Nazirites. But what do his parents do? In response to Samson's whining they take a wife for him from the Timnites. Continuing with the rebellious Nazirite theme, Samson has contact with a dead body on his way home from his trip to obtain a wife. Then this Nazirite, who is not supposed to be killing anyone, since they are not to come in contact with any dead body, manages to kill thirty men of Ashkelon so as to steal their garments and save himself the cost of paying up on the bet he loses.
Why did I call Samson an inspiration for us all? We're pretty good at identifying Samson's selfishness and sin. Should we be inspired to sin? Not at all. But notice in verse Judges 14.4 that God was planning to use Samson's situation as "an opportunity against the Philistines" (ESV). Our Lord uses sinful people, people like Samson, people like us, to accomplish his will in this world. He uses people who are loaded with flaws, just like us, to restrain evil. He uses sinful people to show others their own sin. He uses people who have received forgiveness through belief on Jesus to call other people to forgiveness and life. Samson is an inspiration to us all. If God can use Samson, can he use us?
Samson, the Nazirite from birth, grows up to be an inspiration to us all. I'm not being sarcastic in any way here. I know we've all seen the children's Bible story version of Samson, a huge guy with really long hair, who does super strong guy things. But that isn't the Samson of the Bible. In fact, as a mere point of interest, Samson probably wasn't unusually big or strong looking. His strength came from the Lord and he amazed everyone. He probably looked perfectly normal. No, what he was able to do was simply because of the Lord working in and through him.
So what do we find in today's reading? Samson is a young adult. He seems to be pretty self-centered. He wants to marry outside of his tribe. In fact, he wants to marry outside of Israel. These are definitely not allowed to Nazirites. But what do his parents do? In response to Samson's whining they take a wife for him from the Timnites. Continuing with the rebellious Nazirite theme, Samson has contact with a dead body on his way home from his trip to obtain a wife. Then this Nazirite, who is not supposed to be killing anyone, since they are not to come in contact with any dead body, manages to kill thirty men of Ashkelon so as to steal their garments and save himself the cost of paying up on the bet he loses.
Why did I call Samson an inspiration for us all? We're pretty good at identifying Samson's selfishness and sin. Should we be inspired to sin? Not at all. But notice in verse Judges 14.4 that God was planning to use Samson's situation as "an opportunity against the Philistines" (ESV). Our Lord uses sinful people, people like Samson, people like us, to accomplish his will in this world. He uses people who are loaded with flaws, just like us, to restrain evil. He uses sinful people to show others their own sin. He uses people who have received forgiveness through belief on Jesus to call other people to forgiveness and life. Samson is an inspiration to us all. If God can use Samson, can he use us?
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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogger.com
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