Samson
Strong. Charming. Brave. Long hair flowing, he fights against enemies, killing thousands single-handedly. Does Samson sound like a hero? But then he marries a Philistine (against the Law), kills out of pure anger (even he admits he didn't have a reason to--Judges 15:3), spends the night with a prostitute, is duped by both of his wives, etc. His story, honestly, has always bothered me. Aren't the leaders, judges, and deliverers of Israel supposed to be godly? Plus, his birth was announced by an angel!?!? Isn't he supposed to be a holy Nazarite?
He is. He is supposed to be godly--as we all are. But like us all, he is a sinner. Moreover, his sin tends to be one we see as "worse" than Gideon's fear, etc. Furthermore, my preconception is fueled by a moralistic, anthropocentric approach to the Bible, reading it as a list of examples whom I need to try to follow. However, the Bible is about God, not about us. It is about his grace, how he intervenes in human history for our redemption in spite of our sin. It is not a history of moral examples for us to follow.
Thus Samson's story is about God the Deliverer. God's story in Samson's life ultimately points, like all of the Old Testament, to Christ. In the time of the judges, God remembers Israel, oppressed under the Philistines, and he responds in Samson. Two thousand years later, God remembers his people and responds by sending the True Deliverer. We see recurring patterns and themes of God's hand in deliverance in both stories: an angelic announcement, a person set apart for God's service. We also see a theme of betrayal. Samson, who was turned over to the Philistines by his own people whom he was called to save. Jesus, turned over and crucified by the ones he came to save. Most importantly, we see God's ability to save through one person, despite all obstacles. Our God is a powerful God, a mighty God, a God who works in human history, a God who saves. We see this throughout the Old Testament, but most clearly in Christ. Praise be to our Savior God!
He is. He is supposed to be godly--as we all are. But like us all, he is a sinner. Moreover, his sin tends to be one we see as "worse" than Gideon's fear, etc. Furthermore, my preconception is fueled by a moralistic, anthropocentric approach to the Bible, reading it as a list of examples whom I need to try to follow. However, the Bible is about God, not about us. It is about his grace, how he intervenes in human history for our redemption in spite of our sin. It is not a history of moral examples for us to follow.
Thus Samson's story is about God the Deliverer. God's story in Samson's life ultimately points, like all of the Old Testament, to Christ. In the time of the judges, God remembers Israel, oppressed under the Philistines, and he responds in Samson. Two thousand years later, God remembers his people and responds by sending the True Deliverer. We see recurring patterns and themes of God's hand in deliverance in both stories: an angelic announcement, a person set apart for God's service. We also see a theme of betrayal. Samson, who was turned over to the Philistines by his own people whom he was called to save. Jesus, turned over and crucified by the ones he came to save. Most importantly, we see God's ability to save through one person, despite all obstacles. Our God is a powerful God, a mighty God, a God who works in human history, a God who saves. We see this throughout the Old Testament, but most clearly in Christ. Praise be to our Savior God!
What I also find remarkable about accounts such as Samson's is that they depict people as we are--fallible, errant, unable to learn from our mistakes. It gives me great comfort to know that Almighty God could choose ones such as Samson, such as Peter (the denials), such as Paul (Romans 7) despite their flaws. So I love to consider each of these examples from Scripture--and to put my hope in our God who saves. Knowing this gives me great hope during my own personal battles with areas that continually crop up. In the end, all that matters is that God will save.
ReplyDeleteIndeed: Praise be to our Savior God!