Judges 16: Samson and Delilah
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Samson was one of the series of Judges who protected and guided the Hebrew people before they asked for a king. In this book we see the people of God continually repeat a cycle of dissent into separation from God . . . which causes loneliness and anguish followed by sorrow and repentance. Yahweh always responds by forgiving and tending to his lost sheep. There are periods of complacency and quiet when the people forget that God is central to their lives which separate the judges. Samson is one of the most famous. But look at the following verses: 2 – And all the night they waited saying, “Tomorrow we plan to kill him”, verse 19 – Then she began to mistreat him, for his strength had left him, verse 28 – Samson cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, remember me! Strengthen me, O God, this last time . . . let me die with the Philistines!”
Samson succumbs to Delilah and to the plot surrounding him. He is human. He fails. He suffers. He has hope. He repents. He makes reparation for his former action. He is honored. He brings the light of truth into the darkness of greed and corruption. We do not understand the mystery of what happened more, but what we do understand is that nothing ultimately wins over destruction and death.
From MAGNIFICAT today: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5) God is mystery. The maker of the universe dwells in light inaccessible, so bright that it blinds the probing eye, the questioning mind.
For those who are powerless, that they may experience your power employed on their behalf.
For those who have abandoned hope, that they may know your mercy.
For those who fail to see you in mystery, that they may come to feel your gentle love.
Amen.
Written on April 9, 2008 and posted today as a Favorite.
Image from: http://www.friendsofart.net/en/art/matthias-stom/samson-and-delilah
Cameron, Peter John. “Prayer for the Morning.” MAGNIFICAT. 4.9 (2008). Print.
The Noontimes 