Judges 14 and 15: Philistines
Sunday, June 23, 2024
A few days ago we reflected on the story of Samson and Delilah; today’s we consider our lack of understanding that God frequently uses surprising people and circumstances to bring God’s plan to fruition. In Samson’s early life, we read that he wants to marry a young woman who was not a member of one of the seven non-Israelite tribes with whom the people of Israel were permitted by their Law to marry. Looking at verse 4, we see that Samson’s desire to marry this young woman is upsetting to his parents – as it would be to a believing Jew – yet it will be used as part of God’s plan to save the faithful. Now his father and mother did not know that this had been brought about by the Lord, who was providing an opportunity against the Philistines; for at that time they had dominion over Israel. This story, therefore, today tells us something important which is that we never know how or when God will use unexpected people and circumstances in our lives to bring about his plan. Sometimes we must marry a Philistine.
The long story of Samson tells us about how people will want to control divinity rather than learn how to be a part of it. We see in the unraveling of these plots to harness Samson that these people misunderstand how God works. In the end, the wicked will fall by their own hand, and any harm they have leveled against the faithful will be used for good, but – and this is so important – with the consequences they had planned for others falling on them.
If we are patient, we begin to understand how Samson’s marriage to a Philistine woman plays out not only in Samson’s life but in the life of the community as well. What happens to this woman, what happens to her family, and how Samson arrives at being one of a series of Israelite Judges is a story that unfolds in a string of twisting, unpredictable events. All of this leads to the saving of a people, a nation, and a way of living that God has marked as special. These ironies and turnings are not a jumble of calamities; rather, they are God’s plan to open us to eventual results that no one dreams possible – except for God and those who believe and trust in God. Today we see that God makes the impossible possible.
Both this story of the young Samson, and the story of his relationship with Delilah are the same metaphor: Samson poses a riddle and is betrayed by someone whom he loves and trusts; the resulting reprisals end in Samson displaying his trust in God alone. Even though he may possess the strength of a thousand, only God saves him; he cannot save himself. Eventually with his death in Gaza, Samson kills more Philistines in one final act than he ever did in his lifetime.
Tomorrow, the Philistines in our lives.
Adapted from a reflection written on May 8, 2009.
Image from: https://www.wikiart.org/en/alexandre-cabanel/samson-and-delilah
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