Judges 13 to 14; Psalm 143

Read

Read Judges 13 to 14; Psalm 143

Meditation is based on the two chapters of Judges.

 

Reflect

God seems to intervene at dark points in history. As for the method used, it's usually a time dependent, drawn-out process. This only shows that God doesn't go for a quick fix since he could easily have done what he wanted in an instant.

The method employed here is not new, of granting a child to a childless woman and then declaring that the child in her womb will one day deliver Israel. The deliverance, this time round, is from its strong, perennial enemy, the Philistines (Judges 13: 5). 

Since it was sin that first caused them to fall into the hands of the Philistines (Judges 13: 1), the Lord will use a child raised as a Nazirite from the get - go, starting in the womb, to carry out his plan of restoration. These preconditions are necessary for the outworking of a righteous God.

So, into such a time, under such a condition, and for such a purpose, Samson was born. He would go on to judge Israel for twenty years until his spectacular final moment.

Even though Samson's parents did their best to raise him accordingly, they were not always privy to the plans God had in mind (Judges 14: 4). Samson himself did not report everything to his parents such as the time he touched the carcass of a lion. By protocol, a Nazarite should avoid defilement by not coming into contact with a dead body, even those of animals. 

On a few occasions, the Spirit of the Lord gave evidence of Samson’s special calling by stirring (Judges 13:25) and coming powerfully upon him (Judges 14: 6, 19). The strength that he possessed was obviously not his own, but a strength, which came from the Spirit. It's a strength that was out of proportion to his build, something literally out of this world. It served as a powerful witness that the Lord was with him. By the same token, the phenomenal strength would cease when the Lord was no longer with him.

Relate

It's natural for anyone who has been waiting a long time for a child to become over - protective of their child, a fact known as ‘precious child syndrome’. What's amazing is that God would use such childless couples, who are familiar with the pains of longing, to carry out his plan. He would grant them a son, only to claim the child for his own cause. A few examples come readily to mind: Isaac, Samuel, John, not forgetting Samson. 

The greater irony is that these parents know that their child is a gift from God. And since their long - awaited desire has been granted by God, they're willing to give him the rights to their child's upbringing and future, including involving the child in his plans.

Is there something that the Lord has granted us after a long wait or multiple attempts? Do we sense that it could be a gift from the Lord, given how precious it is to us? And knowing that, are we not more open for its use by the Lord? 

As parents, teachers, mentors or guardians, we often have the compulsion to want to know everything, every progress and plan related to the child or individual under our care. But often time, this is simply not possible. Even the Lord withholds some information from us.

Perhaps, what we can learn from the foregoing is to be open. That we should not be fixated about things. That we should seek the Lord's guidance instead of imposing our own views or relying too much on our own understanding, which at times could be misguided, even with the best of intentions. 'I know it best' is, therefore, not the wisest approach, not even by the wisest among us.

The Lord has blessed us with his Spirit. The evidence of his blessing is his Spirit, not wealth, status, or ability. Our work is also done with the help of His Spirit. Similarly, behind Samson's legendary strength and power is the Spirit of the Lord. The proclamation 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit' (Zechariah 4:6) cannot be any truer. 

How much of our work is actually done with the help of the Spirit? Do we really bear evidence of his blessing, and in what ways? Have we truly experienced or manifested the Spirit's power? If so, are we then his witness? (Acts 1: 8)

Samson has been likened to Christ, from his birth story to his ultimate death. But while Christ’s life is a composite study of God and man, his is a study of strength and weakness. Though his strength may have come across as obvious, his weakness is less so. For his true weakness, or ‘achilles heel’, does not lie in his hair, but rather in his ignorance. 

It could be said that he was ignorant of his life's calling. And ignorant of his weakness as well. No, not the part about his hair (he could have heard it repeated ad nauseam), but his weakness for the charms of others, women's in particular. Most of all, he could be ignorant of God. He was unaware when God was no longer with him. Therefore, in this passage, besides Samson’s amazing strength, we see too the first hints of his weakness.

The word for all of us is insight. We need insights into our situations. We could be paying too much attention to the obvious, and neglecting the less obvious, which is equally important, if not more important.

Rest

Lord, grant us insights to matters that are important. May we continue to bear witness of your Spirit in us. Concerning those precious to us, may we rest assured that they're more precious to you. And commit them to the hope that is in store and the future that you've planned.

Naville Chia