This will be the final installment on my reflections regarding Samson and Jesus. As I had re-read through chapter 16, I had realized that Delilah, whom Samson loved dearly, had asked Samson 3 different times to tell him the secret behind his great strength. Finally he gives in and tells her. Can you imagine how hurt he may have been? Someone who he so greatly loves is trying to give him over. I instantly think of when Peter denied Jesus 3 times during the Passion. Jesus and Samson both had experienced the betrayal of loved ones.
Finally, Samson does tell Delilah the secret to his strength. At this point, don't you think that he was on to her plan? Do you think he knew that she was going to give him over to the Philistines? In giving her the secret to his strength, I think that he was then actively taking a chance that he could wind up being taken over by the Philistines. This reminds me of Jesus, who allowed Judas to kiss him in the Garden, to be handed over to his captors. Jesus, being God himself, could've stopped all efforts to arrest him, but instead he surrendered to God the Father's plan. Recall Judges 14:4 "Now his (Samson's) father and mother did not know 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". In this situation between Samson and Delilah, God is providing an opportunity for Samson to defeat the Philistines and save Israel from their dominion.
As the Philistines capture Samson, Delilah and the men "mistreat" Samson, they gauge out his eyes, then they continue to mock him and laugh at him. Sound familiar? The soldiers beat Jesus, they crowned him with thorns so as to mock him, they spit on him and laugh at him as he is prepared for the Crucifixion. Samson is stationed between two columns in the temple, just as Jesus is "stationed" on two wooden beams, forming a cross. Samson cries out to God, then gives his life in an act of sacrifice, as he pulls the columns of the temple down upon everyone there. Jesus cries out to God and gives himself over as a sacrifice for His People. Samson physically rips chains and destroys the temple of his captors, the Philistines. Christ destroys the chains of death as He allowed the temple of His body to be torn and given to all. Recall John 2:13-21. Jesus is speaking to the Jews in the temple and he prophesied that he would, "destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." John adds, "But he was speaking about the temple of his body". Jesus allowed the temple of his body to be destroyed as a sacrifice. Now this is where the story differs from that of Samson's: Jesus DOES rebuild the temple of his body in the Resurrection.
How does this have to do with Advent and Christmas? Well, just as Samson was born and was consecrated for the Lord, God had a purpose for his life - to free the Israelites from the Philistines through Samson's sacrifice of himself. Jesus was born and was consecrated to God in the Presentation of the Temple. Later, his whole life was given for us in the mysteries of His Death and Resurrection. Jesus' birth looks forward to His Death, when he would defeat death for our sake so that he could be with us not only here on earth, but in Heaven, in perfect communion with Him forever.
Come Lord Jesus - maranatha!
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Bible Study of Samson Part 2
Ok, so there are some similarities to the story of Samson's conception to Jesus' conception. The obvious is that an angel of the Lord appears to both mothers to announce the conception of a son. Both of these sons are to be "set apart", Samson being "consecrated to God" and Jesus being "the son of the Most High". It is clear from this first announcement that both of these sons are destined to be a big part of God's plan for salvation. Both of these conceptions are miraculous, as God makes lifeless wombs full of life.
These two stories are different, too. Manoah's wife (who is not named) does not seem to fully believe what the angel tells her. She goes to tell her husband about it, and he seems to want further explanation. Mary, though, accepts the angel's words in faith and whole heartedly commits to the Will of the Father.
Another thing to take note of is, in Samson's story, how the angel tells his soon to be mother to "not eat of anything that comes from the vine, nor take wine or strong drink, nor eat anything unclean". By doing this, the angel wants Manoah's wife to make herself pure by fasting from these things. This purity is needed as she will be carrying a child in her womb who will be consecrated to God. Mary, though, did not have to make herself pure in order to carry Jesus in her womb. By way of her Immaculate Conception, Mary was already free from all sin, thus making her a pure vessel to carry "the son of the Most High", Jesus who is God-made-man.
Later on, we see that Samson wishes to marry a Philistine. During the wedding feast, his wife betrays him and tells the Philistinian men the answer to the riddle. He is betrayed by someone whom he loves deeply (much like Jesus is betrayed by Judas). So this is what incites his anger, and his anger is toward all Philistines. After the ensuing conflict that takes place in chapter 15, the Philistines capture Samson and bound him up. We read that "the spirit of the Lord came upon him" and he is unbound. Then, by his mere physical strength, Samson kills a thousand men with the "jawbone of an ass". An ass is a donkey, which is a rather small animal, and Samson is able to kill many men with it. Quite ironic if you think about it. This unusual physical strength of Samson to defeat his captors points toward the spiritual strength of Christ, which we will see foreshadowed even more clearly in chapter 16 of Judges. Then we read that Samson became a judge for Israel, which at that time, meant that he was a leader in Israel, a man of authority.
What we read next in chapter 16 is really quite amazing. Samson's strength is illustrated further. So as you read chapter 16 today, answer these questions:
1. Poor Samson once again is hurt by the woman he loves. What parallels do you see between this account of Samson's capture and death and Jesus' passion and death? (For an account of Jesus' passion and death, read Matthew 26:47 through 27:51)
2. Read John 2:13-21. How does this relate to what you read about Samson in Judges chapter 16?
Come Holy Spirit! More to come tomorrow...
These two stories are different, too. Manoah's wife (who is not named) does not seem to fully believe what the angel tells her. She goes to tell her husband about it, and he seems to want further explanation. Mary, though, accepts the angel's words in faith and whole heartedly commits to the Will of the Father.
Another thing to take note of is, in Samson's story, how the angel tells his soon to be mother to "not eat of anything that comes from the vine, nor take wine or strong drink, nor eat anything unclean". By doing this, the angel wants Manoah's wife to make herself pure by fasting from these things. This purity is needed as she will be carrying a child in her womb who will be consecrated to God. Mary, though, did not have to make herself pure in order to carry Jesus in her womb. By way of her Immaculate Conception, Mary was already free from all sin, thus making her a pure vessel to carry "the son of the Most High", Jesus who is God-made-man.
Later on, we see that Samson wishes to marry a Philistine. During the wedding feast, his wife betrays him and tells the Philistinian men the answer to the riddle. He is betrayed by someone whom he loves deeply (much like Jesus is betrayed by Judas). So this is what incites his anger, and his anger is toward all Philistines. After the ensuing conflict that takes place in chapter 15, the Philistines capture Samson and bound him up. We read that "the spirit of the Lord came upon him" and he is unbound. Then, by his mere physical strength, Samson kills a thousand men with the "jawbone of an ass". An ass is a donkey, which is a rather small animal, and Samson is able to kill many men with it. Quite ironic if you think about it. This unusual physical strength of Samson to defeat his captors points toward the spiritual strength of Christ, which we will see foreshadowed even more clearly in chapter 16 of Judges. Then we read that Samson became a judge for Israel, which at that time, meant that he was a leader in Israel, a man of authority.
What we read next in chapter 16 is really quite amazing. Samson's strength is illustrated further. So as you read chapter 16 today, answer these questions:
1. Poor Samson once again is hurt by the woman he loves. What parallels do you see between this account of Samson's capture and death and Jesus' passion and death? (For an account of Jesus' passion and death, read Matthew 26:47 through 27:51)
2. Read John 2:13-21. How does this relate to what you read about Samson in Judges chapter 16?
Come Holy Spirit! More to come tomorrow...
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
A Bible Study on Samson
I just have to say that I love the Old Testament, and I fall even more in love with it during Advent. Back when I was in college, I found a Scripture Study to follow during Advent that pointed out all the messianic prophesies in the Old Testament (prophesies that pointed to the coming of Jesus). It's exciting because all these prophesies come true in Jesus' birth, life, ministry, death and Resurrection. It's also exciting to study all the different "types" of Jesus or Mary, as we studied this past semester at Women of the Word how Esther and Judith are "types" of Mary (a "type" is a biblical person, event, or thing that has it's own identity yet at the same time points forward to another person, event or thing in the Bible). I have shared this many times at WOW, but it is awe-inspiring how the Old Testament was written thousands of years before the coming of Jesus. The authors of the Old Testament had no way of knowing the intricate details that would surround the life of the Messiah, yet, somehow, their writings point toward and foreshadow Jesus' life. It is proof that while the Bible was written by human authors, the Holy Spirit was indeed inspiring them as He knew of God's wonderful plan of Salvation.
Now, I wanted to write this wonderful theological post about one of these "types" but I think, in the spirit of Women of the Word, I will allow you to read the story yourself and answer these questions first. Tomorrow (or the day after, since some days time just ruuunnnsss away from me, can you relate?! Hehe!) I will go through the story and make some observations.
Today I would like to focus on one of my favorite Bible stories. It is the story of Samson. Samson's story is found in Judges chapter 13 through chapter 16. Today we will just focus on chapters 13 through 15. So, grab your Bible, find some place quiet, and give yourself half an hour to an hour to dive into this story! And don't forget to invoke the Holy Spirit! Then answer these questions:
Read Judges chapters 13 through 15
1. In what ways are Samson's conception and Jesus' similar? (Jesus' account is found in Luke 1:26-56). In what ways are they different?
2. Take note of Judges 14:4. The Philistines had taken "dominion" over Israel, meaning they "ruled" over Israel at this time. Israel was not "their own" nation.
3. At the end of chapter 14, verse 19 is says, "Then he went off to his own family in anger." Why was Samson angry?
4. In chapter 15, Samson is angry that his wife was given to another man, so he sets out to ruin the Philistines vineyards among other things. He incites conflict between the Philistines and the tribe of Judah (a tribe of Israel). The Philistines finally capture Samson and bind him up. What is so striking about verses 14 through 16? Can you think of a way that this might point to Jesus?
Ok, look forward to more questions on chapter 16 tomorrow!
Now, I wanted to write this wonderful theological post about one of these "types" but I think, in the spirit of Women of the Word, I will allow you to read the story yourself and answer these questions first. Tomorrow (or the day after, since some days time just ruuunnnsss away from me, can you relate?! Hehe!) I will go through the story and make some observations.
Today I would like to focus on one of my favorite Bible stories. It is the story of Samson. Samson's story is found in Judges chapter 13 through chapter 16. Today we will just focus on chapters 13 through 15. So, grab your Bible, find some place quiet, and give yourself half an hour to an hour to dive into this story! And don't forget to invoke the Holy Spirit! Then answer these questions:
Read Judges chapters 13 through 15
1. In what ways are Samson's conception and Jesus' similar? (Jesus' account is found in Luke 1:26-56). In what ways are they different?
2. Take note of Judges 14:4. The Philistines had taken "dominion" over Israel, meaning they "ruled" over Israel at this time. Israel was not "their own" nation.
3. At the end of chapter 14, verse 19 is says, "Then he went off to his own family in anger." Why was Samson angry?
4. In chapter 15, Samson is angry that his wife was given to another man, so he sets out to ruin the Philistines vineyards among other things. He incites conflict between the Philistines and the tribe of Judah (a tribe of Israel). The Philistines finally capture Samson and bind him up. What is so striking about verses 14 through 16? Can you think of a way that this might point to Jesus?
Ok, look forward to more questions on chapter 16 tomorrow!
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