Samson remains a very interesting figure in Judges 15. It seems that after his wedding feast experience he left his wife behind and now in the present chapter he comes back to visit her only to find out she has been betrothed to another. Enraged, he comes up with an interesting means of revenge, he burns down the community crops and stores by tying foxes together and placing a torch in the knot of tales. Not sure how PETA would have responded but the Philistines were quite upset.
They come out to find Samson and enter into Judah, who sends men to greet the Philistines. Have sussed out the purpose of the Philistines, the men of Judah go to Samson and ask him to come along quietly, which he does. This action by Judah demonstrates how far Israel has fallen, that they now turn against even God's judge who has already demonstrated an ability to defeat (kill) the Philistines. Bound before the Philistines, his bonds now loosen, and he slays a thousand men with a jawbone of a donkey, which again would go against the nazirite vow not to touch the dead.
Samson is such a peculiar judge. His behavior is erratic and rather scary at times and he not so much liberates the Israelites as he drags them into a mess he creates for them. If you notice, while he has killed many Philistines, he has not liberated any of the tribes of Israel. Of course, his relationship with God is another source of some interest. The only time we catch him speaking to God, he berates God since he is thirsty.
It would seem the lack of Samson's knowledge about his own identity leads to his downfall, as we are told in Judges 16. Samson falls in love with another Philistine woman, Delilah, who conspires with the lords of the Philistines to determine Samson's weakness. After several ruses, Samson gives up his secret that it is his hair that gives him power. However, he does not understand that once he cuts his hair, his dedication to God is over.
He stumbles upon this reality too late as he bound and blinded by the Philistines. Samson, realizing that his life is over, re-dedicates himself to God, to gain the strength to pull down the pillars of the house and therefore kill many of the Philistine lords as well. God grants him such power, and he brings the walls down upon himself.
Thus the story of Samson is over, a very peculiar story. Samson never truly lives up to his calling, never truly embraces his identity, and does not achieve the liberation of Israel from the Philistines. Samson would seem to be the tragic hero of Israel, his flaws kept him from truly living into his calling. At the same time, it is and remains to be a sign of hope. Even as Israel sinks lower and lower, even as the judges become less and less able, God still hears the cries of the Israel and responds. This God doesn't given up!
Mark 5
The power of Jesus to transform the lives of others is displayed in the 5th chapter of Mark. However, this power will frequently confront the status quo which then seeks to defeat Jesus.
In the story of the Gerasene demoniac, we again encounter the theme of the evil spirits knowing who Jesus is even while others do not. In his healing of the man casting out Legion, Jesus demonstrates his power and brings life out of death and abandonment. The majestic action draws the ire of the people in that Jesus destroys the commercial commodity of swine. Someone's herd is destroyed so that the man might live. While the people are amazed at the man's healing, many must have wondered if the cost was worth it.
The story of the hemorrhaging woman demonstrates the risks this woman will take to be healed. She is unclean and technically should be either in her home or put out of the community, yet here she is in public. If caught, there could be sanctions placed against her. Yet something draws her to Christ, she knows that my the mere touch of Jesus she can be healed. This radical power does heal her and Jesus knows it. Turning he seeks to find the person of faith who has touched him, much to the chagrin of his followers. Seeing the woman, he tells her that her faith has made her well.
Finally we encounter the story of the ill daughter of the synagogue leader who dies. Jesus, against all wisdom, continues to the house, and ignoring the ridicule of the crowd heals her and brings her back to life.
If nothing else, Mark 5 reminds us of the power of Christ, but also the power of the status quo to deny Jesus such victories. In the story of the demoniac, it is the commericial powers that seek to defeat Jesus. In the hemorrhaging woman, it is the power of disbelief. While in the daughter, it is the cynical nature of humanity. Yet, God's Will in Jesus Christ will not be swayed or defeated! Now that is the Good News!
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