|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Teaching the Bible SAMSON Theological Issues Historical Biblical material The important point about biblical history is that it is not intended as an objective account of past events. It is ancient material that has passed through a lot of processes so it is difficult to retrieve the original and unpick the compilations from the complex modern version.
The material also includes aetiological writing that seeks to explain, for example, how names came to be given to particular places. God's purposes and methods It is important to remember that concepts of and beliefs about God revealed in the Bible are those of a particular time in history. They develop as understanding about God's nature grows.
Chosen by God The theme of election (choice) is a central and recurrent one in the Bible. Through the election of certain individuals and the nation of Israel itself, God's initiative is at work, fulfilling his purposes for creation. A whole series of these choices are shown e.g. between Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Joseph etc.
The Promised Land The promise that God gave to Abraham is seen as being fulfilled, as the Israelites settle in Canaan. Sometimes this settlement happened through battle and sometimes through assimilation. God's will was for Israel to settle and enjoy the blessings of their land in peace. It was here that God was especially present and when other nations were later to conquer Israel, even forcing them out of the land, the Israelites felt that God was punishing them for wrong doing. They resolved to do better in future in order to be restored to the land. It was only much later that the Jews came to understand God as a universal God, Lord of the whole earth. Jewish beliefs were challenged with the diaspora (scattering of Jews outside of Palestine) when Jerusalem fell to the Romans in 70 CE. Jewish beliefs about the land of Israel continue to this day and are part of the roots of the unsettled situation in the Middle East. While orthodox Jews hold a very literal understanding of their ownership of the land of Israel, more liberal Jews do not claim that sort of ownership but instead interpret God's promise in a more symbolic sense. Devoted to God Throughout history there have been people who have been dedicated to God or have dedicated themselves to God through the keeping of certain vows which 'separated' them from anything profane and associated them with God. Their lives are focussed on closeness to God and 'holiness' is seen as an acquired characteristic of this 'nearness'. It is expected or seen that God works through them in a special way. Samson is represented as a Nazarite from his conception. Nazarites were seen as endowed with the power of God, which should lead to holiness. There were, however, certain activities which were seen as impairing holiness. Cutting the hair was one (based on the idea that the hair of all sacred persons is taboo and cannot be cut). It had either to be shaved, as in e.g. Buddhism, or left to grow untouched, e.g. as in Israel. Wine and beer were rejected, probably because they were seen as symbols of the settled, agricultural life of Canaan and therefore represented the dangers of the Canaanite way of life, as opposed to the previous nomadic life of the Hebrews. Further, drunkeness was connected to pagan practices of trying to receive divine revelation from the speech of drunken people. Dedicated followers of God such as the Nazarites were expected, therefore, to gain a certain discipline from their vows and be seen to be set apart. These characteristics were what Samson appeared to lack. God's spirit The Spirit is the divine power both in human history and the present day. It is shown as:
The Judges' Cycle
This pattern of behaviour of the tribes of Israel in their early days is really very similar to their continued behaviour as a nation throughout the Old Testament / Hebrew Bible. Human nature's propensity for evil is ever-present in the Bible but is always redeemable by God. However, for this to be effective, wrong-doing has to be acknowledged and repentance offered. Samson the Hero! Samson's personality is quite a mixture. He's larger than life, a colourful character. He exploits women and outwits those who think they have him tied down. On one hand he is the champion of the people; on the other he works havoc amongst hostile neighbours. Where is God to be found in his story? The material about Samson is extremely old. It belongs to folklore and Samson has all the characteristic qualities of a popular hero - eternally strong, a man of passion for women and fighting.
Although Samson seems an unlikely character to play a part in Israel's history, he represents another case of God choosing such a person with to work out his purposes. Without judging Samson's weaker spots, God through his spirit uses what he needs to help accomplish Israel's settlement in Canaan, deliver his people from the Philistines and establish peace. Delilah, who was probably a Philistine, tempts Samson into breaking his Nazarite oath to God by revealing his special relationship with God, symbolised by his long hair. The sin of Genesis 3 (Adam and Eve) led to spiritual death; here sin leads to physical death because God's spirit leaves Samson (Judges 16:20). Tragically, Samson "did not know that the Lord had left him". Renewed hope comes with his renewed strength (16:22) through the symbol of consecration. But the curse of sin returns and Samson can triumph only by his own death. The heroic paradox of Samson's adventures certainly contributes to our view of how mysterious the workings of God can be. Hope for new life and peace If there is a positive message to come through the Samson narrative, it must be one of hope for new life and peace in the future - as symbolised in the honey coming from the dead carcass and Samson overcoming the enemy despite his blindness and his own death. Samson had been leader for twenty years and makes the ultimate sacrifice of his life for a greater good; the Philistine kings are overthrown. Wherever people uphold just causes, a strong motivating and reassuring factor is the hope that life will improve. But does the end always justify the means? In the early biblical narratives, force is accepted as the means of bringing about God's purposes of a better world. Modern people would want to consider other methods, like diplomacy and compromise. The 'Samson Syndrome' (where people are willing to go to any lengths, including sacrificing their own lives, to defeat an enemy) has taken on new relevance in the wake of the tragedy of 11th September 2001. Symbolism The Bible is rich in symbolism, using images to clarify concepts that are otherwise difficult to convey. The Samson narratives incorporate several symbols:
|
 |
|
