Monday, November 1, 2004
Holy Wonder-working Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian
Kellia: Judges 14:20-15:20 Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 Gospel: St. Luke 10:22-24
Judges 14:20-15:20, especially vs. 14: "When he came to
Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon
him, and the ropes which were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds
melted off his hands." The earlier portrait of Samson reveals a man divided between passions
and the call of God upon his life. The Lord's purpose within Samson (Jdg. 13:5) struggled to
break free from the obscuring cloud of his delight in a Philistine woman, but the repeated descent
of the Spirit on him enabled him to respond as a Judge in Israel despite his private desires.
Today's passage traces Samson's growth in God's mission for him. Every Christian, striving
against the passions and laboring with God for purity, will find encouragement here. God does
not abandon His People in their spiritual battles, but strengthens each one to accept the life in
Christ and to walk in that light. Like Samson, the Faithful are sealed with the gift of the Holy
Spirit. Observe how Samson's struggles reveal seven ways that God assists His own.
God permits events in our lives to frustrate what our passions desire. In Samson's case, God
allowed the young man's anger and his withdrawal from his wife (Jdgs. 14:19) to convince her
family to give his bride to his best man as wife, thinking he had divorced her (Jdgs. 14:20; 15:2).
Such frustration of the passions graciously allows one to reassess his desires and his life. When
our passion-driven wills are frustrated, the Lord never forces us to choose the right, but He gives
us the freedom to embrace His higher way. Samson was offered his wife's sister to fulfill his
desires, but he freely chose to follow his life's true vocation. Hence, he attacked the Philistines,
effectively burning up their harvest in their fields and vineyards (Jdgs. 15:3-5). We may always
continue fleeing from God, or we may heed His call and take up the struggle. When we choose
God's higher way, He graciously confirms our choices. The Lord allowed the wicked Philistines
to murder his wife and her family treacherously by arson, revealing their corruption openly to
Samson (vs. 6). That act moved Samson to accept his mission against the Philistines (vs. 7), and
so "he smote them hip and thigh with great slaughter" (vs. 8). As we answer God's call, He
confirms that we have heard correctly.
God blesses our drawing apart to stand before Him in prayer and worship. Samson "went down
and stayed in the cleft of the rock of Etam" (vs. 8). Similarly, the Lord Jesus withdrew for prayer
during His ministry (Lk. 5:16), and Christ blesses us when we take time apart for prayer.
Both during prayer and in changing circumstances, the Lord reveals new occasions for service.
The Philistines attacked the tribe of Judah and, in fear, the men of Judah convinced Samson to
help in their struggle (Jdgs. 15:9-13). Let us remain alert to new directions from God!
The Holy Spirit comes while we are acting in faith and are feeling overwhelmed. One man
bound with ropes, but filled with the Spirit, overcame the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass
(vss. 14-16). The Seventy found "that even the demons" were subject to them in Christ's Name
(Lk. 10:17). Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ (Rom. 8:38,39).
God supplies our spiritual and physical needs when we serve Him faithfully. In his thirst,
Samson appealed to God, Who opened the spring at Lehi for him (Jdgs. 15:18-19). The Lord
regularly extends the Holy Gifts to us, to revive and restore our thirsting hearts.
Thus God enabled Samson to become a judge in Israel (vs. 20). Will He not also give us "all
things good and profitable for our souls" if we trust and obey Him?
O my Creator, show me to be a Tabernacle of Thy Spirit only, that every evil deed and passion
may flee from me as from fire, and show me to be a child of the light.