Page 14 - PT Winter 2021-2022

Gary Clayton

When I am strong,

I am weak…

MAF Copywriter and Editor Gary Clayton looks at a biblical hero who’s
physically strong but spiritually blind, and morally weak.

’m sure we’ve all made mistakes his strange riddle, the ridiculously Violent acts
and done things we’ve later ineffective attempts on his life, or the A number of apparently random
Iregretted. Perhaps we’ve ended up spectacularly bad choices he appears acts of violence follow. A young lion
in an unfortunate relationship, done to have made regarding relationships? is torn apart, and 30 Philistines
something we wish we hadn’t, or said Samson, like Isaac, Jacob and Esau, are struck down and their clothes
something we know we shouldn’t. Samuel, John the Baptist and Jesus, given grudgingly to the wedding Photo Credits: freebibleimages.org/Sweet Publishing
However bad you may feel about was conceived miraculously. His companions who’d explained Samson’s
any past or present sins, mistakes or mother was originally barren and riddle – Samson’s groomsmen having
errors of judgment, be assured that unable to have a child. obtained the answer by threatening to
God is the God of second, third, fourth Later, as Samson grows, God incinerate his wife and father-in-law.
or even fifth chances. blesses him, and the Spirit of the Lord Having stormed off in a strop from
Think of David and Bathsheba. begins to stir. his spouse, Samson later returns,
Joseph in prison. Daniel in the lions’ And yet, while Jesus ‘grew and only to find that she’s been given to
den. Jonah in the big fish. Stephen’s became strong… was filled with his companion.
stoning, and many other examples. wisdom, and the grace of God’ (Luke In revenge, Samson catches 300
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2:40) , Samson ends up seeing a foxes, attaches torches to their tails
And what about Samson, a judge who young Philistine and – like a truculent and lets them loose in the Philistines’
appears to have no sense of judgment teen – tells his parents, ‘I have seen a fields – burning up their grain,
whatsoever when it comes to women? Philistine woman in Timnah; now get vineyards and olive groves.
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A man who led Israel but was himself her for me as my wife.’ This, of course, hardly calms
led a merry dance by the various Incredibly, although an ungodly things down, with Samson’s wife
women in his life. Someone who at Philistine hardly appears to be an and father being burned to death as
times resembles a petulant teenager acceptable life partner for ‘a Nazirite, a result, and Samson attacking his
constantly struggling with anger dedicated to God from the womb’, enemies viciously.
management issues. we are told that ‘this was from the Having seen their kinsmen come
Although Samson is listed with Lord, who was seeking an occasion to a cropper among the crops, the
other heroes of the faith in Hebrews confront the Philistines [who were] Philistines come in force to capture
11:32-34, what are we to make of ruling over Israel.’ Samson. To save themselves, 3,000

14 The Plain Truth Winter 2021-2022 Find us online at www.plain-truth.org.uk