Television has imprinted sights, sounds, and characters in our memory. Every decade produces age specific memories. From musicals to variety shows, from crime dramas to westerns, there were enough bizarre characters to distort any child’s mind. One such program was rather clever. It involved a panel of well known celebrities who would try and guess the occupation of someone after asking several specific questions. The guests may range from a tax collector to the mayor of a large city. Nobody was what they appeared to be.
The Bible introduces us to several well-known personalities in a similar manner. We are told several things about them and yet they will remain an enigma to us. Their behavior and description seldom seem to coalesce. One such man was a Nazarite with certain lifestyle requirements, which were seldom observed. He was anointed by God with incredible strength. His enemies detested him and he ridiculed them every chance he got.
In one instance he went to the city of Gaza to spend the night with a prostitute. The city was a Philistine city and his enemies waited for a chance to catch him and kill him! Knowing their plan, he left in the middle of the night and went to the city’s entrance, to the city gate. With his incredible strength, he took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron! So what do you say? I’ll tell you so what—he carried the doors and the supporting posts which weighted several hundred pounds a distance of thirty-eight miles to Hebron. Thirty-eight miles!ys this man’s death Examples that parallel Jesus’ death:
- People mocked him
- God delivered him
- His friends betrayed him
- He died with out-stretched hands
- A temple was destroyed
- A sacrificial death
The enemy thought that they had won. One unmistakable event separates them, he stayed in his tomb, and Christ did not! What was his line? He was a “judge”! Do read about him in Judges 13-16.
What should we learn from this person’s life? Great strength in one area does not make up for great weaknesses in other areas. God’s presence does not overwhelm a person’s will. Finally, God can use a person of faith in spite of his or her mistakes.
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