I love the Bible. There are many books to read to glean wisdom from but none has more interesting characters than the Bible. I haven't found one character I couldn't relate to at different times of my life. I have been the disciples, the prostitute, the tax collector, the demoniac and yes..even Judas. It seems that I am only able to read the Bible for myself. I know some who would read it for me but if I can't relate than I don't take it in because I must have a personal relationship with the characters and the story.
Lately I have been relating to Samson. He was a bold character and I feel I am bold at times. I can hear his Mom telling him the story of the angel of the Lord informing her of his Birth before he was even conceived. Samson much have felt such Love because he was so wanted. I believe I can relate because God knew me before I was formed in the womb or so it says. I never knew my Father but it all doesn't seem to matter if my creator knew about me. That being said I was created for a purpose and that gives me the kind of Samson courage I can relate to.
Samson took the Nazarite vow. Early on he was taught to honor God and to abstain from certain things. I don't really understand the importance of abstinence in his case but in mine...being raised in the Baptist Church I can relate to touch not, taste not, handle not as they so eloquently preach. I took a vow to be the best that I could on my own but like Samson I failed miserably most of the time. I have always been drawn to the bad boys like Samson was drawn to Delilah. So in my case I am going to call my Nemesis Mr. Delilah. More about him later.
I got my Fire Insurance when I was about 12 years old. I accepted that Jesus was Lord because I didn't want to burn in hell. I had no idea what he really was or what he really did. I just know I didn't want to burn forever. That was not a prospect I could live with. I got dunked in the water and came up with my Fire Insurance. I did love Jesus though. I really did. I was a very lonely child with low self esteem inflicted upon me from an abusive step father so when I heard that this man Jesus died for me despite no one on this earth really wanting me...it was my only hope. This man Jesus wanted me and I loved him even though I could only love him in essence. I did not hear I love you much as a child but this Jesus said it a lot. I loved him back.
My teenage years were pretty terrible and traumatic. I probably don't have much to relate to Samson in those years but I made it through. It was in my teenage years that I saw the movie Samson and Delilah and it had such an impact on me. It was one of those movies you never forget and later on in life it plays a part in who you are as it is doing for me now.
When I was about 24 I was married and had 2 children. It was during that year that tragedy struck my family. My mother was murdered and my 3 teenage siblings came to live with me and my husband at the time. We were all crammed in this small Government Apartment. I was so busy raising children that I never had time to grieve my Mother who meant the world to me. One day it all caught up to me. I was sitting on my couch looking out the window and I started laughing hysterically. I remembered Jesus loved me. So laughing and crying at the same time I shouted "I can't do this by myself! I can't do this at all! Come off the throne and help me!" At that one moment I knew...I knew. I could have done everything Samson did and then some. I could have killed whole armies in his name. I could have out run a chariot. You name it..I could have done it. I truly had felt the Power of God.
My friends didn't like me much after that. I had such a drastic change. Every morning I sat down to read the Bible and I absorbed it like a sponge. It was as if God opened my mouth and poured the whole thing in me and the words were written on my heart never to be erased. Not being a good student I amazed myself about what I could recall.
I did what I thought was right and maybe it was. After talking with other believers they told me that I must find a Church home. They told me that it was wrong to be a Christian and not have a Church home. So I took my Samson courage and deposited it in the local evangelical fellowship. Like a Bank, they would guard it and multiply it...I would get courage with interest. Or so I thought. It was at that point I met Mr. Delilah.
Samson was a powerful man. His power came from his hair. I would like to think that the glorious seven braids were the attributes of God he was blessed with. He bowed to no man...but then enter the woman Delilah.
I can relate to this. Mr Delilah met me in church one day. He wasn't happy with my courage and abilities unless they were to serve his purposes. I was so in love with Mr. Delilah I gave all my secrets over to him. One day I woke up looking at Mr. Delilah holding scissors and my seven braids...I had lost my power to the Church of Mr. Delilah. I was captured and my eyes were burned out. I could no longer feel my own power. I was blind. ( I read about why they burned out Samson's eyes. I thought it was interesting. They burned out Samson eyes because his predicament came because he always followed his eyes. So did I.) He found himself enslaved to people who loved the game of taking away peoples power.
The church of Delilah led me blind and hooked me to a machine that went round and round. There was one thing they didn't take from me. The word that was written on my heart. So as I went blindly around and around on this machine I had a lot of time to think. I had a lot of time to reconcile with the word written on my heart. Slowly but surely...I got my power back.
Samson knew that there was going to be a festival to honor the God Dagon. Dagon was the God of fertility. I would like to think that it made Samson sick to think that taking away peoples power was acceptable. I would like to think that having a fertility festival to spread that kind of nonsense would have angered him.
This is where I can really relate to Samson. Samson snapped the leather straps and and using his strength pushed the pillars down on the temple during the festival to honor Dagon, the god of fertility. In the process he killed himself but the message is clear to me. I had to use what power I had to push down the pillars and crush the temple of Mr. Delilah. I may die in the process but Jesus said that in order to live some things have to die. I learned to no longer follow things with my eyes...or believe that all who say Lord Lord will enter the kingdom. (Notice I did not say they would go to hell but they will not enter the kingdom...) I learned not to cast my Pearls before swine..they may burn out your eyes and attach you to a machine. I leaned to think for myself and filter it through the word that is written on my heart. I learned that Jesus loves me...and I have gone back to that original message that saved my life, my heart and gives me courage and power. Much thanks to Mr. Samson who taught me so much through his story.
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