Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. Proverbs 1: 8, 9, NIV
Dear Lord, even as “older children,” help us even now, to be obedient to our heavenly Parent, for Christ’s sake. Amen
The Bible is filled with examples of this promise being fulfilled in the lives of children who obeyed their parents in the Lord. Unfortunately, it is also full of examples of those who failed to do so. For the next few days, let us look at some of them. We will look at the negative examples to begin, that we may end this series on a positive note.
Samson. Chosen by God from the womb, “And the Angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman and said to her…Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. For behold you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13: 3-5).
Samson was not only chosen, but commissioned by God. He had been set aside for a special work: to begin the work of liberation from beneath the yoke of the Philistines. He did not have to ask like many of us, “What on earth am I here for?” He already knew. All he had to do was remain within that will. His parents, God-fearing folk, had no doubt, on many occasions, told, and re-told, the story of the angel’s visit, and of the special circumstances surrounding his birth. “His father’s instruction,” and “his mother’s teaching,” most likely, were made known to him from a very tender age.
Notwithstanding, Samson chose to walk in his own ways, the “ways that seem[ed] right” to him, not knowing that at the end of the path death was awaiting (Proverbs 14: 12; 16: 25). One day he came home and said to his parents, “I saw a Philistine woman at Timnah; now get her for me as my wife, to which his parents replied, ” Is there not a woman among your kin, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines? Samson’s final answer to his father was, “Get her for me, because she pleases me” (Judges 14: 2,3, NRSV).
One act of disobedience led to another, and one bad decision to another, and the gift that was given to bring glory to God, was misused, and instead brought death and despair (14: 19, 20). His rage got the best of him and soon his life was a whirlwind of mistakes that was spiraling out of control, and that would prove fatal in the years to come (16: 1, 4, 6). Seduced by Delilah, Samson divulged the secret of his strength (16: 16, 17). He was taken captive by the Philistines, and his eyes taken out (21).
But oh, the matchless mercies of our God! The steadfast, endless love, of the Almighty! “Then Samson called to the Lord and said, Lord God, remember me and strengthen me only this once, O God, so that with this one act of revenge I may pay back the Philistines for my two eyes” (28). And God heard His child. “So those he killed at his death were more than those he had killed during his life. Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah…” (31).
I cannot hear of, or speak about, or even think about, the story of Samson, without becoming teary-eyed. The garland that should have graced his head, became a wreath to mourn his untimely departure. But at his departure, God exchanged his wreath for a garland and hung it in Faith’s Hall of Fame (Hebrews 11: 32)!
Tomorrow we will look at another life.