Was Samson's strength in his hair? He had broken most, if not all, the Nazirite
vows under which he was sworn during his life.
It is perhaps true that the allowing of his hair to grow without being
cut was the only symbol of that vow that remained. Once he had broken all the vows it seems that
the Lord left him. The Lord was his
strength and yet it seems Samson had become superstitious/religious about the
source of that strength. Only twice do
we see Samson praying, once for water and now for strength. Would the Lord have helped him by giving him
strength when he allowed Delilah to have him shorn? In the end, the Lord's will concerning the
Philistines is done, but Samson's life was a tragedy nonetheless.
This woman with the issue of blood is desperate. She has not only suffered this affliction for
twelve years, it has also meant that she is outside the community, she is
unclean and therefore unfit for worship and treated as a contaminant by others
because if they contact her they too are unfit for worship. She believes that Jesus can do something
about this problem and draws near simply to touch His garments and in that she
is delivered from her infirmity. When Jesus
asks who has touched Him, the disciples see the press of people surrounding Him
and know only that many have to have come into contact with Him. She, however, knows she has been healed and
is willing to tell the truth about her indiscretion. It is her faith that has made her well and whole
and now Jesus blesses her with something she has not experienced in these last
dozen years, shalom.
Paul has defended his apostleship and wishes that when he
visits it will be a joyful reunion rather than a time of chastisement and
judgment. He encourages them to ensure
that their lives match their beliefs, through the power of Christ in them both
personally and corporately. As with
Samson, strength comes from the Lord, from believing truth and also by walking
by the Spirit in that truth. What is the
result for which Paul is aiming? Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another,
agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be
with you. Let us commit ourselves to
these things in order to know that God will be with us in love and peace.
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