May 1

OT – Judges 13:1-14:20
Today, we meet Samson. It is ironic that Samson comes along just now as the other famous Nazirite in the Bible is John the Baptist, subject of yesterday’s post.
Just as a refresher, a Nazirite is one who has made a vow to God. Until the vow is fulfilled, they drink no fermented beverages and eat nothing unclean and touch no unclean things (animals or dead bodies). The Nazirite can make the vow for his/her (yes, you could be a woman and be a Nazirite, but only if the father or the husband approved) life or a specific period of time.
Samson’s mother and John the Baptist’s mother made the vows for their sons (both miraculously conceived) and their sons kept the vows for their lifetimes.
However, John the Baptist was on a mission to convert. Samson was on a mission to obliterate the Phillistines. But first, he had to curb his enormous appetites for food, fun, and women.
When he slays the lion on his way with his parents to ‘get his woman’, he leaves the dead animal where it died. Okay. But when he comes back and discovers the lion infested with honey bees and honey, he a)touches a dead animal (unclean) b)eats from a dead animal (double unclean) c)eats from an unclean animal in general (lions are predators and unclean). So, not good.
Samson just blithely ignores the statutes, and goes about doing what he wants to do.
God, however, uses this for his own purposes and Samson gets back on track after ditching the woman.
We will see this pattern repeated again and again with Samson.

Psalm 102:1-28
Here’s a fabulous clip of Billy Graham discussing this psalm



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