*Sacred Scripture* Samson and the Lion – Giordano
July 9
Samson, with the strength of God in him, tears a lion to pieces with his bare hands. Artwork by Giordano.
Jgs 14:3-6
3a His father and mother said to him, “Is there no woman among your kinsfolk or among all your people, that you must go and take a woman from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson answered his father, “Get her for me, for she is the one I want.”
4b Now his father and mother did not know that this had been brought about by the LORD, who was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines;* for at that time they ruled over Israel.c
5So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother. When he turned aside to the vineyards of Timnah, a young lion came roaring out toward him.
6d But the spirit of the LORD rushed upon Samson, and he tore the lion apart barehanded,e as one tears a young goat. Without telling his father or mother what he had done,
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/judges/14
Heb 11:32-34
32What more shall I say? I have not time to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,a
33who by faith conquered kingdoms, did what was righteous, obtained the promises; they closed the mouths of lions,b
34put out raging fires, escaped the devouring sword; out of weakness they were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned back foreign invaders.c
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/11
Samson Receiving God’s Grace
As Samson and his parents are on their way to talk with his future bride, Samson meets a young lion on the road. Though he has nothing to defend himself, “the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him” and Samson kills the animal with his bare hands (Judg. 14:6).
Though Samson spent his life pursuing other gods, in the end he at last acknowledged the source of his strength: “God . . . please strengthen me,” and he became strong again (Judg. 16:28).
Samson is named in Hebrews as an example of those who “through faith . . . were made strong out of weakness” (Heb. 11:33–34). In the same way, all those who acknowledge their weakness and put their hope in Jesus will be saved, and will find their strength restored.
Early on in the story, as Samson is pursuing his Philistine wife, his parents attempt to reason with him: “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” (14:3). Yet Samson is determined. Indeed, the narrator makes this significant remark: “His father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines.” Samson’s sinful pursuit was ultimately from God. God worked through Samson’s sin in order to accomplish his people’s victory.
Saying the holy name of Jesus is the simplest way of praying always.
1-A prayer from Raphael the Archangel:
*While you are on this earth, you must praise the Lord God and give him thanks.
2-A prayer from Tobit and Tobias:
*They began to sing hymns of praise, giving thanks for all the mighty deeds God had done while his angel Raphael had been with them.
3-A simple Jesus prayer:
*Lord, Lord, Jesus Christ…Son of God…have mercy on me…Be kind to others…Work Hard…Be joyful.
4-Another prayer:
*When all that God asks of us is to be quiet and keep ourselves at peace-attentive to the secret work He is beginning in our souls-Be Empty and See That I Am God.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
Eph 3:14–17A