vow

Almost everyone is familiar with the phrase, “what God has joined together, let no man (one) separate (put asunder).” This statement of Christ is found in Matthew 19:6 and Mark 10:9 as He expounds on the concept of monogamous marriage relationships and its significance for humanity. A Greek word of similar meaning, “proskollao,” also appears in that same context, usually translated in English as “cleave to” or “cleaving to” one’s spouse as in Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:7, and Ephesians 5:31. “Proskollao” is the strengthened form of the word, “kollao” which expresses the idea of something being glued or cemented together, making “proskollao” even a stronger joining, perhaps like glue versus superglue.

Who doesn’t remember those over-the-top KRAZYGLUE commercials where a construction worker is holding on to his hardhat which is supposedly inseparably attached to a metal beam with the superbly powerful grip of their product. Certainly we all know it’s a “crazy” demonstration, but it definitely communicates the conceptual meaning of this biblically significant word.

In Romans 12:9, believers are encouraged to “cling” or in a more literal translation, “be joined to” that which is good! Obviously it’s appreciably better to be identified with, and joined (cemented or glued) to that which is called “good” (as defined by the Lord) than anything of lesser value. According to 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, Christ’s faithful “examine everything carefully,” holding “fast to that which is good,” while intentionally, with commitment and determination, abstaining “from every form of evil” (again, using the Lord’s definition of evil).

As members of Christ’s body (His church) in Ephesians 2:12, we are uniquely joined and precisely fitted together into our Lord’s “Holy Temple.” Ephesians 4:16 further expands on this useful illustration stating that the whole body is “fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part.” In other words, we are perfectly joined by the Lord so that each individual (part/member) supplies (brings to the table) exactly that which is needed in/by His church so Christ’s body functions properly, fully, efficiently, and effectively!

After considering all these examples of “join” or “joined,” there remains one passage in 1 Corinthians 6:16-17 that demands our sincere and solemn consideration. “Do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, ‘THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.’ But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” Each individual determines to whom or what they are joined … either to Christ Jesus, becoming “one spirit with Him,” or to the enchanting enticements of this world and all of its willful suppressions! (Romans 1:18-19, “who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.”) To Whom or what shall we/you be joined?

— Pastor Frank

This man embodies/personifies all that is wrong in Israel… In the narrator’s eyes Samson represents the nation. This person — uniquely set apart, called, and gifted (by God) for divine service — not only fraternizes with the enemy, but he also seeks to live among them.
Daniel Block

At the point in Israel’s history when Samson appeared, the nation was rudderless and the people were adrift. Sound familiar? In more recent history we see a similar event with the countries of Europe prior to the World War II (1939-1945) and perhaps even today with the civil, political, social, and spiritual unrest that is working to openly paganize most of our world. As spiritual complacency sets in, the sacred was discarded for the secular and the condition of Lord’s people continually digressed into self-satisfaction/gratification as depicted in the biblical text and unmistakably exemplified in life of Samson.

Samson was a Nazirite (Hebrew – “nazir” meaning a consecrated one or devotee), therefore, as an individual he was committed to the Lord’s service/ministry (as was Samuel and John the Baptist in the time of Christ) and set apart from the society by the Nazirite oath/covenant/ lifestyle/behavior. (See Numbers 6:1-21) The Lord God intentionally, at the appointed time, raised up Samson to make the Hebrew people’s coexistence with the Philistines less comfortable and in fact, difficult. (See Judges 14:4) His purpose was to “begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines” (See Judges 13:5) which would keep the nation committed to its intrinsic values and help them resist being influenced, dominated, and ultimately absorbed spiritually and culturally by this pagan society (See Exodus 19:5, Leviticus 20:26). Unquestionably, according to the OT scriptures, this was his life’s purpose. However, Samson’s infatuation with a Philistine woman in the neighboring town was understandably very disappointing to his parents (See Judges 14:3-4). But they “did not know that it was from the Lord,”… GOD was “seeking an occasion against the Philistines.” Curiously, Samson’s non-conformance to his godly upbringing provided the spark for the chain of events that eventually undermined some of the Philistine’s dominance. Nonetheless, his rebellion festered when after killing a lion, he chose to eat honey found in it’s decaying carcass. (See Judges 14:5-9) This behavior illustrated both his heroic strength and his disregard of the Nazirite prohibition against contact with dead bodies. He then openly violated his vow once again by having a wedding “feast” where there was extremely heavy/excessive drinking (Hebrew “‎mišteh” — which literally means a drinking party). (See Judges 14:10) How many call themselves “Christians” yet abandon their values to partake of the world’s delights?

The rest of Samson’s life was pretty much a disaster until its very end, when he once again cried out to the Lord and was graciously granted supernatural ability/power to defeat the enemies of God.

He engaged in an intimate relationship with a prostitute

The first was a brief affair that gave clue to his moral and spiritual undoing (See Judges 16:1-3)
Even though a trap was set for his capture, he ultimately escaped

He engaged in an intimate relationship with a prostitute named Delilah

Samson “loved her” (See Judges 16:4)
Like his former wife, Delilah was persuaded by the Philistines (this time with a large bribe) to betray him
After putting her off three times, he finally/sinfully divulged the secret of his strength: the Nazirite vow prohibiting the cutting of his hair. While he was sleeping his hair was shorn, and “his strength left him … And he did not know that the Lord had left him” (See Judges 16:19)
The Philistines seized Samson, gouged out his eyes, and forced him into humiliating slavery

Samson returned to the Lord’s favor (Judges 16:23-30) when the defeated Israelite was brought in to “make sport” of. Samson’s motives once again aligned with God’s purpose of discomfiting the Philistines. In a grim, heroic climax, Samson pulled down the two main supporting pillars of the temple portico killing about three thousand Philistines and himself — the (one true) God of Israel showing Himself more powerful than the pagan deity, Dagon
Ironically, Samson killed more Philistines at his death than during any point in the rest of his life

I wonder how much, and how often we are too much like Samson. Believe me, I know his name is listed in Hebrews with the “heroes” of faith. Nonetheless, his character/behavior reveled the condition of his soul as well as that of his nation. I pray we don’t wait for blindness, slavery, and death before calling upon our Lord for strength and through a life of commitment and obedience, resisting all the enemies of our faith!

Think about it, ask the Lord about it!

His & yours, PF

Tag: vow

JOINED

SAMSON