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The center of the Traditional Anglican Communion; adhering to the Holy Bible (KJV) in all matters of Faith and Doctrine, a strict reliance on the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion, The two Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, the Two Creeds, and the Homilies and formularies of the Reformation Church of England.

Verse of the Day

Friday, August 31, 2012

Devotion on Samson as a Type of Christ for Friday - 31 August 2012, Anno Domini



The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

A
LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve; Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen

1 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. 2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. 3 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. 4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: 5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. (Judges 13:1-5)
32. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.(Heb 11:32-34)
            Samson was a man of great strength while in his role of being `separated and anointed' by God.  He was a champion and a deliverer for His people, Israel. Courageous and mighty in strength, Samson is both typical, and atypical, in character and likeness to Christ. There are many parallels which suggest, in Samson, his likeness to Christ even though, like all men of flesh, Samson fell far short of that ideal Plumb Line which describes Christ. (Amos 7:7-8) Why not challenge your own understanding by reading the account of Samson beginning in Judges 13? As you read, consider the ways in which Samson is like unto our Lord Jesus Christ. It would be most gratifying to do so prior to reading the remainder of this devotion. You may be amazed and will doubtless find many more parallels than I am able to cover, other than the salient points, in this devotion. In writing these devotions on Types of Christ, at each subject, I am faced with the dilemma of finding a large cache of precious gems, and not being able to claim more of them than I can carry on my back.
            Observe the many in which Samson's mother discovered that she would bear a child despite her barreness: 3. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. Samson came for a particular purpose, at a particular time, and with particular gifts and powers. He was anointed by God for a purpose. By the way, Reader and Elect of God, please know that God has called you, too, and set you apart for His particular purpose at this time. Have you discovered that purpose yet, or do you still seek to know it? See how similar the announcement of the birth of Samson was to that of Jesus to Mary: And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. (Luke 1:26-31) There is at least some respects in which the angels of the Lord must joy in their duties given them by God. How blessed it must be to bear the news to a woman, barren over many years, that she shall bear a son; or even to a young virgin that she shall bear a son who would be the very Son of God!
            Samson was born at a time when Israel was being persecuted by a pagan enemy – the Philistines. Christ came at a time when Israel was occupied by a pagan enemy – Rome.  Samson was born as a `savior' of his people from oppression. Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies. But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies (Nehemiah 9:27-28)  Christ came as a Savior of His people (all who believe): For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)
            Samson killed a lion with his bare hands. Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand (Judges 14:5-6) Jesus defeated that roaring lion that seeks to destroy our souls: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour  (1 Peter 5:8)
            Samson was a teller of parables as was Christ. (Judges 14:14) Christ was a teller of parables: (Matthew 13:3, and all of Matthew 13). Samson's very name means, in Hebrew, the sun, or sunlight. Christ is called the Sun of righteousness. (Malachi 4:2).
            Samson was betrayed into the hands of his enemies by one who was close to him for a bribe of silver. (Judges 16:5) Christ was betrayed into the hands of His enemies by a bribe to a close companion (Judas).  Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,  And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. (Matt 26:14-16 )
            Due to his transgression, Samson fell into the hands of his enemies. (Judges 16:6-21) Due to His righteousness, Christ fell into the hands of His enemies. Samson endured the pains of ridicule and torture as prisoner of the Philistines, but repented there and was received of God. Christ bore the humiliation and ridicule of the Romans and Jews in scourgings, beatings, and the death of the cross. Samson died to save and avenge his people, Israel. Christ died to atone and redeem His people – true Israel. Samson slew many of his enemies by his death. Christ destroyed our enemies through His death and resurrection – sin, death, Satan, and Hell.
            Did you, Reader, discover more ways in which Samson was a Type of Christ? Are you? You must be if you are called Christian!