The Dangers of Vision.

You have heard it said that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”  In other words, what I find beautiful you might find ugly. 

I have been rereading the story of Samson.  He was chosen by God to play his part in Israel’s war against the Philistines.  But he bungled the job.  Well, at first.  He was to be one of the judges of Israel.  These judges didn’t always adjudicate disputes but often were assigned the task of being military commanders. 

Samson was the man God had chosen for a special assignment. To help free Israel from these Philistine invaders that lived on the coast.  He was endowed with Herculean strength.  But his story remains, in the end, a morality tale; he is a man that brought about his own undoing.  He seems like a type of Greek god, but this man brought destruction upon himself though his own willfulness.

As one Jewish theologian wrote, “Samson is brought to destruction through no arbitrary decree of the gods but through his disobedience even though this man is charged with a specific and divine mission.  God gave a choice to Samson, including one whose destiny had been marked out for him.  He must show himself worthy of the trust reposed in him through his free choice of the right path.  Otherwise, the partnership between him and God is broken. “

Samson’s hair was to remain uncut. This was according to his Nazarite vow.   This vow could be a short term vow or to remain for a lifetime.  He knew where his strength lay.  But the problem really wasn’t his hair.  It was his vision!

Most artists depict the Philistines, jumping on Samson after revealing the secret of his strength to Delilah who cut his hair! But the story goes back to an earlier time. 

In Judges 14:1-3, Samson tells his father that he saw a woman in Timnath of the Philistines, and he told his father that she was “pleasing in my eyes.”  It is his sight that draws Samson to the women. So, it eventually draws him to Dalilah.  Samson’s demand to his parents is based on what is pleasing his eyes.   Samson rebelled against God through his eyes, as it was said.  “Get her for me because she is pleasing in my eyes.”  Therefore, the Philistines put out his eyes. 

Moral sight is worth more than physical sight.  Our eyes can dangerously distract us.   We do not deny the value of the aesthetic; the beauty of our surroundings; of design; the skills of great artists.  Sight is important to our life, but “insight” keeps us and directs our path. 

Samson’s greatest virtue lies in his blindness.  It is his “new vision” which brings him to the pillars of the pagan temple and his death brought him the greatest glory. 

To believe without seeing; to have faith without understanding……….………. brings us to our knees. 

As Jeshua (Jesus) told Thomas………”Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
(John 20:29)