Deescalating Vengeance and Violence

“I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.”
(Psalm 119:59)

This Wednesday features the story of Samson and Delilah. Samson was a lifelong Nazirite. He was subject to three restrictions as part of his vow: 1) not to partake of wine and strong drink, 2) not to cut his hair, and 3) not to touch a dead body. Samson broke the first and last restrictions while growing up but did not tell his parents. Only the second requirement -- the source of his strength -- did he keep.

Samson's first violation was to touch the carcass of a lion so he could scoop out the honey he found in it and eat it! Then, he hosted a drinking party and made a wager with thirty Philistines that they could solve a riddle, knowing that they could not answer it because they did not know of the lion and the honey. But his wife tricked him and he lost the bet. In retaliation, Samson killed thirty other Philistines to take their garments and pay his debt. Later, his father-in-law gave Samson's wife to another man. When Samson returned to claim her, he was offered her sister in exchange. Samson was angered by this betrayal and destroyed the Philistines’ fields just before harvest. The Philistines retaliate by killing the father-in-law and the daughter, Samson's wife.

Join us for the rest of the story. We will sing hymn 364, 51, and 416 from the Christian Science Hymnal.

Instructions for attending the service online may be found here.

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