Samson – Trapped in the Cycle of Revenge

Read Judges 14-16 (I know this a long reading, but it’s worth it)

 

I hope were able to read about Samson’s exploits.  The reason I asked you to read the whole thing is purposeful.  When you read all of it, it’s easier to see the thread that runs through Samson’s entire life – revenge.  He is wronged and so he wrongs those who wronged him.  They retaliate and then he retaliates even more violently.  His last dying act is to bring a building down on his enemies and himself.  He literally lived and died in the cycle of revenge.

As I suggested yesterday, this is not heroic; it’s tragic.  However, too many people live a much less dramatic version of this cycle throughout their lives.  Tit for tat, eye for an eye, slight for slight, and hit and hit back.  Another version of this cycle is just as toxic.  In this scenario, the victim never retaliates but simply burns with hurt and anger indefinitely.  Nurturing the resentment becomes a way of life. 

The antidote to this poisonous pattern is forgiveness.  Instead of multiplying the pain, forgiveness begins to heal it.  You don’t have become best friends with the offender.  You might not even have a future relationship.  But forgiveness allows you to get free from the cancerous venom of bitterness. 

As I sometimes do, I’ll end with a challenge.  I invite you to think about an injustice dealt to you that you have not forgiven.  Take some time to reflect on what harboring that offense has gotten you.  As you think about it, you might even be able to feel in your body where that tension has taken up residence.  My challenge is this: make the conscious choice to forgive.  Most likely, this will take some time.  But as you stay committed to the process, I believe you will begin to notice a change in yourself.  That change is the arrival of freedom; welcome and embrace it.

The ultimate goal is the extreme opposite of Samson – to one day die with no resentments, no one to “pay back.”  Begin to forgive today.

 

Prayer:  God, help me to see the path of forgiveness for ___________.  It seems impossible to me, but nothing is impossible for you.  Amen

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for people who are still without work to pay their bills.

 

Song:  Something a little different today. This is a brief guided meditation on forgiveness

Forgiveness: Christian Meditation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOlLdYnGE4k

Prayer and Forgiveness

Matthew 5:43-48, CEB - “You have heard that it was said, You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you  so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same?  Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.

 

                We talked about several components of the forgiveness process thus far.  Make the decision/intention to forgive.  (Re)discover the humanity of the offender.  Let go of the notion of punishing the offender or getting revenge.  Act honorably towards the offender.  All of these components are hard work.  As Gandhi says, “forgiveness is an attribute of the strong.”

                Today we add another hard component to the process.  Pray for those who hurt you.  I waited until now to list this one because praying for the offender affirms and works with all the components we’ve listed so far.  Praying for God for the good of the other reinforces our intention to forgive and it brings to the forefront that they are a human being in need of prayer just like us.  It allows us to turn our hearts toward and trust God to bring resolution and justice.  This helps us let go of the need for us to punish or exact revenge.  And obviously, it is the honorable and loving thing to do as Jesus instructs us in the passage above. 

                Instead of a question today and sentence prayer, I’d like to suggest an exercise in praying/meditating for the wellness of others, including our enemies.  Here’s the basic pattern for this.

1)      Find a quiet place where you are unlikely to be disturbed for a few minutes, 

2)      Sit in a comfortable place and posture, but not so comfortable you would be likely to fall asleep.

3)      Take 2-3 long slow breaths, releasing any tension.

4)      Picture Jesus in the room with you and connect with His wishes for you to experience peace, love, forgiveness, and joy.  Stay with this for at least a minute or two.

5)      Picture others you know and love in the room with you and Jesus.  Imagine Jesus’s love and blessing flowing to them as well.  Join Jesus in His sending of good things to the others in the room.

6)      Now allow others who you find it difficult to pray for in the room too.  Connect with the fact that they, like you, are in need of all the blessings God gives. 

7)      Join Jesus and others in sending love, peace, joy, and ease to them as much as you are able.

 

If you find this hard, below is a link to guided meditation prayer that leads you through the same basic pattern.  Just listen and follow the instructions.

 

Prayer Focus:  Say a prayer for the family of the young man responsible for shooting his grandmother and the children and teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

 

Song:  Standing in the Need of Prayer – John Clayton and Hank Jones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afJV0jZwXxM