12 - 19 - 17 Two Kinds of Warriors (3 minutes)


For this post I'd suggest looking at the readings first: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121917.cfm
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One of the first contrasts I notice between the first and second readings actually occurs outside of the readings.
As some may be familiar with, Samson goes on to become a great warrior of unrivaled strength. His strength being derived from his vow to God, he loses it when his hair is cut. But Samson’s purpose is to “begin the deliverance of Israel”, and he does it in the most militant sense possible. He kills Israel’s enemies to protect his nation. It’s all very Old Testament. There’s nothing morally objectionable about being a soldier but it’s just not the way the New Testament operates.
Just like Samson, John is born of a barren woman, which is really a similar idea to the virgin birth. Just like Samson, John is destined to begin the deliverance of Israel, except not in this case from the Philistines.
“He [John] will go before Him [the Christ] in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”
It is quite clear here that John is not a soldier in nearly the same sense as Samson, and I think these readings are chosen together to illustrate a fundamental difference between the Old and New Testament.
It is the difference between the Law, as given on Sinai, and the Love, as given on the Cross. Faith gains importance relative to righteousness. Justice is balanced with clemency and forgiveness.
And the way we will bring about God’s kingdom is entirely changed.
Samson is the prophet of a nation of God in the usual sense of nation. He is fighting on behalf of a political, cultural, racial group that is trying to defend itself from its enemies and invaders. John comes to proclaim the Kingdom of God, which is anything but the usual sense of nation.
It only makes sense then that they would use different methods.
Their ends are telling in their differences as well.
Judges 16:30
“Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.”

Matthew 14:8-12
8 At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!” 9 Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. 10 So John was beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 12 Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.
There is no victory in John’s death that we can see. At least in Samson’s death he achieved some measure of the vengeance he desired.
But this is the earthly way of viewing things, and I think, after reading the life stories of both men, that we are to be more like John the Baptist than like Samson.

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