The Age of Samson

by Patrick Henry Reardon

Much of biblical narrative is structured on a fourfold sequence of sin, punishment, repentance, and deliverance. We find a succinct example of this structure in Psalm 107 (LXX 106); indeed, this psalm gives four examples of this fourfold structure. In each of these situations (desert wandering, prison, sickness, and peril at sea), we learn, those who “were afflicted because of their iniquities,” “cried to the Lord in their distress,” and then “he delivered them.” The Lord “led them forth on the right way,” “brought them out of darkness,” “sent his word and healed them,” and “guided them to the haven they sought.”

The first twelve chapters of the Book of Judges provides a longer and more elaborate example of this same pattern. As each of Israel’s charismatic leaders is introduced, the reader discerns a fairly consistent historical outline: First, the Israelites are unfaithful to the covenant. Next, the Lord, by way of turning their hearts to repentance, hands them over to one-or-another of their oppressing neighbors. Then the people, tiring of the oppression, repent and cry out to God, and he, in response, raises up a new “Judge” to lead and deliver them.

This is the outline we find in the accounts of Othniel, Ehud, Deborah and Barak, Gideon, and Jephthah. In all these accounts there is a clear, coherent, and causal “logic” in the narrative structure: infidelity, punishment, repentance, deliverance.

THIS ARTICLE ONLY AVAILABLE TO SUBSCRIBERS.
FOR QUICK ACCESS:

Patrick Henry Reardon is pastor emeritus of All Saints Antiochian Orthodox Church in Chicago, Illinois, and the author of numerous books, including, most recently, Out of Step with God: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Book of Numbers (Ancient Faith Publishing, 2019).

• Not a subscriber or wish to renew your subscription? Subscribe to Touchstone today for full online access. Over 30 years of publishing!

personal subscriptions

Purchase Print &
Online Subscription

Get six issues (one year) of Touchstone PLUS full online access including pdf downloads for only $39.95. That's only $3.34 per month!

RENEW your print/online
subscription

Purchase
Online Subscription

Get a one-year full-access subscription to the Touchstone online archives including pdf downloads for only $19.95. That's only $1.66 per month!

RENEW your online subscription

gift subscriptions

GIVE Print &
Online Subscription

Give six issues (one year) of Touchstone PLUS full online access including pdf downloads for the reduced rate of $29.95. That's only $2.50 per month!

RENEW your gift subscription

Transactions will be processed on a secure server.

bulk subscriptions

Order Touchstone subscriptions in bulk and save $10 per sub! Each subscription includes 6 issues of Touchstone plus full online access to touchstonemag.com—including archives, videos, and pdf downloads of recent issues for only $29.95 each! Great for churches or study groups.

kindle subscription

OR get a subscription to Touchstone to read on your Kindle for only $1.99 per month! (This option is KINDLE ONLY and does not include either print or online.)

Your subscription goes a long way to ensure that Touchstone is able to continue its mission of publishing quality Christian articles and commentary.