Above: Statue of Samson
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Blessed Lord, who caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
–The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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The Assigned Readings:
Judges 14:1-20 (July 14)
Judges 15:1-16:3 (July 15)
Judges 16:4-30 (July 16)
Psalm 103 (Morning–July 14)
Psalm 5 (Morning–July 15)
Psalm 42 (Morning–July 16)
Psalms 117 and 139 (Evening–July 14)
Psalms 84 and 29 (Evening–July 15)
Psalms 102 and 133 (Evening–July 16)
Galatians 3:1-22 (July 14)
Galatians 3:23-4:11 (July 15)
Galatians 4:12-31 (July 16)
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Some Related Posts:
Galatians 3-4:
http://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/proper-7-year-c/
http://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2011/11/03/week-of-proper-23-monday-year-2/
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Samson boasted of his own strength, gave God no credit much of the time, and had bad taste in women. His first love pleased him. She was, according to the Alexandrian Greek text of Judges 14:1,
…the right one in his eyes.
She was also a Gentile.
The full view of Gentiles in the Hebrew Scriptures is not
Jews good, Gentiles bad.
Rahab the prostitute recognized Yahweh as God, so the Israelite forces spared her and her family. Later in the Bible, Ruth, a Moabite, became an ancestor of King David. Both women were, according to the beginning of Matthew 1, ancestors of Jesus. The reality that most Gentiles would continue in their traditions led to the command for Jews to choose life partners faithful to God.
The Law of Moses defined that fidelity for a long time. The Law, in Pauline theology, was like a house slave responsible for raising children. No matter how capable that disciplinarian was, the children outgrew their need for him or her. And Jesus, in whom there is no longer a distinction between Jew or Greek, has fulfilled the Law.
I do not pretend to understand all the implications of the previous statement, but that is fine. Reliance on knowledge for salvation is Gnosticism, a grave heresy. Rather, I accept readily the limits of my understanding and leave the details to God, who does grasp them.
I do know at least one thing, however: seeking companionship of various forms with people who are faithful to God remains crucial.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
AUGUST 7, 2012 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT VICTRICIUS OF ROUEN, ROMAN CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR AND ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP
THE FEAST OF SAINT SIXTUS II, BISHOP OF ROME, AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS
THE FEAST OF JOHN MASON NEALE, FOUNDER OF THE SISTERHOOD OF SAINT MARGARET
THE FEAST OF MARION HATCHETT, LITURGIST AND EPISCOPAL PRIEST
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Adapted from this post:
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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