Samson and Delilah redux
Since no explanation came forth for our recent tragedy, we might assume the perpetrators thought it self-evident. There is a well known parallel in the story of Samson and Delilah, Judges 16. Samson became vulnerable to the Philistines when Delilah cut his hair. Iraq became vulnerable to by invading Kuwait. The United States defeated Iraq in the Gulf War, and the Philistines captured Samson. We imposed economic sanctions against Iraq, and the Philistines put out Samson’s eyes.
We praised our technology, and the Philistines praised their god Dagon for the victory. Then the Philistines decided to make sport of Samson, and Clinton thought it a good distraction from his domestic problems to bomb Kosovo. Ah, but Samson’s hair was beginning to grow back, and we were now interfering with the internal problems of another nation.
You know the rest. Samson pushed apart the two main pillars of the house, killing the Philistines in it, to the tune of more than 3,000, himself perishing in the act. The terrorists knocked down the twin towers in New York, killing more than 5000, including themselves. Samson was avenged for his eyes, and the terrorists were avenged for the economic sanctions.
Look, I’m as appalled as the next guy by what happened, but for those of us who count the Old Testament as worthy reading, we have a previous example and one that should cause us to ask if we do not slip into idolatry when we trust in technology more than in God.

Earl Gosnell

Eugene