Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: The Deep End (03/06/14)
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TITLE: The Vengeance of a Blind Man | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shanta Richard
03/12/14 -
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As he watched he saw a caravan moving along slowly down that road. Nathan shivered and clenched his fists as he remembered that fateful march down that very road years ago. Israel’s mighty warrior, Sampson had been captured by the Philistines, blinded and bound in fetters. They had looted, burned and destroyed the Jewish villages and taken the people captive. The victims had been chained together and to the accompaniment of whiplashes and threats had been force- marched to Gaza, their capitol city. Nathan had been one of them.
Blind and bound, Samson was the target of their brutality and ridicule. They provoked him with their insults and mockery, and roared in laughter at his impotent anger and frustration. The gruesome ordeal of that march ended in the dreadful dungeons of the Philistine prisons. There the prisoners were given their various assignments. Samson was sent to the grinding mills and Nathan was ordered to take care of him.
From dawn to dusk Samson had to push the heavy grinding stones back and forth, grinding the grain into meal. With his head cleanly shaven, two bloody scars where his eyes had been and his body covered with sores from whip lashes Samson was a horrible sight to see. Nathan liked Samson and was sorry for him. He would lead him to the bath and toilet, bring him his food, take him to the grinding stones and make his bed at night in the dust and straw.
Every night Samson would moan and groan, not only from the pain of his overworked muscles but also from the mental agony of his lost strength. Young as he was, Nathan understood that they were pushing Samson to the end of his sanity and the deep end of his endurance. What would happen if Samson crossed the limit? Would he end up as raving roaring maniac? Or would he become an uncontrollable powerful monster?
Samson regained his strength slowly. His hair started to grow and dark curly locks covered his head and partially hid the horror of his burnt out eyes. The Philistines were still gloating over their victory on capturing Samson and decided to have a great celebration honoring their goddess Dagon. Thousands and thousands of people had gathered at the temple in Gaza for that great day. At the height of their hilarious merrymaking they summoned Samson to entertain them.
The temple measured twenty-six feet by forty-eight feet. Two pillars made of cedar wood approximately one foot in diameter resting on stone bases set seven feet apart in the floor, supported the roof. In his simple childish mind, Nathan had a premonition that something terrible was going to happen. Samson was strangely silent as he led him to the temple. In a harsh whisper, Samson said, ‘Lead me to the pillars in the center and then run away.’
Bracing his hands against the two pillars Samson raised his head heavenward and prayed,
“O Lord my God, strengthen me this once so that I can have my revenge for my burnt out eyes, even if I perish with my enemies.”
God heard him and as His power coursed through his muscles, the two pillars gave way and the roof had come crashing down on all that were under it. Nathan had never stopped running until he reached Judah.
Every time Nathan remembered that day he marvelled at the greatness of his God, Jehoveh. He was merciful, kind and loving. He willingly forgave the penitent sinner, but because He was also righteous, He could not forgive the consequences of the sin. Samson died a blind captive because he broke his Nazarite vows.
It was getting late. His flocks were getting restless. Nathan took his staff and gathered his sheep and led them to the still waters of the pool at the end of the fields.
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I think you did a good job.