Righteous Anger
16 Then Samson said, "With a donkey's jawbone I have made donkeys of them. With a donkey's jawbone I have killed a thousand men."
Judges 15:16
Oh no, he didn't ... Uhhh, yeah. He did. Leading up to this passage, Samson has been through some "unfortunate" things. He's betrayed by his wife to his 30 companions. As repayment of the debt of 30 suits of clothes, he slays 30 and returns the bloody heap as their reward. Nice. His wife is then given to his friend.
This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them
Judges 15:3
He then lights 300 foxes on fire and burns up the Philistines' grain, vineyards, and olive groves. As repayment, the Philistines burn his wife and her father alive and seek him out. Finally, in an effort save their own hide, the men of Judah tie Samson up and give him up to the Philistines so that they can kill him.
God intervenes, unties his bindings and the rest, as they say, is history. Samson finds that blessed jawbone and slays 1,000 men with it. Making donkeys of them with a donkey bone. That's delicious stuff right there.
Righteous Anger. Samson's story is only just beginning here ... but you can see God's hand at work already. He's been brought to this earth blessed, as a deliverer. And as such, he is tested at every step. Lied to. Beaten. Wife taken. Wife burned. Forced into situations where he must show his (God's) strength and finally given up as a selfish sacrifice by the very people he's trying to save! Does any of this sound familiar?
Note that Samson is not acting selfishly or purely for revenge. God is using him as a witness. God is very clearly giving him the strength, tools, and the opportunity to do his will. We see here at the end of this story that Israel not only refuses to cry to God, they do not even wish to be delivered. Samson shows both remarkable restraint and remarkable strength. He is being used here by God as a tool. As a way to deliver Israel and as a way to bear witness to the Philistines.
Some food for thought ... how is God using you? Are you witnessing and delivering when given the chance?
When you are angry, are you being selfish? Or Righteous? Selfish anger is just that -- anger that serves no purpose other than to server yourself. This is a sin. Righteous anger is blessed and serves a purpose.
There are so many opportunities for us use the strength that God has given us to move mountains, change hearts and minds, and bear witness to (and through) His strength.
Can you recognize those situations? How will you react to them?