Rhythm

(Part 1 of Samson and Me is here.)

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I come back to read Samson’s story for the 91st time, this time finally to put pen to paper and make some sense of it. Ambitious, I am.

Stalled out as well.

One foot slides forward, the other stays put as the drumbeat of the first verse echoes back, and I stand straddling the text. I set aside the online Bible, as much as I love my Biblegateway.com. The feel of worn paper better ignites my heart. I reach for my leatherbound and push fingertips over the words.

Turning pages fails to drown out the drumming while words march in straight lines and the ground rumbles beneath my feet with the rhythm.

The rhythm.

Rhythm (rith′em)  n [< Fr. or L..: Fr. rhyme < L. rhythmus < Gr. rhythmos, measure, measured motion < base of rhein, to flow: see stream]  1. a. flow, movement, procedure, etc., characterized by basically regular recurrence of elements or features, as beat, or accent, in alternation with opposite or different elements or features [the rhythm of speech, dancing, the heartbeat, etc.] b) such recurrence; pattern of flow or movement  2. flow or apparent movement of a work of art, literature, drama, etc. through patterns in the timing, spacing, repetition, accenting, etc. of the elements.

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The flow. The movement. The pattern.

The regular recurrence of elements.

Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years. (Judges 13:1)

These elements, they keep repeating. I read Judges to the cadence of rescue, rebellion, repentance; rescue, rebellion, repentance.

Samson taps his foot, keeping time. There in the chorus, the pony-tailed baritone belts out his part.

He joined the choir at a time of rebellion, when Israel had hauled her goods to the market of foreign gods and laid herself bare for the taking. And oh, she was taken.

As those gods put their hands on her, God threw up His hands, again, and let her go.

This time, to the Philistines.

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The rhythm.

I can listen to one song for only so long. Perhaps my favorite last week, it grates on my ears today. This business of rescue, rebellion, repentance jerks back without end as the needle stuck in the gouge of a vinyl record.

When will someone raise the spindle?

How many more times will Israel sing this song?

I am so quick to turn off the music. But wait, let this one play to its conclusion. Listen to the rest of the suite.

Samson was born to begin the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines.

Another was born to begin our deliverance, planned long before Samson first flexed a powerful bicep. His rhythm floats past the brisk tempo of rescue, rebellion, repentance.

He sings the song of redemption as He storms that same marketplace, searching out His handled and soiled bride, giving all to buy her back.

He invites us to sway with the rhythm of grace.

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matthew 11: 28-30, The Message, emphasis added)

The rhythm.

Unforced.

Free. And light.

He calls to us, Rest from this rebellion.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

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