The Bible's warriors provide some incredible lessons of strength and courage for Christian seniors. Here are four of the most interesting examples to read about and learn from in your assisted living apartment in Bethesda Gardens Fort Worth.
Samson may, at first glance, appear an unusual choice for a list of instructive warriors from the Bible. As chronicled in the book of Judges, Samson had a flawed character — displaying wanton disobedience to God's will and pursuing sinful sexual relationships.
Samson possessed superhuman physical strength, allowing him to slay lions and defeat many Philistines in combat. However, he makes a string of disastrous decisions, particularly regarding his relationships with women. Eventually, his behavior proved to be his own downfall.
Samson confesses to Delilah that cutting his hair would rob him of his strength. Delilah passes this information to the Philistines, who capture Samson and pluck out his eyes. Finally, he finds himself shackled and humiliated in the Philistine temple.
However, there's a crucial twist at the end of the tale. Samson calls out to God, imploring him to "strengthen me only this once, O God" (Judges 16:28). God hears his request and restores his strength, allowing Samson to pull down the mighty pillars holding him in place. The temple collapses, killing Samson and hordes of his enemies.
The clearest inference to draw from Samson's story is that God hears and answers earnest prayers, even when we err from his path. However, the events at Samson's death also prove that even his most sinful acts were part of God's plan, as they allowed him to defeat a huge number of God's enemies. This powerful example of God's sovereignty can provide comfort for seniors during times when nothing seems to be going to plan.
In Ephesians, David goes to the front line of the war between Israel and the Philistines to bring news of the battle back to his father, Jesse. When he arrives, David witnesses the Philistine warrior Goliath making fun of God and the Israelites. Goliath was more than nine feet tall and a formidable opponent for any grown man — let alone a young boy.
However, David doesn't falter and agrees to battle Goliath with just a slingshot as a weapon. He even refuses to wear King Saul's armor during the fight. Against all odds, David incapacitates Goliath with a single rock from his slingshot. He then slays Goliath with his own sword.
So, what message does David's story have for seniors? David reminds us to take courage and trust that God will protect us, and the contrast between David and Goliath proves that God's strength always wins against physical strength. It's also a vivid, instructive passage to share with visiting grandchildren in your assisted living apartment at Bethesda Gardens Fort Worth.
You may wonder why we included Omri, an immoral king and military commander, in a list of Biblical warriors with messages for seniors. After all, the Bible states that Omri behaved appallingly, "even more than any of the kings before him" (1 Kings 16:18-19). Information about Omri is scant, but it's clear that he allowed idolatry and excessive cruelty under his watch. However, there are still some powerful lessons to draw from his story.
In 1 Kings, God brings about Omri's reign after the previous king died for his sinful ways. Furthermore, he established a strong dynasty and contributed to the creation of the Kingdom of Israel. However, God didn't continue to use Omri to achieve his divine aims. Omri's story serves as a reminder to seek God's will at every stage of our lives.
Another conclusion to draw from Omri is the power of creating a positive, faith-centered family culture. After Omri's death, his son Ahab followed in his footsteps and continued his unpleasant legacy. While this message may seem pessimistic, it invites us to understand that we can also ensure a happier legacy based on our actions. It underscores the value of Christian seniors in setting a strong example of kind, God-centered behavior for younger generations and supporting their families to grow in their faith.
The Battle of Jericho is probably the most famous battle in the Bible, with Joshua as its central protagonist. In the book of Joshua, Joshua follows God's rather unusual instruction to march around the city walls with his army for six days, playing trumpets and displaying the Ark of the Covenant.
Meanwhile, a sex worker from Jericho called Rehab assists Joshua's scouts in gaining access to the city and provides them with valuable information. Rehab was faithful to God and asked only that the Israelites spare her family when they slay the inhabitants. Joshua is as good as his word, and his soldiers leave Rehab's family untouched when they conquer the city. The Israelites gain the resting place promised to them by God.
The walls of Jericho must have seemed formidable to Joshua and his army, and it couldn't have been easy to follow God's surprising plan instead of employing more conventional tactics. Furthermore, Joshua had to be immensely patient and fulfill God's instructions in full before achieving his goal. We follow Joshua's example by practicing patience when waiting for an answer to our prayers and maintaining our faith against the most challenging obstacles.
