Samson & Euthanasia

[Guest]

good point-- i forgot that part of the story.

[Guest]

hi micah-- you are right about david's motives in regard to him taking saul's life himself, but this other guy performed what he perceived to be a mercy killing (saul was going to die anyway). i think david was a tad rash with him. they were bloody times indeed.

Or so the Amalekite said. If this guy's motives were mercy, why did he bring Saul's crown and bracelet to David. He seems to be interested in a reward from David for killing David's adversary.

It could also be because God should have been the one to take away Saul's life. The Amalekite should not have tried to take the position of God. Here is another passage in where I was confused for a long time as to why God would kill this man:

1 Chronicles 13:

9 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it.

10 The anger of the LORD burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.

Then I found out it was the way they were carrying the ark. Instead of using the poles for carrying the ark, they used oxen to carry it. So, they specifically went against God's commands. This, in my opinion, is the same kind of disobedience the Amalekite committed. It may have seemed innocent enough in both cases, but God does things his way for a reason due to unforseen consequences that we can never fathom.

[Guest]

Somehow, in my preparation for the subject of Euthanasia, I didn't think of (or run across an author thinking of) the case of Samson. Usually people refer to the case of Saul (which doesn't seem like a positive case for euthanasia at all. In fact, to me, it seems like a case against it), but the Samson story is more interesting by a mile in these regards. Thankfully, one of the wise men in our congregation brought Samson into the discussion.

What do you think?

Euthanasia is often dealt in the context of terminal illness or a chronic illness with suffering. I doubt Samson falls into that category as there doesn't seem to be any mention of Samson being sick then. (Maybe his story can be a prooftext for suicide bombing?)

The choice of an early death doesn't seem to be the option of righteous Job when he suffered from painful sores. He refused to curse God and die (Job 2:7-10).

I would say that if there is a physical approach to the terminally ill or suffering patient, Probverbs 31 would suggest palliative care instead.

Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Proverbs 31:6-7 (ESV)

Prayer is the spiritual approach to a terminal illness or a suffering chronic illness: James 5:13-14, 2 Kings 20:1-6, Psalm 107:17-20. Prayer of repentance is especially important if the sickness is due to sin.

Just my 2 cents.