Another fleeting fix

Invoking the biblical tragedy of Samson, a recent Democrat-Gazette lead editorial lamented the latest of the perpetual string of broken treaties between Israel and her avowed enemies. The lament was, “Will this be just a partial and temporary occupation of Gaza till Washington and the rest of the world again force Israel to withdraw short of a more permanent end to the rocket fire out of Gaza?”

The obvious answer to this rhetorical question is “of course.”

As Samson found at the cost of his eyes, his integrity, his dignity, his life and his own usefulness to deliver his people, any capitulation to the enemy has dire consequences. Which is precisely why the Lord commanded Israel to vanquish her enemies in the first place rather than making treaties and alliances with them.

There were a few characters in the biblical era who actually believed Israel could win by trusting in and obeying the Lord. Not the least of these and perhaps the greatest was Samuel, who was sent to chastise King Saul for sparing Agag, the Amalekite king.

As the words of Agag illustrate, evil men are always ready to make peace when they are whipped. But evil men are always evil men and therefore invariably return to their evil ways just like a coiled spring. Which is why Samuel slaughtered this evil man before the Lord and put an end to the problem.

Israel today is not apt to follow such a course, if for no other reason than that she would incur the wrath of this whole evil world if she did. And so the cycle of broken “peace” and renewed hostilities will continue until Israel, as Christ foretold, says, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” MARK OSGATHARP

Wynne