Rising Darkness by D. Brian Shafer

never be able to shake it—at least not on his own.”
    Michael looked at Dheer and commended him for his service to the Most High in watching over Samson. He placed his hand on the angel’s shoulder.
    “Go back to Samson,” Michael said. “Continue watching. You are learning what it means for us angels to not interfere with the will of men—no matter how much we would like to.”
    “Remember Eden?” asked Crispin. “Michael could barely contain himself from stepping between Eve and the serpent. And yet he could not violate Eve’s decision.”
    “Not even the Lord will violate a human’s choice to reject Him,” said Michael.
    “Then I’ll return to Samson,” said Dheer. “He is even now headed to Timnah to marry the Philistine woman, but perhaps along the road something will happen to change his mind.”
    “Yes,” reasoned Crispin. “Perhaps something will happen on the road to Timnah.”

    Samson’s mother followed along a few paces behind her husband and son as they made their way to Timnah. She was saddened in her heart that he liked the company of a Philistine woman, but she no longer wanted to contend with her son. She and her husband had tried reasoning with him to the point of outright arguments, but nothing could deter Samson from his intention to see this Philistine woman. Samson’s father, however, still would have none of it, and continued the discussion vigorously, even as they neared Timnah.
    “Can you find no woman among our own people?” he pleaded. “This is an offense to our people…to our God! He will never bless such a thing!”
    On and on he went. Samson remained silent, long numb to his father’s opinion. He kept his eyes straight on the road, resolute in his decision. And then, kicking his donkey, he trotted along ahead of his parents, deciding to meet them at Timnah rather than remain with them along the way. Perhaps when they actually met the girl they would become more agreeable….

    Dheer arrived as Samson neared the vineyards just outside Timnah. His conversation with Crispin had done little to encourage him. Humans were prone to failure, it seemed—even those called of the Lord, such as Samson. But the Most High knew what He was doing in all of this; for that Dheer was grateful.
    As they rounded a curve in the road, Dheer had just enough time to catch a glimpse of Shawa before that demon disappeared into a young lion. The lion, which had been lazily sunning himself on the side of the road, suddenly became enraged. Shawa goaded the animal, controlling him now, and making him jump out into the road. Shawa’s plan was to kill Samson and his parents and finish with this deliverer business once and for all.
    As the lion snarled, Samson jumped off the donkey, having just enough time to catch his balance before the lion was on him. Samson’s first thought was to look for a weapon, but before he knew it the lion had a lock on his throat. Shawa was laughing aloud, feeling the hate and fear of the animal that he was driving. He would kill Samson slowly, he had decided.
    Dheer ordered Shawa out of the lion, but, of course, Shawa ignored the angel. Then, just as at Mahaneh Dan, the Spirit of God came upon Samson. He grabbed the lion’s mouth and pulled the beast off himself. Samson felt strength coursing through his body, like a heat emerging from within and welling up through his heart, filling his whole being. Shawa, realizing what was happening, shrieked frightfully at the Lord’s Presence, as he too felt the power of God working through Samson. He quickly abandoned the confused animal in Samson’s hands. Samson killed the lion, choking it with his hands, and tossed the carcass on the side of the road.
    Dheer looked at the lion and then back at Samson, amazed at what he had just seen. But he was reminded that this was a man called of the Lord by the Lord’s own Angel. The incident only confirmed what Dheer had always believed about Samson—that he would one day avenge the