Respond and interact with students work.

1) Sergio Sanchez “The books of Samuel describe how God chooses who is to rule, and it is often those we least expect. Historically in Bedouin cultures the task of tending sheep often fell onto the youngest child, most often young girls. David tending the sheep is very important him being chosen as being a shepherd was seen as one of the lowest jobs in ancient times and was very difficult often leading those with its jobs still having no high ranking in society, this not only humbling David but the important symbolism of a shepherd to leadership is that a good shepherd laydowns his life for his sheep, leading his flock to the correct path, correcting those who are lead astray and keeping extra attention to the young. David although being the youngest son thus being the least likely to become a warrior, qualities beyond physical were seen in David, which is why he was chosen before his older brothers. “I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightiest see the battle” ( 1 Samuel 17:28) Davida did not take Goliath’s challenges lightly as his brothers did, he saw Goliath as disrespecting God so he wonders why no one has fought him, but his eagerness and respect for God is seen and misread as bad intentions, this shows why David’s brother like Eliab were not chosen by God as a successor of Saul, as he become angry and didn’t truly listen. And much how David’s brothers saw him as unfit Goliath underestimates David, cursing him and God, seeing him only as a boy begins to taunt him. “This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee… that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Samuel 17:46) Even though physically outmatched and is seen as the underdog, David still believes he will defeat Goliath because of his immense faith in God. Against all odds, being less skilled and strong, David kills Goliath. The meaning of story is to show with faith in God anything is possible, everyone was to scared to fight Goliath but David didn’t like Goliath being disrespectful and the evil power he held so in order to protect Israel and his people, he went against everyone who didn’t believe he was fit to fight. The one thing David had that his brothers didn’t, and the reason he was chosen was because he had courage and mainly had all faith in God.”2)Jiadai Sun “The story of Samson is one that is strikingly odd and interesting. The first aspect of the story is the conditions that Samson had been given upon his birth, that he shall not take alcohol, touch a dead body, or cut his hair as God anointed him. Therefore, Samson had been chosen to deliver his clan from the Philistines if he had followed God’s instructions. The first sign of Samson’s downfall was when Samson decided to marry a Philistine girl, which was contrary to God’s commands, that they can only marry from people who are circumcised. Samson’s disobedience to God’s instructions shows that there will be consequences for marrying outside the tribe. Here, the Bible seems to be advocating for discrimination, and what may in the present day look like racism, which is intriguing, as the Bible should preach on unity and integration. Such beliefs may fuel concepts of white privilege.Samson also brought a curse on himself, when he took honey out of the lion he had killed, as he touched a dead body, which made him unclean. Additionally, Samson ignored God’s instructions, and he even gave his parents some of the honey, and he did not tell them where the honey had come from, also contaminating them. Samson further ignored God’s commands, when he got married again to Delilah, whom he told his secret about the source of his power. According to my interpretation, Samson had been blinded by God as during the previous time when he had told Delilah lies about his source of strength, Delilah took those actions and wanted to see if Samson would lose his strength. Therefore, Samson should have known that giving the woman the secret about his source of power would mean that she would take it away.The other key lesson is about the role of women in Samson’s story. During his marriage, Samson slept with a prostitute, and he also got married to women that his parents had warned him against marrying. In his first marriage, he had given a riddle, and when the people were unable to solve it, they had his wife get the answer from him. It seemed that Samson’s weakness was women, whom he trusted too much, but they betrayed him. After his first wife had given out his secret, Samson went and killed the people who had forced his wife to give them the secret.Additionally, after his wife and the father-in-law were killed, Samson burned the fields when he tied fire to the foxes’ tails. Samson’s death was also due to Delilah’s betrayal. The Bible seems to be keeping up with the portrayal of women as dangerous and should not be trusted.”