Judges 13 - 15

Click on the Scripture above to read today's exciting text!

Today is an EXCITING read! Here are a few thoughts...

1) The secret to Samson's strength was NOT his hair! The story of Samson is one of the most remarkable stories in the Bible! And, he is one of the most talked about persons in the Bible. He has been dubbed the "strongest man who's ever lived!" But, there's a secret to his strength, and it's NOT his hair! He may have lost his strength when the Philistines cut his hair, but that's NOT what gave him his strength. Three times in today's text we read the secret to Samson's strength. It was "the Spirit of the Lord!"

- When he ripped the Lion apart - "At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion's jaws apart..."

- When he killed 30 men for their clothing - "Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him."

- When he killed 1000 men with the jawbone of a donkey - "But the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon Samson..."

The reason for Samson's weakness and his subsequent capture by the Philistines (which we'll read about tomorrow) was NOT the cutting of his hair, but that through the cutting of his hair it ended the Nazarite vow upon him (an act of disobedience) and the Spirit of the Lord did not come upon him at that time! Without God's help, Samson was as weak as any other man!

We are no different than Samson. Without God's help, we're nothing! With God's help, we can be as strong as Samson, or stronger if God so chooses! Samson was only limited by God's will. Whatever God wanted done, God gave Samson the supernatural strength to accomplish it! God can use us in the very same way. That's why Jesus said, "If you have faith as much as even a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Be removed and cast into the sea', and it will be done." What mountains stand in your way? With God's help, you're strong and can conquer any obstacle that comes your way.

2) When God can't find a man to use...He creates one! Samson, had a purpose for being created...as we all do! We get a hint of that purpose in 14:4 when it says concerning his affection for a Philistine woman, "His father and mother didn't realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time. God created Samson and raised him up to fight against the Philistines who were oppressing His children.

It's sad that God couldn't find a man that was already created! The Bible says in 2 Chronicles 16:9 - "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." And, in Ezekiel 22:30 - "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

God is looking for men and women to use. In Samson's day, since God couldn't find one, He went to a woman who couldn't have children and gave her Samson.

3) What exactly is the Nazarite vow? This vow is described in Numbers 6. It is for men and women who want to separate themselves to the Lord. Here are the conditions they must follow:

- He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink.

- He shall eat nothing made from the vine tree.

- No razor shall come upon his head all the days of the vow.
- He shall come to no dead body all the days of his vow.

- When the vow is fulfilled the man is to shave his head at the tabernacle and offer sacrifices.

Can you find anything among this list that Samson did to defile his Nazarite status?

First, he came into contact with a dead lion and dead men. Secondly, the vow ended when he had his head shaved. Plus, when his head was shaved, he didn't do it according to the law of Moses.

That's why God did not allow "the Spirit of the Lord to come upon Samson" when Delilah shaved his head...as we'll read about tomorrow!

That's all for now. Have a great weekend, and make sure you attend a Bible preaching church! God bless!