SCRIPTURE:
24 The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him, 25 and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Judges 13:24-25
6 The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done.
Judges 14:6
19 Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of everything and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he returned to his father’s home.
Judges 14:19
14 As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. 15 Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.
Judges 15:14-15
20 Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. 21 Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison.
Judges 16:20-21
OBSERVATION:
What is the source of strength and victory?
Samson was a judge of Israel––someone whom God elevated to bring peace, hope, and stability to Israel in a time where chaos abounded and no king ruled over them. He was known for having great strength that allowed Him to be victorious over his enemies. A classic Bible story often shared to children, many grow up believing that the source of his strength was his hair. And that is partially true––for when his temptress Delilah cut off his hair, he lost his strength. But it’s not the whole truth. For his strength did not come from His hair; it came from the Spirit of God.
Throughout the story of Samson, the “Spirit of the Lord” is cited in each of His major victories. When he was born, when he tore apart a lion with his own hands, when he singlehandedly defeated 30 men, and when he struck down 1,000 Philistines, “the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him.” And when he lost his strength, it was not because his hair was gone; it was because “the Lord had left him” (Judges 16:20).
The Spirit of the Lord is the source of strength and victory.
APPLICATION:
In what area of your life do you need victory in? What do you need strength for? Whatever it may be, long for the Spirit of God to come powerfully upon it––for the Holy Spirit is your source of strength and victory.
Long for the Spirit of God. Live in such a way that invites His presence in, and ask for His anointing to fall afresh on your life. Why? Because just like Samson, the anointing of the Spirit can leave you if you fail to trust, honor, and obey Him. Don’t get it wrong––God will never leave you nor forsake you, but His power and His victory can come off of your life if you fail to follow Him well. Samson lost his strength not because his hair was the source; the Spirit was the source. However, the Spirit left him because God commanded that his “head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb” (Judges 13:5). The anointing left because of a lack of obedience; not because of a lack of hair.
Allow God to give you His strength and His victory by living a life of obedience, honor, and reverence to Him. Position yourself under His presence so His anointing can fall fully upon your life. For when you do, the power of the Holy Spirit will carry you where your own strength cannot.
PRAYER:
Holy Spirit,
Thank You for Your presence, Your power, and Your glory. I need You, I desire You, and I ask for You to come powerfully upon me, like You did with Samson. Strengthen me, empower me, and lead me to victory, for apart from You, I can do nothing. I love You, Lord. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
