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Samson
All:
I am teaching on the Book of Judges to students in school. I have come to the story of Samson. Why do you think God anointed Samson when Samson was so weak with his morals? What does the Bible mean when it says the strength was in his hair? Was Samson's obedience to not cut his hair the real strength - the obedience to the covenant? Do you know another character in the Bible whose strength or gift was associated with a physical characteristic of his body?
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Permalink Reply by Mary O on
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Mornin' Roy, God bless!
I've heard this teaching about holy spirit. That if we need it, we can have the strength of Samson, the wisdom of Solomon and so forth. I've prayed for the strength of Samson. I'll relate a couple experiences to you...
Our car stalled out. Gary had just had knee replacement surgery. He couldn't push the car without injuring himself. We called a tow truck, but our car is blocking Broadway in the middle of rush hour. The tow truck couldn't get there fast enough. It's a hot day and people are honking and yelling. Having heard this teaching, I thanked God for the strength of ten men and pushed on our car. It began to move. Perhaps it was angels; I can't dismiss help from angels. I pushed our car uphill and out of traffic. People walking on the sidewalk stopped and watched.
Our car got stuck in the mud. A friend (Pat) and I decided to push. She's a new Christian at that time, and we had a third person inside steering. I thanked God in the name of Jesus Christ for the strength of ten men and then pushed the car with one hand and it moved. We moved the car out of the mud like it was nothing. Again, i't possible angels helped. Pat got so excited and began hollering...It worked! Praise God, it worked!
God seems to honor that prayer and the idea that we have the strength of Samson if we need it.
I also heard a teaching that Samson wasn't supposed to tell anyone the secret of his strength. What God reveals to you in confidence, you shouldn't betray.
I hope this is helpful.
Love and God bless,
Mary
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Permalink Reply by RoyW on
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Yes, that is very good. I have heard of that from others but never experienced it myself. Thanks.
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I will be teaching this week on Samson if you have any other ideas. Thanks a bunch.
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Permalink Reply by a servant (Chris) on
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Having long hair I do like Samson. To answer the question I am really curious, I can only think of Esther and her beauty. But, you have said,.." physical characteristic of his body." I do think it was his obedience that held much of the Power. Look forward to finding out more. Lord Bless
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I like this idea of being set apart. That was the purpose of the Nazarite vow which I had forgotten. I believe John the Baptist also took this vow. It seems from Numbers 6, however, that the vow was to last for a specific time but it appears that Samson was to remain unshaven for his entire life. That would be a bunch of hair but when his hair was cut, he lost his strength. These have all been very good posts. I have gotten some really good ideas.
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Permalink Reply by Amanda on
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Samson's story really begins with his parents in Judges 13:1-23. I am partial to his whole story beginning with the fact that the all of the Israelites were actually being disciplined by God for their disobedience. The Philistines were making them very miserable and God was allowing them to learn what life would be like without Him.
Then one day an angel told his mother she was not to drink wine or any strong drink or eat anything unclean and when her son was born she was never to cut his hair. She told her husband who prayed for the angel to return and when the angel appeared again her husband was given the same message.
The fact that his hair was not to be cut--it seems to mean that Samson was "set apart" by God. The angel had said Samson was going to save his people from the power of the Philistines.
For this reason, many people believe that Jesus had long hair, too. I don't know if there is a link.
Maybe by not cutting his hair, Samson would have been perfect as the day he had been born--a perfect sheep for an offering to God.
I believe everything went in Samson's life just as God knew it would happen. The only One who was perfect and without spot or blemish was Jesus, who never sinned at all.
I think it is a lesson about obedience--how people cannot save themselves by being perfect. We have always needed the Savior.
God was the Source of Samson's strength.
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Thanks Amanda. It seems to me that there was a reason for not cutting the hair. God has a purpose in all things but sometimes we just don't know what that purpose is. I like the set apart idea.
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Yes. I suppose we can only speculate in many cases and this is one. It seems Samson was born to die for his people. When I read the story, I used to wonder why God would ask Samson to die like that ... but now as I look at it I see a different perspective. God was with Samson. He led Israel for 20 years against the Philistines. It says God left him after his hair was cut. His hair grew back but was his strength really in his hair? No. He had hair but Samson prayed for strength.
28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more... (Judges 16).
God was the Source of Samson's strength. He was set apart. He was an offering to God--a foreshadow of Jesus who would die for His people. His story helps us understand what Jesus did for us. Only Jesus was a spotless offering. Samson lost his eyes but in the end of his story he could truly "see."
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More Bible verses to consider:
1 Samuel 15:13-16
When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.” But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.”
Saul sought to deceive Samuel because he said...I have carried out the Lord's instructions. God revealed it to Samuel that Saul was lying. Samuel said...If you carried out God's instructions, why am I hearing sheep bleating and cattle lowing? Sometimes with holy spirit, you can have keen hearing. Saul and company could have mixed those sheep and cattle in with the rest, but Samuel knows because the holy spirit has revealed it to him through sound.
I was thinking about Elisha too...
2 Kings 6:15-18
And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
Elisha could see what his servant couldn't. This kind of thing has happened to me too. I'll see something that no one else is seeing.
Is this verse helpful?
And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. (Daniel 11:32)
Love and God bless,
Mary
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Amen, Mary, I am going to use all of this. It is very good. I wish you could teach it to the kids. They are a wonderful group.
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