Who Are the Strong?

GOLDEN TEXT: “If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” —Romans 8:13

JUDGES 15:11-15

SAMSON was one of those who served Israel during the period of the judges. His tenure of office as judge was twenty years. His birth was the result of a miracle for previously his mother, the wife of Manoah, had been barren. The Lord decreed, and announced to the mother of Samson before he was born, that he should be a Nazarite. A Nazarite was one who was dedicated to the Lord. A Nazarite was not to cut his hair, and was to abstain from wine and all other alcoholic beverages; and even from the eating of grapes.

Samson’s exploits against the Philistines, the enemies of Israel, would seem incredible except for the explanation which the Scriptures give us; namely that the Spirit of the Lord gave him his unusual strength. To those who believe the testimony of God’s Word no other explanation is necessary.

Samson is mentioned in Hebrews 11:32 as one of the ancient worthies. He gained this standing upon the basis of his faith. Certainly his parents told him of the circumstances associated with his birth, and that the Lord had set him apart to be a Nazarite before he was born. He accepted this responsibility and, while he had weaknesses of character along some lines, he continued to have faith in the Lord and in the Lord’s ability to accomplish all his good purposes.

As noted, Samson judged Israel for twenty years, and yet only a few instances in his life are recorded; and these the more or less dramatic ones. We may assume that most of the time during the twenty years of his judgeship he quietly and faithfully served his people, looking to the Lord for direction and help in his times of need.

JUDGES 16:15-21

ONE great mistake of Samson’s life was allowing himself to be betrayed by Delilah. She was working in the interests of Israel’s enemies, and through her womanly influence over Samson made several attempts to learn from him the real secret of his great strength. He deceived her several times, but finally yielded to her alluring ways and told her the truth of the matter. This was his undoing, for he was quickly captured, blinded, and put in prison.

Samson explained to Delilah that the secret of his great strength was in his long hair, that being a Nazarite his hair had never been cut. We are not to suppose from this that Samson’s long hair had any direct physical connection with his strength. If this were the case, anyone who refrained from cutting his hair would develop unusual strength, which we know is not the case.

As we have already noted, it was the Spirit of God working in and through Samson that gave him his great strength. The Spirit of God was with Samson so long as he did not betray the trust which God had placed in him. His long hair was a symbol of his dedication to God, and when he allowed himself to be placed in a compromising position in which he lost his hair his Nazarite vow was broken, and consequently the Spirit of the Lord was no longer with him.

Although Samson’s hair had been cut, when awakened by Delilah, he said, “I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.” (vs. 20) In his heart Samson knew that his strength came from the Lord. Later when the Philistines prepared a celebration over the imprisonment of Samson, giving the glory to their god, Dagon, they brought him out of prison to “make sport” for them. (vs. 25) Then “Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God.”—ch. 16:28

The Lord heard Samson and gave him the strength for which he asked —the strength to topple the pillars which sustained the temple in which the Philistines were celebrating their victory over him. They were all killed, and Samson died with them. But we see that in this last act of his life he realized that his strength came from the Lord; and it was his faith in God that gave him the standing mentioned in Hebrews 11:32.

Our Golden Text was written specifically to Christians, those who are crucifying their flesh, laying it down in sacrificial service in the Lord’s cause. (Rom. 12:1) For such to revert to catering to the flesh and its interests rather than fulfilling the vows of their consecration, would indeed mean death—second death if such a course of unfaithfulness were continued.

QUESTIONS

Who was Samson, and what were the circumstances of his birth?

What was the secret of Samson’s great strength?

Upon what basis did Samson win a position among the ancient worthies?

Explain the relationship between Samson’s long hair and his great strength.

To whom was our Golden Text addressed?

Explain briefly its meaning.

| Home Page | Table of Contents |