Pastor John’s Blog

Samson was separated in his mother’s womb to be a Nazarite. This meant that he could not drink alcohol or ever shave his head. As a Nazarite he was to live a consecrated life to God. As a result of his consecration the Holy Spirit would come upon him and give him super human strength when he needed it to fulfill his life’s mission. His life’s mission was to begin to free the people of Israel from Philistine oppression. When the Holy Spirit would come on Samson he would become the strongest man on the planet. But there is an irony here for as consecrated as Samson was to God on the outside and as physically strong as he was he had a weakness that he was never able to overcome. Samson’s weakness was lust. God consecrated (separated) Samson for himself and gave him supernatural human strength, but it was up to Samson to live out this consecration by using God’s strength to help him subdue his lust. But he did not. Judges 14:1-2 reveals this weakness in action: “One day when Samson was in Timnah, one of the Philistine women caught his eye.² When he returned home, he told his father and mother, ‘A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me’” (NLT). Over his parents objections he said, “Get her for me! She looks good to me” (14:3, NLT). Samson chose this woman for a wife based on looks and not based on what he knew to be right. Samson was driven by his carnal appetites, and this would be his down fall.

Like Samson we have been separated for God. And like Samson God gives us strength, although not supernatural human strength. But it is up to us to use God’s power to help us over come our lustful ways and remain faithful to God. Romans 8:13 says it this way: “But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live” (NLT). So today I encourage you to ask God for strength and to help you overcome the desires of the flesh so that you may live for him.