Simon tugged on his braid and rolled his eyes. How much more of her chatter could he take? If only he could put a muzzle on those bright red lips.

He’d been dating Desiree for six months. At first it was heaven, but now her needling burrowed into him like a tick on soft skin. Why couldn’t he just walk away?

Simon knew the reason. He was obsessed with this beauty.

“Why won’t you tell me?” Desiree asked. Her lip protruded, reminding him of a child not getting their way.

“Why do you need to know?”

Desiree reached for his hand and held it to her face. “Honey, they won’t let me live it down if you trick them again. Pretty please.” She kissed his fingers one at a time.

Simon sighed, exhaling slowly. Once again, he tugged on his braid.

“Fine,” he said.

Did you know every strand of hair on your head is dead? So, where does it get its strength? It starts in the papilla (hair bulb), which feeds from cells in our blood vessels deep under the surface.

Did Samson’s power come from his long braids? Hardly.

Let’s look closer at this Bible time superhero.

God gave Samson strength. An angel told Samson’s mother that “no razor may be used on his head” because he would deliver Israel from the enemy. God gave this man strength. We know the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson each time he needed power. Where do we run to for our strength? Do we look for it in riches, popularity or material possessions? It may empower us for a short period of time, but that’s not where true strength lies. Let’s ask God to give us power each day.

Samson taunted the Philistines. He liked riddles. Reminds me of the game Gollum and Bilbo played in The Hobbit. Each trying to outwit the other. “It’s got to ask uss a question, my preciouss, yes, yess, yess. Jusst one more question to guess, yes, yess.” Samson did much of the same, taunting his enemies knowing they couldn’t defeat him. Probably not the best thing to do! It angered them, so they tried all the harder to defeat him. Let’s not follow Samson’s example here. Taunting only leads to trouble—trouble that could lead to our downfall. Don’t let it.

Delilah seduced and tricked Samson into revealing his secret. Delilah was to Samson like kryptonite was to Superman. She wore him down, bit by bit until he finally told her his strength would disappear if his hair was shaved. DUH! Why would he spoil his advantage? He was defeating the Philistines. However, they pulled out the big guns—a seductress. She took him down. How does Satan seduce us today? Opposite sex. Fortunes. Fame. Let’s not fall into temptation. Don’t cut your braids of strength!

God used Samson’s weakness to overpower and defeat the enemy. Samson had failed miserably. He was weak and blind. However, God still used him to conquer the Philistines. It meant losing his life though. There are times I’ve screwed up. We all do. That’s life. But know this. Even in our weakness God gives strength to defeat the enemy. He uses His children even when they’ve fallen. Praise Him!

Like hair bulbs, our strength comes from deep under the surface. When we come to salvation in Jesus, the Holy Spirit empowers us with a force only He can give.

With that we can do the impossible.

Go to the Rock for strength!

Do you think Samson was a hero? Share your thoughts.

Judges 13:5b (NIV)

“No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

I Go to the Rock (written by Dottie Rambo, performed by Aaron Jeffrey)

I’ve always loved this song. Even when you’re down and out, it’s hard not to tap your toe and sing along. I remember seeing this video by Aaron Jeffrey years ago and enjoyed it. I still do. Listen to the words. Turn it up loud. Sing like no one is listening. Dance as if you’re the only one in the room. I promise, it won’t hurt!

Where do you turn to?

 

P.S. Thanks to my sister Susan Steeves for the lesson on hair strength!