Strength Day by Day

Samson is known in scripture for his superhuman strength made possible by the Holy Spirit.  His feats of strength, however, were accompanied by moral failings and spiritual weakness.  The Spirit of the LORD moved him to pursue a wife of the Philistines because God sought an occasion against the Philistines, and God made Samson a judge in Israel after miraculous victories in battle.

After the woman Samson previously married had been murdered, we do not read of Samson marrying again.  Instead he sought the services of a harlot and then lived in sin with a woman of Sorek named Delilah whom he loved.  She was employed by the Philistines to discover the secret of Samson's strength, and harped on him constantly.  As the days passed her tears wore down the resolve of Israel's strong man, even as solid rock is carved by water.  Judges 16:16-17 says, "And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death, ¹⁷ that he told her all his heart, and said to her, "No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man."  A man who slew 1,000 Philistine warriors with the jawbone of a donkey in one battle was overcome by Delilah on her couch.

The life of Joseph provides an interesting contrast, for though he was not a Nazarite from birth he feared God.  When his master Potiphar's wife commanded him to sleep with her, Joseph refused the direct order because it was great wickedness in the eyes of God.  Genesis 39:10 says, "So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her."  Though she pestered Joseph day by day, he was wise not to listen to her, to sleep with her or even be around her.  The fear of God moved Joseph to wisely avoid the woman who tempted him to sin, and he overcome her advances without the superhuman strength that Samson possessed.  This demonstrates how spiritual strength is more important than physical strength, and the Holy Spirit is able to provide both as the situation requires.

Proverbs 9:10 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."  Those who know the almighty God fear Him, and this knowledge of what is pleasing and offensive to God guides our steps in doing His will.  Samson willfully transgressed by his illicit sexual relationships and was easily overcome by Delilah's pestering.  Joseph knew adultery was great wickedness in God's eyes and thus was empowered by God's grace to walk wisely and circumspectly.  Should we find ourselves worn down by temptation to sin and cannot flee from it, this can be evidence our hearts have already strayed from the fear of God.  Praise the LORD God renews our strength daily when we wait on Him, and those who seek Jesus Christ will always be guided to walk in wisdom.