Samson's Hair Grew Back - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) July 13, 2021

If you spent anytime in Sunday school you must have come across the story of Samson the Nazirite. His story is one that teaches us a lot about the Lord and how we his children are to relate with him.

From the very beginning Samson's life was anointed by God. His barren mother, Zealphonis, was visited by an angel and informed she would bear a child. She was given strict instructions to not drink alcohol from wine and to eat only that which she - as a Jew - could eat (think no pork or food with blood in it like blood sausage).

Fast forward to Samson becoming a man and receiving incredible strength from the Lord. The Bible spells out moments when the "Spirit of the Lord came upon him powerfully". Strength that he used to repeatedly defeat the Philistines. Until he crossed paths with Delilah.

She was a Philistine woman he fell in love with. That said, she was offered a lot of money to figure out what made him so strong so his enemies could defeat him. Realize that by this point in time, Samson was the judge (leader) of the Israelite people and under his guidance, the Jews had gone from being subject to attacks from the Philistines, to the enemy fearing God's people and their strong leader.

Delilah, seeing shekel signs (by this I mean dollar signs), nagged Samson until he revealed the secret of his strength - his hair had never once been cut. Once he did, she arranged for his six braids to be cut off making him powerless once his enemies came to capture him.

And capture him they did. The Philistines gouged out his eyes and put him to work as a grain grinder in chains. What they didn't realize was that Samson's hair would grow back. Judges 16:22 - But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

Let's focus on that verse as it is pertinent to us. Often times we forget that the gifts and secrets God has given us are for our knowledge only. Look at Samson, he revealed a secret that frankly wasn't his to share all because he was nagged. In fact, here is how the nagging is described in Judges 16:16 - With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.

We must remember the enemy is seeking every opportunity to figure out why its schemes against us don't work. Don't give that secret up cheaply. In Samson's case, it was nagging but for us the enemy could push us to anger, or take advantage of our tiredness or hunger to cause us slip up and say or do what we shouldn't. If that happens we put ourselves and those who depend on us in jeopardy. Your walk with the Lord is bigger than just you. You represent generations and other people who aren't related to you but who will be affected by the choices you make.

Praise God that despite his weakness, the Lord gave Samson another chance to serve as a defender of his people. Despite being blind, his hair grew back and he prayed to God to let him destroy the enemy. The Lord answered his prayer and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him one last time so he pushed down the pillars of a building he was in, killing many Philistines.

May the Lord have mercy on us when we step out of alignment with Him. May He allow the hair on every Samson to grow back again. May our God hear our humble prayers IJMN Amen.