The Source Of Strength

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.” Judges 16:17

Samson the mighty judge did great exploits against the Philistines, the enemy of Israel. The name “Samson” means “sunshine” or “glory of the sun.” He had a supernatural birth because his mother was actually barren and could not conceive (Judg. 13:3). An angel of the Lord announced his birth to her. So right from his mother’s womb, Samson was already consecrated unto the Lord. He was called to be a holy Nazirite from the day he was born.

Apart from the Levitical priests, the Nazirites were the only other group in Israel who were considered holy. By establishing the Nazirite order, God gave every Israelite an equal chance to be holy. All a person needed to do was to take the Nazirite vow and choose to separate himself wholly unto the Lord. The terms of the vow were as follows: (1) He was not to drink any strong drink, (2) He was not to cut his hair, and (3) He was not to touch anything unclean. The Nazirites had voluntarily chosen to set themselves apart for God’s holy service (Num. 6:1-8).

Samson was the mightiest and strongest man who ever lived. With his bare hands, he was able to tear a lion apart (Judg. 14:6). On one occasion, Samson slew 30 Philistines by himself (14:19). On another occasion, he killed 1,000 men with the jawbone of a donkey (15:15).

One night, while the people were all sleeping, Samson went to the gate of the city of Gaza and he lifted the whole city gate on his shoulders and carried it to the top of Mount Hebron (16:3). Imagine carrying a city gate that weighed several tons on your shoulders for over 60 km and then climbing up a mountain with it! Where did Samson get his supernatural strength from? The secret was in his hair: “If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man” (16:17). The length of Samson’s hair was the measure of his consecration and faithfulness to the vow he had made to the Lord.

God’s supernatural power increases proportionately to the level of holiness in your life. Consecration is always the source of authority, power and strength. The more you separate yourself unto Him, the more God can pour out His anointing upon you.