Judges 13:5 “For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

April 27th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

The Hebrew word Nazarite means to separate and the conditions of that separation are explained in Numbers 6. Someone who took this vow was to abstain from anything that came from the vine, have no contact with a dead body, and not have their hair cut. In Samson’s case, he was to be a Nazarite to God all his life. The angel also said that his mother should not drink wine or eat from the vine or touch any unclean thing. Samson was not only chosen to be a Nazirite, but he was also called to deliver Israel from their enemies, the Philistines.

These Philistine neighbors were used by God as a thorn in the lives of Israel because Israel would not listen to Him. They are also a picture for us today, as an illustration of the flesh taking over from the Spirit in our walk with God. It happens when we start to live in sin; it traps us like a thorn in our side. The thorn irritates us, stealing our peace, joy, and the love we want.

Samson was chosen, but God does not pick men merely to be spiritual robots. God indwells them and empowers them to choose between depending on their sinful nature or His Holy Spirit. Samson had everything good in front of him at this point in his young life. He had potential, promise, destiny, and God’s hand directing him. What more could a person ask for? In many ways this is our life at this moment too. God has given to each of us the potential to be a man or woman of God. He has promised to never leave or forsake us and to protect us. Each of us who has surrendered to Him has a destiny to spend eternity with God. And finally we have God’s hand directing our lives toward things that will spiritually benefit those around us.

“LORD, keep us in the center of Your will this day that we might be everything You desire us to be.”