What It Means to be Filled with the Holy Spirit # 55

The Natural Man Reveiveth Not the Things of the Spirit (continued)

Samson Shall Begin to Deliver Israel Out of the Hand of the Philistines

Samson was dedicated to be a Nazarite before he was born: he was to drink no wine nor strong drink - which we have seen means that he was not to let his natural man's lusts and desires rules his life. He was to touch no unclean thing - which means he was not to touch death even if his parents were to die, and this symbolizes that which is born of the natural man only produce death. No razor was to touch his head, his long hair was to be a symbol of Samson's dedication and submission unto the Lord. Thus, God called Samson for His Own use, and the Lord said that Samson "shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines" (Judges 13:5). But first, Samson would have to learn to make war!

Samson was dedicated to be a Nazarite, but he was only one in outward appearance; he was not a Nazarite in his heart, for he allowed the lusts of his natural man to rule his life. He desired and took as his wife an uncircumcised Philistine - he touched the unclean thing. He went in unto the harlots of the Philistines - he partook of the strong wine of his own lust. He loved Delilah, a Philistine prostitute, an agent of the antichrist, who was used by satan himself to entice Samson to break his vow before God.

Notice, that each time Samson gave in to his lusts, the lusts of his natural man became stronger, until finally, he revealed the secret of his strength, and the Philistines overcame him. They blinded him, and they chained and enslaved him, and "he did grind in the prison house" (Judges 13; 14; 15; 16). But the Philistines made a fatal mistake when they made him grind the grain; for God was about to "begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." In Exodus 11:5, where the Word compares the highest position in the world with the lowest, it compares the Pharaoh of Egypt with the maidservant who grinds the mill; hence, the Philistines gave Samson what they considered to be the lowest and the most humiliating position of all. Nevertheless, this is just where the Lord wanted Samson; for it is God Who is dealing with Samson, not the philistines. Beloved, the Lord uses the symbolism of the grain throughout His Word to reveal His processing in our lives:

HE ploughs (Isaiah 28:24)
HE sows (Matthew 13:3-9)
HE plants (John 12:24)
HE harvests (Matthew 9:38
HE sifts (Luke 22:31)
HE winnows (Matthew 3:12)
HE threshes (Isaiah 28:28)
HE grinds (Isaiah 28:28)
HE crushes (Isaiah 28:28)

Samson's life was just as broken and crushed as the grain he was forced to grind; but as "e did grind," he began to realize that the only strength he had ever had was when "the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him" (Judges 14:5). Helpless, weak, and imprisoned, Samson was now stronger than he had ever been; for now he knew, "when I am weak, then I am strong" because God's strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12). Samson is ready for war!

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 56)