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Filled with the Holy Spirit

Filled with the Holy Spirit 
Day 
Day 16

"And the Spirit of the LORD began to move upon him..."

Text: Judges 13:25

ONE LAST JUDGE

The last judge said to be anointed by the Spirit of God was called Samson. His parents were told that Samson was meant to be “a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death” (Judges 13:7).

1. A Nazirite vow

a) This was carefully described in Numbers 6.
b) The person who takes this vow must abstain from wine.
c) He must keep his hair uncut.
d) He is to be consecrated to the Lord for the duration of his vow.

2. A Nazirite from birth

a) Samson was meant to be a Nazirite from birth.
b) He was meant to be consecrated to the Lord.

“So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson;
and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
And the Spirit of the LORD began to move upon him
at Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.”
Judges 13:24-25

BAD DECISIONS AND SAD CONSEQUENCES

The Lord God had done His part and more, in anointing and empowering Samson for his work as a judge. Sadly, Samson did not make full use of what God had blessed him with. Samson was empowered with extraordinary strength to battle the Philistines successfully on many occasions.

Through his foolish ways, he broke his Nazirite vow. He became weak and the Philistines made him blind! In his dying moment, Samson made an impassioned plea to God.

“Then Samson called to the LORD, saying,
‘O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray!
Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God,
that I may with one blow take vengeance
on the Philistines for my two eyes!'”
Judges 16:28

1. Samson had realised his error and had now returned to God.

2. He asked the Lord to remember him and to give him the strength that he once had.

THE INFINITE MERCY OF GOD

Samson knew that everything depended on whether God would empower him again. But even if he was given his extraordinary strength again he would die in the process.

“Then Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines!’
And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell
on the lords and all the people who were in it.
So the dead that he killed at his death
were more than he had killed in his life.

He had judged Israel twenty years.”
Judges 16:30, 31c