By Darlene L. Turner @DiAnnMills
This week’s guest blogger is Darlene L. Turner @DarleneLTurner
Did you know every strand of hair on our heads is dead? So, where does it get its strength? It starts in the papilla (hair bulb), which feeds from cells in our blood vessels deep under the surface.
One of my favorite Bible stories is Samson and Delilah. His strength was powerful, but did it really come from his long braids? Hardly.
Let’s look closer at this Bible superhero.
God gave Samson strength. An angel told Samson’s mother that “no razor may be used on his head” because he would deliver Israel from the enemy. God gave this man strength. We know the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson each time he needed power. Where do we run to for our strength? Do we look for it in riches, popularity or material possessions? It may empower us for a short period of time, but that’s not where true strength lies. Let’s ask God to give us power each day.
Samson taunted the Philistines. He liked riddles. Reminds me of the game Gollum and Bilbo played in The Hobbit. Each trying to outwit the other. “It’s got to ask us a question, my precious, yes, yes, yes. Just one more question to guess, yes, yes.” Samson did much of the same, taunting his enemies knowing they couldn’t defeat him. Probably not the best thing to do! It angered them, so they tried all the harder to defeat him. Let’s not follow Samson’s example here. Taunting only leads to trouble—trouble that could lead to our downfall. Don’t let it.
Delilah seduced and tricked Samson into revealing his secret. Delilah was to Samson like kryptonite was to Superman. He was defeating the Philistines. However, they pulled out the big guns—a seductress. She wore him down, bit by bit until he finally told her his strength would disappear if his hair was gone. DUH! Why would he spoil his advantage?
How does Satan seduce us today? Fortunes. Fame. Beauty. False illusions. Let’s not fall into temptation. We don’t want to cut our braids of strength!
God used Samson’s weakness to overpower and defeat the enemy. Samson had failed miserably. He was weak and blind. However, God still used him to conquer the Philistines. It meant losing his life though. There are times I’ve screwed up. We all do. That’s life. But know this. Even in our weakness, God gives strength to defeat the enemy. He uses His children even when they’ve fallen. Praise Him!
Like hair bulbs, our strength comes from deep under the surface. When we come to salvation in Jesus, the Holy Spirit empowers us with a force only He can give.
With that, we can do the impossible.
Go to the Rock for strength!
Do you think Samson was a hero? Share your thoughts.
Judges 13:5b (NIV)
“No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.
Darlene L. Turner writes romantic suspense and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray.
She was a finalist in the 2018 ACFW Genesis contest and won in 2017, was a finalist in the 2017 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense and won in 2016. She lives with her husband Jeff in the Forest City of London, Ontario.
Visit Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where she believes there’s suspense beyond borders.
Thank you, Darlene!
April 9th is National Library Worker’s Day
Here’s a shout out to Library Workers for all you do year-round!
Consider nominating the stellar library worker in your life at this site:
DiAnn’s Library Corner
Library Tip: The story of Samson from the Bible is one that inspires young and old. Do you feature your biblical section?
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