When we think about strength, we often picture muscles, training, and natural ability. We admire athletes who seem superhuman, entrepreneurs who seem unstoppable, and friends who appear to have everything figured out. We wonder what their secret is. How do they succeed? What gives them an edge? In Judges 13, God pulls back the curtain on a kind of strength that does not come from the gym, genetics, talent, or personality. It is a strength that cannot be bought, copied, or explained. It is the secret strength of Samson, and it is a strength that is available to every believer today.
Samson’s life begins in a setting marked by darkness and spiritual decline. Israel was oppressed and discouraged, and people were doing what was right in their own eyes. Into that darkness, God announced that a child would be born who would “begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5). His life would not be ordinary. He was to be a Nazarite from the womb, set apart for God’s purpose and equipped by God’s Spirit. Samson’s story teaches us that true strength is not visible on the outside. It is the unseen work of God’s Spirit on the inside. The world could not figure Samson out because his power did not come from anything the world could measure. His power came from God.
The story of Samson invites us to see a different kind of strength. It shows us that God calls ordinary people, equips them in extraordinary ways, and accomplishes supernatural things through surrendered hearts. It reminds us that the success God produces cannot be explained by human effort. Samson’s strength was not found in his appearance, his training, his diet, or his personality. His strength came from the Spirit of the Lord. And the same Spirit that empowered Samson lives in every believer today. That is the secret story still unfolding in God’s people.
1. Samson Was Called by God to Fulfill a Purpose
Samson’s life began with a divine appointment long before he was born. His mother was visited by the angel of the Lord, who declared, “For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son” (Judges 13:5). This child was chosen, set apart, and called to a specific mission. God said he would be a Nazarite, and his life would be marked by special commitments. No wine, no razor, and no touching dead things. These requirements did not apply to everyone. They applied specifically to Samson because God had a unique purpose for him.
Samson’s calling reminds us that God designs our lives on purpose. Where we are born, who we know, and what we face are not accidents. God places each of us exactly where He wants us so that we can fulfill the work He has for us. For some, that purpose is to reach people others never will. For others, it is to stand for truth in a dark world. Samson’s calling teaches us that God sets His people apart so He can work through them. When God calls us, He does it with intention, direction, and purpose.
2. Samson Was Known Among Men for That Purpose
Samson’s reputation quickly began to spread. In Judges 15:11, three thousand men from his own tribe confronted him because his actions were already making an impact. Samson’s boldness and strength were undeniable. People saw what God was doing through him, even though they did not always understand it. His own people feared him more than they celebrated him.
This teaches us that when God begins to work through someone, people will notice. Some will appreciate it. Some will question it. Some will misunderstand it. Samson’s life reminds us that obedience to God will make you stand out, and standing out will not always be comfortable. Yet when God calls a person, the evidence of His hand becomes visible to others, whether they understand it or not.
3. Samson Was Blessed by God to Fulfill That Purpose
Judges 13:24-25 says, “And the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him.” From the beginning, God equipped Samson with every gift he needed. Strength, courage, boldness, and supernatural ability were not things Samson developed. They were things God gave. Samson did not achieve his strength. He received it.
Samson’s blessing reminds us that God equips us for the purposes He assigns. Whatever we face, God gives exactly what is needed. Trials, weaknesses, and even hardships can be part of His equipping process. When God gives a calling, He also supplies the power to fulfill it. Samson’s strength came from the Spirit of the Lord, and that same Spirit indwells every believer today. What Samson received temporarily, we receive permanently through salvation.
The Secret Strength of Samson
Judges 16 introduces the mystery that fascinated the Philistines. They wanted to discover the secret behind Samson’s strength. They watched him tear apart a lion, defeat a thousand men with a jawbone, and carry off the gates of a city. But nothing about Samson made sense. He did not look like a warrior. He did not train like one. His diet, size, and routine offered no explanation.
They were so desperate to uncover the secret that they offered Delilah the modern equivalent of twenty million dollars to find out where his strength came from. But the secret could not be bought. Samson’s strength came from the Spirit of the Lord, and no earthly power could duplicate or replace that. Judges 14:6 says, “And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him.” Judges 14:19 repeats it. Judges 15 echoes it again. Samson’s strength was not physical. It was spiritual.
This is the heart of Samson’s story. His strength was not about what he had in himself. It was about Who was in him. And this is where Samson’s story becomes our story. As believers, we have access to the same spiritual power. Not strength to break ropes or rip gates off a city, but strength to overcome temptation, witness boldly, stand for truth, endure trials, and make a difference where God has placed us. Our strength comes from the Spirit of God living within us.
Samson’s story challenges us not to seek substitutes for spiritual power. The world promises strength through confidence, success, money, appearance, or achievement, but real strength comes only from God. Zechariah 4:6 reminds us, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Samson’s life teaches us to stop relying on ourselves and begin relying fully on God.
Reflection QuestionAre you seeking strength that the world can explain, or strength that can only come from the Spirit of God? What might God want to do through you that could only be explained by His power?
