Samson Bringing Down the Temple of Dagon, by Gustave Dore, wood engraving, 1866. Samson is the Bible’s superhero, with hair for a cape. This man can do incredible things. The Holy Spirit gave him super-human strength: “and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him” Judges 14:6. But Samson’s motives were poor. He wasContinue reading “The Bible: an Epic Adventure About a Hero Who Rescues His People! Judges 15:11.”
Tag Archives: Samson
The Spirit of the Lord Will Control You.
I wrote recently of Samson, Gideon, David, Noah, Moses, and Elijah—men whose achievements followed a deep indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The phrase the Holman translation uses is “the Spirit of the Lord took control,” as in this passage about King Saul: “The Spirit of the Lord will control you; you will prophecy with [theContinue reading “The Spirit of the Lord Will Control You.”
Talk About Being Scalped!
Have you ever had a bad haircut? One so bad, you wanted to wear a hat? In first grade, everyone laughed when someone got a haircut. It could be the tiniest, most imperceptible trim, but the class would point and laugh, chanting in their sing-song way: “Brian got a hair-cut! Brian got a hair-cut!” ThatContinue reading “Talk About Being Scalped!”
He’s a ‘Creative.’
It has become fashionable to describe people as “creatives,” converting the adjective to a noun. I’ve heard the trendy, slangy noun used to describe musicians, artists, marketers, even entrepreneurs. The Bible records the biography of an interesting “Creative.” He showed up at a party ready to stump the crowd with a riddle he had written. Continue reading “He’s a ‘Creative.’”
Ask God for Wisdom.
The best answers to parenting questions come from God. You have to realize your deep need for wisdom, and you have to ASK. Jesus says, “You have not because you ask not.” So ASK. Always ask God for answers. When the Angel of the Lord (not a typical angel, but likely a vision of theContinue reading “Ask God for Wisdom.”
The Spirit of the Lord Took Control of Gideon.
Do you ever feel amazed by the incredible feats in the Bible? How did Samson kill 1,000 men with a piece of bone? How did little David, a teenager at best, face Goliath with such boldness? How did Gideon and 300 men take on over 100,000 Midianites—an enemy who filled the land “like a greatContinue reading “The Spirit of the Lord Took Control of Gideon.”
Bald Samson.
God called His people to be different. Holy. Set apart. A “peculiar people.” The nation followed complex food laws. They circumcised every male child. They sacrificed animals. They never worked on Saturday. Sometimes God’s “Peculiar People” must have felt peculiar. Within Israel, there were individuals whose lives were even more peculiar: Levites, priests, and NaziritesContinue reading “Bald Samson.”
Household Words: 