Christians know that many of the stories and examples given in the Old Testament literature serve as types and shadows of the present reality to help us better understand our New Covenant. The history of Samson serves such a purpose.
The story of Samson and Delilah is a favorite among many. You will recall that Samson was an Israelite of Dan who was endowed with God-given supernatural strength. He once tore loose a Philistine city gate with its supporting posts and carried it away on his shoulders. Another time he slew a thousand enemies of Israel with the jawbone of an ass. He was not one to trifle with.
Samson had a weakness, however, that was to bring his downfall. He fell in love with a Philistine girl named Delilah who, after several unsuccessful attempts, coaxed from him the secret of his immense strength.
Samson’s parents had raised him under a strict Nazarite vow before God in which he was never to let a razor touch his head. While Samson slept, Delilah had his hair shaved, and when he awoke, his strength was gone for the power of the Lord had left him. He was bound, blinded and forced into slavery grinding at the prison mill.
One day after his hair had grown out again, he was taken for sport into the temple of the Philistine god, Dagon. In one last heroic feat, he braced himself against the two main support pillars of the pagan temple and, once again having great strength, brought down the structure, killing more Philistines at his death than during his life.
This bit of history has many great lessons for us today. Samson’s hair is symbolic of the covering for the church. That covering is Christ. When we are covered by anything else, we really are not protected at all. If someone takes our covering from us, we have been robbed of our freedom. We are to look to Christ as our teacher, provider, and healer — our All-in-All. Alignment with Him places us in a position of blessing.
Samson lost his freedom because of his affair with Delilah who is symbolic of the long arm of the law which is, simply put, harlot religion. Once again we are reminded that the power of sin is the law. There is nothing like a flirtation with legalistic religion to wrap us up in chains and rob us of our liberty. The attractive harlot would have us believe that by keeping certain observances, ritual practices, and moral precepts we are gaining in favor before God. How alluring it seems to substitute self-righteousness for the righteousness of God given us through Christ.
The harlot places man and his organizational methods for doing things ahead of Christ, the true and only head of the Church. And Christ will be second to none. He has let us know that it is Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit that the work of the Lord is accomplished and that He seeks those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
The apostle Paul told us to follow him as he followed Christ. We are never to follow after anyone or anything that does not follow after Christ, regardless how attractive. If we do, we risk losing our spiritual strength, just as Samson was stripped of his. If we fail here, we may suffer the disastrous consequences of religious bondage with its accompanying spiritual blindness and inner agony.
Our submission is always to Christ, the Living Word, the Spirit of Life. We should never submit to a man because he claims some position in an organized religious structure. Ordination papers, seminary education, and man-made recognition do not make one a servant of God. Only an answered call from God can do that. Many are called but few are chosen. The chosen ones are those who answer the call. He who would be first will be last and servant of all. Can you imagine the apostle Paul having to show ordination papers before he could preach? Far from it! He was an outcast to the religious structure of his day, working overtime that some might be saved from it.
Today the Father sends us teachers, apostles and other ministries for our benefit. We should ever be alert for them, listening attentively for our Master’s voice. No other voice has any value. If we do not hear Christ speaking, we should run the other way. “My sheep hear my voice. A stranger they will not follow.”
Hopefully we will grasp the pearl of wisdom given us through the apostle John:
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit, just as it has taught you, remain in him. (I John 2:27)
May we let this precious anointing teach us, not only in our private lives, but as we fellowship together. We see the anointing teaching us when no man has taken preeminence in our fellowship and quenched the Spirit. We know the anointing is at work within the body of Christ when we see all of the saints free to express their revelations, give their testimonies, and share the life of Jesus in the perfect order and harmony found in our Lord’s Spirit.
May we come together in expectancy, wondering what rich food the Lord has for us as we meet, united by the bond of love and yielded to Him, not knowing what brother or sister is going to be the next to speak or sing the words of life by the precious anointing within them. Then we can share the bread of life from Jesus in His Kingdom, clustered about Him as we love one another in the true unbridled fellowship that brings health and growth to the body of Christ. May we have an expectant attitude. We may hear His voice on aisle six of the local department store or on the bus or plane or beach as we take a trip.
Also, may we recognize that his Body is not divided. Every true Christian has Christ’s Spirit dwelling in the heart. Love is the power that brings Christ’s body together to perform His great task on earth. And love is the power that holds his people together — not the jam and glue of man-made organization, tradition, or social background.
Love has the victory!
Continue reading Flee Into Galilee
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