Some how through theological etc. teaching we were taught that it was Samsons hair that was what cost him his strength but this is false teaching!
Take a look at Judges 13: <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6862">2</sup> In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6863">3</sup> The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6864">4</sup> So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food.<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NLT-6864a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[a]</sup> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6865">5</sup> You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”
This shows us that Samson was a miracle and that he was dedicated to God as a Nazirite. How does one become dedicated to God as a Nazrite? They are placed under the Nazirite vow.
Number 6: <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-3805">5</sup> “They must never cut their hair throughout the time of their vow, for they are holy and set apart to the Lord. Until the time of their vow has been fulfilled, they must let their hair grow long."
So let's go back to Judges 13:<sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6865">5</sup> You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth.
Look at vs 7 where the wife is talking to the husband.
"For your son will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from the moment of his birth until the day of his death."
Now here's where it becomes interesting but we'll come back to that.
Now take a look at where things start to happen for Samson
1. Judges 14:<sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6890">5</sup> As Samson and his parents were going down to Timnah, a young lion suddenly attacked Samson near the vineyards of Timnah. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6891">6</sup> At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands. He did it as easily as if it were a young goat."
2. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6904">19</sup> Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to the town of Ashkelon, killed thirty men, took their belongings, and gave their clothing to the men who had solved his riddle.
3. But the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon Samson, and he snapped the ropes on his arms as if they were burnt strands of flax, and they fell from his wrists. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6920">15</sup> Then he found the jawbone of a recently killed donkey. He picked it up and killed 1,000 Philistines with it. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6921">16</sup> Then Samson said, “With the jawbone of a donkey,
I’ve piled them in heaps!
With the jawbone of a donkey,
I’ve killed a thousand men!”
Each time the Lord had to come upon Him!
16: <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6942">17</sup> Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.”
20 .....When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.
So the question arises why did the spirit of the Lord leave him? Because he became disobedient and broke the vow. But the hair isn't what gave him strength only God did.
Going back to vs 7 of 13 we find that God said he would die when this vow was broken. God new he would break the vow but chose to be his strength.
16: <sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-6978">28</sup> 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!”
Samson asked for the Lord to again strengthen him, he did not ask for all of his hair to grow back.
Interesting fact: John the Baptist also had the Nazirite vow from his parents to the Lord (Luke 1:3-25) whose parents were also visited by an angel in this case Gabriel to be told to take this Vow. Which means John had long hair.
Take a look at Judges 13: <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6862">2</sup> In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6863">3</sup> The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6864">4</sup> So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food.<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NLT-6864a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[a]</sup> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6865">5</sup> You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”
This shows us that Samson was a miracle and that he was dedicated to God as a Nazirite. How does one become dedicated to God as a Nazrite? They are placed under the Nazirite vow.
Number 6: <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-3805">5</sup> “They must never cut their hair throughout the time of their vow, for they are holy and set apart to the Lord. Until the time of their vow has been fulfilled, they must let their hair grow long."
So let's go back to Judges 13:<sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6865">5</sup> You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth.
Look at vs 7 where the wife is talking to the husband.
"For your son will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from the moment of his birth until the day of his death."
Now here's where it becomes interesting but we'll come back to that.
Now take a look at where things start to happen for Samson
1. Judges 14:<sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6890">5</sup> As Samson and his parents were going down to Timnah, a young lion suddenly attacked Samson near the vineyards of Timnah. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6891">6</sup> At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands. He did it as easily as if it were a young goat."
2. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6904">19</sup> Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to the town of Ashkelon, killed thirty men, took their belongings, and gave their clothing to the men who had solved his riddle.
3. But the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon Samson, and he snapped the ropes on his arms as if they were burnt strands of flax, and they fell from his wrists. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6920">15</sup> Then he found the jawbone of a recently killed donkey. He picked it up and killed 1,000 Philistines with it. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6921">16</sup> Then Samson said, “With the jawbone of a donkey,
I’ve piled them in heaps!
With the jawbone of a donkey,
I’ve killed a thousand men!”
Each time the Lord had to come upon Him!
16: <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-6942">17</sup> Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.”
20 .....When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.
So the question arises why did the spirit of the Lord leave him? Because he became disobedient and broke the vow. But the hair isn't what gave him strength only God did.
Going back to vs 7 of 13 we find that God said he would die when this vow was broken. God new he would break the vow but chose to be his strength.
16: <sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-6978">28</sup> 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!”
Samson asked for the Lord to again strengthen him, he did not ask for all of his hair to grow back.
Interesting fact: John the Baptist also had the Nazirite vow from his parents to the Lord (Luke 1:3-25) whose parents were also visited by an angel in this case Gabriel to be told to take this Vow. Which means John had long hair.
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