And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Studying Samson might give us a much different idea of what it means to be filled with the Spirit. Especially, if our minds have been so accustomed to associating the Spirit with his fruits: love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, long-suffering, faith, meekness, temperance. There was nothing peaceful, gentle, meek, or tempered about Samson. But this devotion affords us tremendous opportunity to see the direct workings of the Holy Spirit. (I recommend you read Judges 13-16)
The Movement of the Spirit
And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol. (Judges 13:25)
This reminds us of Genesis where the bible says “The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2) This indicates that the Spirit began to work in Samson during his younger years in the camp of Dan. It brings to mind when the Lord first spoke to Samuel when he was young. The Bible says, “Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.” (1 Samuel 3:7) There was a time for Samuel where the Spirit of God began to move in his life; as it was with Samson.
So it is with all of God’s children. There is a time when God begins to awaken us to the things of God. Do you remember when He began to move in you? Paul refers to this in his admonishment, “He which hath begun a good work in you…” (Phlippians 1:6) Whether it be like the movement of the wind rustling through the tree leaves, or like the shaking of thunder, the Spirit of the Lord will begin to move in the hearts of men.
The Might of the Spirit
And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. (Judges 14:6)
In this we see the Spirit of God give Samson unusual strength against the lion. We hear lion and can’t help but thinking of Peter when he warns, “Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) And then we think of Jesus after being filled with the Holy Ghost how was “Led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” (Matthew 4:1)
Jesus wrought a great victory against the devil with the power of the Spirit of God and the Word of God. There is real strength and real might and real power in the Holy Ghost. ” Notice the text says he had nothing in his hand. He defeated the lion not with a weapon, a sword nor a gun, but with his own hands by the endued power of the Holy Ghost. “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)
The Management of the Spirit
And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house. (Judges 14:19)
This is the where we depart from love, joy, and peace. Instead, the fruit of the Spirit in this case was slaying, stealing, and steaming. The Spirit of God came upon him and he slew thiry men. Then he took their belongings; he stole them. And the Bible says he was steaming mad, his anger was kindled. All this because the Spirit of God came upon him. He was filled with the Holy Ghost.
I say all this to say this. When the Spirit of God controls, it may not manifest itself quite like we think. When someone is saved, he’s under new management. There’s someone new calling the shots. This is the case in every believer. Your co-believer is not managed by you. He’s managed by the Spirit of God. Who he is and what he does may shock you, but that doesn’t mean that the Spirit of God is not in control. Be careful not to put others under your management.
The Mind of the Spirit
15:14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. (Judges 15:14)
This verse truly reminds me of the Spirit of God in Romans chapter 8. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2) Walking in the newness of spirit, walking after the Spirit, is a product of liberty, the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21) We’ve been called unto liberty. (Galatians 1:13) We’ve looked into the perfect law of liberty. (James 1:25)
The greatest type in the Bible may possibly be when the children of Israel walked out free from the land Egypt. Freedom in Christ is what is in the mind of the Spirit concerning us. Once you’re saved, this is all of what the Spirit is concerned of for you; to walk in the freedom that Christ has given us; to lead us in that wonderful way; to teach us of that glorious truth; to give us that abundant life. “Loose him, and let him go!” Jesus commanded.
The Mode of the Spirit
But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day. (Judges 15:19)
This so reminds me of the words of Isaiah, “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isaiah 57:15) Something I’ll never forget I read concerning this verse:
…he reserveth for him his chief comforts, his heart-reviving and soul-cherishing cordials. I dwell, saith he, with such to revive them, and to support and comfort them, “to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones…” ~ Bunyan
How glorious the thought of the manifold and diverse ways that the Spirit of God can carry this out. Like we read in Judges about Gideon, when angels, altar fire, signs and wonders didn’t work, God used a cake of barley bread to touch the heart of Gideon and encourage him in his task. You never know what God may use to revive his people. When we sing Revive Us Again, consider that there’s no limit to the manner in which the Spirit of God would choose to do so. The way he did it yesterday may not be the way he does it today.
We’ve heard many times, “What God has done before, he can do some more!” But consider this, “What God has done before, he may do no more!” God may have greater or even lesser things to revive you again.
Conclusion
After looking at how the Spirit of God worked in the life of Samson, it does turn things upside down in your head a bit concerning the Holy Spirit. But consider the words of Jesus, “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)
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