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— Judges 16:28

When you hear “Samson,” you probably think his long hair gave him strength. But that’s not entirely true.

So if it wasn’t the hair, then what was it?

Samson’s strength came from God Himself. The Bible shows this clearly in:

Judges 14:6

“The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as easily as one might tear a young goat.”

and

Judges 15:14

“The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He struck down a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey.”

Notice how both of these verses say, “The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him,” and not that his hair came powerfully upon him.

So, what role did his hair play in this vow?

Think of Samson’s hair like a power cord plugged into God’s outlet. Cut it and the power cuts off. So the hair didn’t give him strength. It just carried God’s power to him.

The hair was a visible symbol of his Nazirite vow, a sign of his commitment to God. When Delilah started cutting his hair, it marked the moment he began breaking that vow.

And that’s exactly what happened in real life, as the Bible shows:

Judges 16:19

“While he was sleeping, Delilah took a hairpin and shaved off the seven locks of his hair. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.”

Cutting his hair showed he was breaking his vow. Even if he had kept it, the power would have left him the moment he broke it.

In the end, Samson regained his strength even without his hair. His vow to God was restored, proving it wasn’t the hair that gave him power, but his connection to God. When he prayed, God gave him strength to bring down the temple:

Judges 16:28-30

“Then Samson prayed to the Lord, ‘Sovereign Lord, remember me. Strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.’ Then he braced himself against the two central pillars that held up the temple and pushed with all his might. The temple fell on the rulers and all the people in it. So the dead he killed at his death were more than those he had killed during his life.”

So when people say Samson’s hair gave him strength, you’ll know that isn’t the full story.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: Lord, you are the source of all strength.

Confession: Forgive me for relying on my own power.

Thanksgiving: Thank you for giving your Spirit to guide and strengthen me.

Supplication: Help me stay connected to you and honor my commitments.

In Jesus name, Amen

“I See Grace” by Micah Tyler

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Zach | Start With God