“Then the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson; and the child grew up and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.” Judges 13:24-25

Is there any greater enigma than God’s use of a mighty man named Samson? The frequent mention of the Spirit of God’s work in this flawed man stands in sharp contrast to his moral conduct. What are we to make of God’s unusual choice of such an imperfect man?

We note that the Spirit at work in his life was for service, but apparently not for sanctification. We also see that the Spirit came upon him, but not within him. God’s Spirit in Samson was that of temporary empowerment, and it was task-specific. Clearly God’s Spirit in his life was a temporary gift, not an abiding presence.

The work of God’s Spirit in Samson’s life stands in contrast to the abiding presence of the Spirit in the lives of those who belong to Christ. A preview of the work of Spirit that we enjoy is found in Ezekiel 36:27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.” God’s Spirit in us is transformational, as opposed to Samson who was enabled for God’s work, but never transformed in character.

An explanation is not clearly given as to why God’s Spirit worked in Samson’s life; we are simply told as to what was done. We, however, are given a clear reason for the Spirit’s work in our lives, especially described for us in Ephesians 1:13-14 “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

Through the Spirit, we are sealed and secured, and we have received it as a down payment as pledge of the great inheritance we are to receive. All this we have through acting in faith in the work that Christ has done on our behalf (Acts 2:38).

While Samson stands as an example of the mighty empowering make possible through God’s Spirit, how thankful we are for the inner transforming and reassuring work of the Spirit, the medium through which Jesus literally dwells within us (John 14:18).

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