Holy Spirit power out of control

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Samson in Dagon Temple
Samson in Dagon Temple

 In Hebrew the title meant simply someone who puts things right, by whatever means. This might include acting in a judicial or legal way to sort out disputes between people, or giving judgments on difficult local problems. 

 But it could also include leading the people in battle against oppressive enemies, or calling the people to united action against some sudden threat. Some of them seem to have been fairly local heroes, whereas others rose to more national prominence and leadership.

One thing that is said quite often about these “judges” is that the Spirit of the LORD (Yahweh) would come upon them. 

 When this happened it was a signal for action. Empowered by the Spirit of the LORD, they could exercise charismatic leadership and do valiant exploits that were recited around the campfires of Israel for generations to come. Here are some examples, all from the book of Judges:

  • The Spirit of the LORD came upon [Othniel], so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war. (Judg 3:10)
  • Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon [literally it says, “clothed himself with Gideon”—God’s Spirit put Gideon on like a coat!], and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. (Judg 6:34)
  • Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah.… He advanced against the Ammonites. (Judg 11:29)
  • [Samson] grew and the LORD blessed him, and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan. (Judg 13:24–25)
  • The Spirit of the LORD came upon [Samson] in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. (Judg 14:6)
  • Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon [Samson] in power. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of their belongings and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he went [home]. (Judg 14:19)
  • The Spirit of the LORD came upon [Samson] in power. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men. (Judg 15:14–15)

It is very clear that the Spirit of God is synonymous with power. People do great things when the Spirit of Yahweh comes upon them. But with Samson, something is very disturbing. In his case, power means enormous physical strength. It starts innocently enough under the sign of God’s blessing. But as the story proceeds, that strength gets more and more out of control. Samson’s human weakness is all too visible under his superhuman strength.

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