Gideon, Jephthah, & Samson

Gideon

God uses unlikely people. He uses flawed people. He uses failing people. He uses sinful people. Because if He didn’t, He wouldn’t have any people to use.

Jephthah

Samson

Gideon goes from weakness to strength, and Samson goes from strength to weakness.

Nazarite comes from the Hebrew word, “To separate.” Num. 6 tells us that Nazarites vow consisted of no drinking of alcohol, no cutting of hair, and no touching a dead body. This symbolized a life of separation or a commitment to holiness. The Nazarite vow could be taken for a season of time, or for a whole life.

Samson touches a dead body and drinks alcohol (Judg. 14).

The sin that is accepted by the world, the legal sensualities, are the sins that catch and trip us up.

Samson lets his hair get cut (Judg. 16).

Samson carries the city gates of Gaza all the way to the hills of Hebron, 38 miles away.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 ESV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.