Samson And Delilah: His Strength Was His Hair
Judges 16:17 KJV
After sharing all his heart with Delilah, Samson told Delilah that, “No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazarite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”
Let us take a look at the word “Nazarite.” A Nazarite is an Israelite, man or woman, who has made a vow to separate himself or herself from others and consecrate themselves unto God for a period of time. In Numbers, Chapter 6, God spoke to Moses and told him to speak to the children of Israel about the Law of Nazarite. There is no other Nazarite mentioned in the Bible except Samson.
The Law of Nazarite included the following three things:
1) Numbers 6:3 “He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.”
2) Numbers 6:5 “All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.”
3) Numbers 6:6 “All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.”
When the period of the consecration was completed, the Nazarite was to be brought to the door of the tabernacle and present his offering to the priest who would bring it and offer it to God. The Nazarite offered the following to The Lord:
1. a he lamb of the first year for a burnt-offering
2. a ewe lamb of the first year for a sin-offering
3. a ram for a peace-offering
After these sacrifices were offered by the priest to God on behalf of the Nazarite, the Nazarite cut off his (or her) hair at the door and threw it into the fire under the peace-offering.
During the time when Samson was a Nazarite, he was considered holy to God. In a weak moment, while under his vow to God, Samson revealed where his strength lied to Delilah. Delilah, armed with this information and while Samson was sleeping, had another man shave his hair off. Then she delivered him to the Philistines. They took him into custody, gouged his eyes out and later took him to a prison to do hard labor.
Since Samson’s head was shaved by someone else, done out of order (prior to the end of the consecration), and without a sacrifice at the end of the time period, Samson lost his power. Remember he was considered holy during the time of his consecration and vow. However, while in prison, Samson’s hair began to grow back. I believe it is during that time Samson entered a new Vow of Nazarite to God. God accepted his new vow and when Samson began to pray to avenge the Philistines for his eyes, God honored his request and returned his strength unto him. In the end, God redeemed his strength and with his strength, Samson collapsed a building killing himself and 3000 Philistines. The total of deaths was more than Samson had killed in his entire lifetime.
Aside from having a Vow of Nazarite unto God, there is strength in your hair as well. With proper cleansing, nutrients, and moisturizer, your luscious locks will become stronger and mighty over time. Regular visits to our salon for quality hair care by knowledgeable and trained staff, regular haircuts, and proper application of color, relaxer or perm, will reduce the chances of damage thus ensuring the continued health of your hair. Call us today to schedule your next visit!
618-207-3220
Karen Hill Gray
