What’s the Secret?

 

Recently, I came across a video of a guy talking about having strength and it got me thinking about Samson and the strength he possessed. It’s something I hadn’t really considered before but maybe you have and soon enough you’ll know what I mean because I am about to tell you.

The story of Samson can be found in the Old Testament Book of Judges, chapters 13 to 16 but long story very short…

Samson’s mother, who was barren was visited by the Angel of the Lord and He said to her,

“You have not been able to have children. But you will become pregnant and have a son. Don’t drink any wine or any other strong drink. Don’t eat any food that is unclean, because you are pregnant, and you will have a son. He will be dedicated to God in a special way. He will be a Nazirite. So you must never cut his hair. He will be God’s special person from before he is born. He will save the Israelites from the power of the Philistines.” – Judges 13:3-5 (ERV)

She then told her husband what had happened. Both weren’t sure how to properly care for God’s special person and the husband prayed for the Angel to return to instruct them as to his care.

I want you to note that the Angel of the Lord is no ordinary angel, He is pre-incarnate Jesus as attested to by Samson’s father, who, after the visitation said to his wife,

“We have seen God…” (v 22)

Indeed, Samson was born. At the time of his birth, the Israelites had been in bondage to the Philistines for 40 years and the Lord was about to use Samson to deliver Israel out of their hands.

Now as a Nazarite, Samson was living a life of strict obedience to his vows to God however he did have one conspicuous weakness which would ultimately be his downfall, but that’s a story for another day.

Samson had a secret and that secret was in his hair. You see, he became famous for his prodigious strength, strength that no one could figure out. And this leads to the thing I told you I never considered.

The question on everyone’s minds, especially the Philistines, was “What’s the secret?” And suddenly it dawned on me that Samson must have been an ordinary looking guy.

I’ve always had an image of Samson as being a behemoth of a man, with muscles like that of a world-champion body builder and those Bible Story illustrations I’d seen in books as a child helped to cement that picture in my mind, even docuseries on television present Samson in that light.

But think about it, if Samson flaunted a well-built ripped physique, why would anyone be so confused about the strength he displayed?

Samson performed incredible feats in his fight against the Philistines. He was able to catch 300 foxes to use as living firebrands (see Judges 15:4-6) and single-handedly kill 1,000 men using the jawbone of a dead donkey (see v 14-17).

Can you imagine an average looking Joe with no definition in his arms or legs or chest or back doing these things? You too would have been completely perplexed and prompted to ask, “What’s the secret?”

Samson spent years slaughtering Israel’s enemy, destroying their army and their nation.

What’s the secret?

Through a series of events which you ought to read for yourself, the secret of Samson’s strength was discovered. His strength, though symbolized by and tied to his uncut hair, was not in his hair.

Just as his birth was divinely foretold, Samson’s life was divinely touched.

Samson was moved upon by the Spirit of the Lord, he was God’s vessel who, when empowered by Spirit, became a powerhouse of supernatural strength enabling him to perform the extraordinary.

a young lion suddenly roared and jumped at Samson! The Spirit of the Lord came on Samson with great power. He tore the lion apart with his bare hands. (Judges 14:5-6 ERV)

he got up and grabbed the doors of the city gate and pulled them loose from the wall. He pulled down the doors, the two posts, and the bars that lock the doors shut. He put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill near the city of Hebron (Judges 16:3 ERV)

Beloved, the Spirit of the Lord still empowers but you and I must be willing to be used mightily. God still uses ordinary men and women in extraordinary ways.

I’ll leave you with this, the Spirit of the Lord came on Samson with great power but there’s a big difference between you and Samson in that, the Spirit came on him but the same Spirit lives in you and that’s your secret superpower.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “What’s the Secret?” ©2026 April 21, 2026