Link Samson's strength to Phil 4:13.
How does Samson's strength in Judges 15:14 connect to Philippians 4:13?

Setting the Scene

Judges 15:14

“As Samson approached Lehi, the Philistines came shouting against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and the ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and the bindings fell from his hands.”

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”


The Source of Samson’s Strength

• Not raw human muscle but “the Spirit of the LORD.”

• Strength arrived at the exact moment of need.

• Power was unmistakably supernatural—ropes disintegrated, enemies overwhelmed.

• God’s glory, not Samson’s ego, was the intended spotlight (cf. Isaiah 42:8).


The Source of the Believer’s Strength

• “Christ who gives me strength” is the New-Covenant continuation of the same divine enablement.

• Paul speaks from prison, proving the strength is spiritual, emotional, and physical as God wills (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

• The focus remains on reliance, not self-reliance (cf. John 15:5).


Connecting the Two Passages

• Same Giver, different covenants: Old Testament—Spirit of the LORD; New Testament—Christ’s indwelling Spirit (Romans 8:9-11).

• Both accounts highlight impossibilities made possible by God alone (Zechariah 4:6).

• Samson’s single moment of deliverance prefigures the believer’s ongoing access to divine strength.

• Victory in each case advances God’s purposes: Israel’s preservation then, Gospel witness and contentment now.


Practical Takeaways

• Expect God to supply exactly what His mission requires—no more, no less.

• Strength manifests through obedience; Samson moved toward the enemy, Paul wrote in chains.

• Humility guards the gift—Samson faltered later when self-confidence eclipsed God-confidence (Judges 16:20).

• Daily dependence is cultivated through Word, prayer, and obedience (Ephesians 6:10-18).

• God’s strength may look like dramatic power or quiet endurance; both are equally miraculous (Isaiah 40:29-31).


Cautions

• Neither verse licenses selfish ambition or reckless presumption.

• “All things” in Philippians 4:13 is bounded by God’s will and context, just as Samson’s power served God’s deliverance plan.


Summary

Samson’s burst of supernatural might and Paul’s lifelong empowerment flow from the same divine source. Judges 15:14 illustrates in vivid narrative what Philippians 4:13 teaches in principle: when God calls, God supplies—so that He alone receives the glory.

What can we learn about God's deliverance from Samson's victory in Judges 15:14?
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