What is the meaning of Judges 15:14? When Samson arrived in Lehi • Lehi had already become a flashpoint (Judges 15:9–10), and Samson’s arrival signals God’s answer to Philistine oppression (Judges 13:5). • The name “Lehi” means “jawbone,” foreshadowing the jawbone Samson will soon wield (Judges 15:15). • God often positions His servants at strategic moments—David at the Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:23) and Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:36)—to display His power, not theirs. The Philistines came out shouting against him • The enemy’s confident shouts echo Goliath’s taunts (1 Samuel 17:10) and the nations’ rage against the LORD’s anointed (Psalm 2:1–3). • Their noise is intimidation, but intimidation cannot overturn God’s calling (Isaiah 41:10). • For believers, opposition often intensifies just before God moves decisively (Acts 4:25-31). And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him • This is the third record of the Spirit rushing upon Samson (Judges 14:6, 14:19), underscoring that his strength is wholly Spirit-given (Zechariah 4:6). • The verb “came mightily” portrays an overwhelming surge; the same Spirit later empowers Saul (1 Samuel 11:6) and believers at Pentecost (Acts 1:8). • God’s faithfulness shines: despite Samson’s earlier flaws, the Spirit equips him for Israel’s deliverance (2 Timothy 2:13). The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax • Flax disintegrates to powder when scorched; likewise, man-made restraints crumble under divine power (Nahum 1:6). • Samson had allowed himself to be bound by fellow Israelites (Judges 15:12–13), yet God ensures those very ropes vanish, proving that earthly compromises cannot cancel heavenly purposes (Romans 11:29). • This moment anticipates Paul shaking off a viper in Acts 28:5—another picture of God nullifying threats. And the bonds broke loose from his hands • Freedom follows empowerment: Samson’s hands, once tied, soon wield judgment (Judges 15:15). • Scripture repeatedly links divine deliverance with immediate action—Peter’s chains fall before he leaves prison (Acts 12:7–8); Lazarus is unbound to walk (John 11:44). • The broken bonds affirm that no obstacle can hinder those whom the Lord sets free (John 8:36). summary Judges 15:14 shows a dramatic pattern: the enemy roars, the Spirit rushes in, restraints disintegrate, and God’s servant is liberated to accomplish divine purposes. The verse teaches that intimidation cannot surpass God’s power, Spirit-empowerment overcomes human limitations, and every bondage—literal or spiritual—yields to the Lord’s deliverance. |
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