‘Samson Revisited’ – The principle of separation

(An excerpt from Samson Revisited by Michael Storey, page 35)

Both Samson and the Lord Jesus had been separated for the Lord’s work and were blessed by Him. So too were Israel as God’s chosen people (Exodus 19:5,6; Deuteronomy 7:6-8).

Under the law every man child born was to be holy to the Lord. But like Samson, the Lord Jesus Christ was especially born to be separate to his Father. The angel announced to Mary in Luke 1:35,

“that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God”.

Twice in Acts 4 Peter, under inspiration, called the Lord “the holy child Jesus”, and in chapter 2 he speaks of Jesus as God’s Holy One who He would not allow to see corruption according to the prophecy in Psalm 16. He was destined to be a high priest,

“who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26).

That principle of separation applies in our lives too. Spiritually we are the Lord’s chosen, holy and peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9). However, we have to be careful that we do not think we can do as we please. Liberty in Christ is not a licence to do what we think is right:

“Use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

God has called us out of the world of darkness and sin to be separate to Him, and has blessed us as He did Samson and the Lord Jesus. We are to

‘be holy as God is holy’ (1 Peter 1:15,16);

the same principle that was taught to Manoah and his wife. The principle of deliverance by separation was taught in the life of Samson, and also by his mother, as they obeyed the restrictions placed upon them.

We therefore must seek to be faithful to our Heavenly Father at all times, always striving to do His will. Day by day, in faith, we must seek to remain separate and true to the Master we serve, not allowing the world to make us conform to its ways (Romans 12:1,2).