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Samson Destroys the Philistines

Samson was a Nazarite

SANCTIFICATION

Text: Judges 13:5 (Samson Video)

 

The Nature of Sanctification And Conversion

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

— Acts 20: 32

Sanctification is one of the necessary stones in the foundation and plan of salvation. In the Holiness Faith, it is a prerequisite to the reception of the Holy Ghost. Truly, the temple must be sanctified before the Holy Spirit will enter to keep us. Sanctification through the Truth is one of the things, which helps us to put a difference between holy and unholy (Lev. 10:10). Through Sanctification, we are able to distinguish between the saints of the Most High and those who are among the hypocrites. We are only able to sanctify our physical lives, but the blood of Jesus is sufficient to sanctify us wholly — body, mind, and spirit (Heb. 13:12). Therefore, one of the primary steps in the direction of Holiness is to circumspectly look deep within one's self and thence to cast out all elements of uncleanness and unrighteousness.

 

*Taken from the book “The Beauty of Holiness: A Small Catechism of the Holiness Faith and Doctrine (second Edition) by Helen M. Lewis and Meharry H. Lewis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God’s instruction of Sanctification is not new for man.  It was issued too early on with Moses (Exodus 20 –Ten Commandments) after man proved he could not stand on his own.  God’s plan (through rules and laws) was to have man honor and obey His commandments by separating clean from unclean (Leviticus 11) to ensure a healthy and long life – this was God’s covert plan for His people.  Ultimately, God’s preparation is to have man clean inside and out by providing a way for him (Jesus Christ).

Clean and unclean—that can be a matter of great importance to us, but it is also a matter of differing definitions. In third world countries, “clean” means “free of large clumps of contamination.” In our children’s bedrooms, clean has a definition which means that everything has been kicked into one general pile and if given enough time, they can find what they left in that pile.  Clean means something different when we come to the definition of clean versus unclean in Leviticus. It is important for us to understand the meaning of clean and unclean.

Nazirite vow defined

A Nazirite’s vow is per the Bible. The term describes a type of vow either a man or woman could make before God. It could be in effect for various lengths of time, depending upon the person making the vow. The first reference to this subject is found in Numbers 6, where the rules for the vow are explained. God lists some restrictions on food, drink, and personal grooming. Those under a Nazirite vow were prohibited from:

  • Drinking any beverage made from grapes or any alcoholic drink.

  • Eating any form of grape, fresh or dried.

  • Cutting their hair.

  • Going near a dead body.

 

At the end of the vow period, they were to shave their head and burn their hair as an offering to God, because it was holy to God (Numbers 6:18). If they had to break their vow before it came to an end, they were also commanded to shave their heads at that time (verse 9).

Consider an example of a man under a Nazirite vow in the Bible.

Samson lived his whole life under the Nazirite vow

Samson was set apart by God from birth to be under this vow. His story is told in the book of Judges chapters 13-16. His birth and dedication to God for his whole life through the Nazirite vow is found in Judges 13:7. You can read the entire chapter to see God’s instructions to Samson’s parents.

Samson was not just a regular Nazirite. God chose him to be a judge in Israel. He was the strongest man of his day; God gave him supernatural strength so he could deliver Israel from oppression by the Philistines. When Samson told Delilah the secret of his strength (that his hair had never been cut), she tricked him. She had his hair cut off, and Samson lost his strength. The vow had been broken (Judges 16:17-20).

Exodus 13:2 - Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.


Luke 2:23 - (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

 

2 Cor. 7: 1, Let us purge ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, being led to holiness in the fear of God.  The starting point of sanctification is the filthiness, corruption, or stain of sin.

 

Jer. 31:33, 1 will put my law into their mind, and in their heart will I write it; For God Himself witnesses that holiness is a gift of inherent grace.

 

Ezekiel 11:19 - And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

 

Ezek. 36:26, 27, 1 will give you a new heart, and a new spirit will I put into the midst of you.

 

John 17:17 - Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

 

b- But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

 

2 Thessalonians 2:13 - But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:  

 

Hebrews 13:12 - Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

SANCTIFICATION chart.JPG
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Samuel Anoints David​

Samuel was a Nazarite

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