Thursday, November 20 Jehovah’s spirit empowered him.​—Judg. 15:14.

[Áine]

Thursday, November 20

Jehovah’s spirit empowered him.—Judg. 15:14.

 

When Samson was born, the Philistines were ruling over the nation of Israel and oppressing it. (Judg. 13:1) Their harsh rulership brought great suffering to the Israelites. Jehovah chose Samson to “take the lead in saving Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” (Judg. 13:5) To fulfill this challenging assignment, Samson would have to rely on Jehovah. On one occasion, a Philistine military force had come to capture Samson at Lehi, evidently in Judah. The men of Judah were afraid, so they decided to hand Samson over to the enemy. Samson’s own people bound him securely with two new ropes and brought him to the Philistines. (Judg. 15:9-13) However, “Jehovah’s spirit empowered” Samson and he freed himself from the ropes. He then “found a fresh jawbone of a male donkey,” picked it up, and used it to strike down 1,000 Philistine men!—Judg. 15:14-16. w23.09 2 ¶3-4