We have noted how the Holy Spirit came upon leaders in the book of Judges,

strengthening them so that they were able not only to judge Israel righteously, but also to

deliver them again and again from their mighty enemies. We have seen how Othniel and

Gideon were enabled by the Spirit's might to accomplish what God had purposed for

Jephthah had a similar experience (Judges 11: 29) and so did Samson. As a child

Samson was specially blessed of the Lord, "And the Spirit of the Lord began to move

him at times (to and fro) in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol" (13: 24, 25).

He was given special strength by the Spirit to destroy an attacking lion (14: 5, 6), also

thirty of the Philistines of Ashkelon and in the next chapter 1,000 more (15: 11-15). Yet

what a contradiction he was, swayed as he was alternately by the flesh and Spirit! In

spite of this, the God of all grace and longsuffering used him to carry out His purpose for

Israel's need at that particular time and we must not forget that his name occurs in the list

of overcomers given in Heb. 11: Truly God's judgments are very different from man's,

for He looks not at the outward appearance, but on the heart (I Sam. 16: 7). God is first

concerned about the mind with its motives, its plans, its hopes and fears and all is naked

and open to Him (Heb. 4: 13). Such an assessment is impossible by a human being and

this is one of the reasons why human judgment is so often wrong and unjust. How good

it is to realize that all we are and all we have done will be assessed one day by the

righteous Judge (II Tim. 4: 8) Who is free from all bias and makes no mistakes, and

Whose overriding motive is love.

We have another problematic character in Saul, who started so well, like Solomon of

a later date, and ended so badly. Saul was man's choice, but even so, God did not

withhold the Holy Spirit's enabling from him. Once again Israel became involved with

their enemies, this time the Ammonites who threatened to destroy the Israelites at

Jabesh-gilead. It was at this time of danger that the Holy Spirit came upon Saul and so

strengthened him that he was enabled to lead his people to victory (I Sam. 11: 6). So

much so that the Ammonites were slain and scattered "so that two of them were not left

together" (11: 11). This was not Saul's first experience of the Spirit's power, for the

previous chapter recalls Saul's ability to prophesy among the company of prophets who

met him (10: 10), given again by the enduement of the Spirit of God.

It is clear then that this man's declension was not due to any lack of enabling of the

Holy Spirit, but rather his refusal to carry out the Lord's will and to put Him first in all

things. As man's choice we are not surprised that he failed and God finally said to

A little later on we read "But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil

spirit from the Lord troubled him" (16: 14). Once the Holy Spirit's power was removed,

this man went down hill rapidly and finally ended by having delight with spiritism, so

strongly forbidden by the Mosaic law.