Page 167 - Radical Love by Linda Robinson

RADICAL LOVE

Hair is a symbol of strength and consecration (see Numbers 6). The

more abandoned we are to God in obedience and surrender, the stronger
our faith becomes. Look at the example of Samson in Judges 13:5

(NIV), where an angel appears to Manoah’s wife and says: “...you will
become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by

a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the

womb.” And then again in Judges 16:17 (NIV): “...because I have been
a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were

shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as
any man.”

The Shulamite is now powerful and prepared for release into the next
season. How do we know this? Well, notice that it does not say her hair

is like that of a single goat, but a “flock.” That is an abundance of

strength—and it is the Lord’s strength. 2 Samuel 22:33 (NIV) says: “It
is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.” The

Bible exhorts us to: “Seek the Lord and his strength…” (1 Chronicles

16:11, KJV). Again, we are reminded that it is all about Him.

The verse then goes on to say that these goats are descending from the

“Hills of Gilead.” In the Middle East, temperatures are too hot in the
late spring and summer months for grass to grow at sea level. That is

why shepherds have to take their flocks up into the hills to pasture. In
Psalm 23 (NIV), it says: “He makes me lie down in green pastures,...”

The correct translation for this actually means “He settles me to lie

down.” There is no harshness or a hint of commandeering here—on the

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