Bound But Not Broken | Judges 15:14-15

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Our text today is Judges 15:14-15

When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands. And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men. — Judges 15:14-15

Samson walked into Lehi tied up. Not by the Philistines, but by his own people. That had to sting. Three thousand of his brothers bound him with ropes and handed him over. To everyone watching, it looked like the end. The Philistines saw a man restrained, contained, and defeated before the fight even started. They shouted in victory before they’d even lifted a sword.

Maybe you’ve been there. Bound not just by circumstances, but by betrayal, disappointment, or shame. You walk into a situation feeling powerless. People write you off. The enemy shouts too soon. You hear voices in your head: You’ll never break free. You’ll never change. You’ll never win.

But then—God’s Spirit shows up.

The text says the Spirit of the Lord “rushed upon him.” Instantly, what looked impossible changed. The ropes fell away like burnt thread. The bonds melted as if they were nothing. Samson reached for the only thing nearby—a donkey’s jawbone—and God turned it into a weapon of victory.

You may be bound, but you are not broken.

The ropes on your life are real. Addiction is real. Fear is real. Regret is real. Wounds from betrayal are real. But they are not final. The Spirit of God can snap what holds you. The Spirit can melt what seems permanent. The Spirit can turn even the most ordinary thing into a tool for victory.

Your ropes don’t define you. God’s Spirit does.

So if you’re feeling tied down today—by sin, by failure, by the weight of life—you need to know: the same Spirit who rushed on Samson lives in you. And the same Spirit can set you free.

ASK THIS:
Where do you feel most bound in your life right now?
How have you seen God’s Spirit break through in the past?
What would it look like to stop relying on willpower and invite the Spirit into this battle?
Who in your life needs to hear that they may be bound but not broken?
DO THIS:
Write down the “rope” that feels like it has you tied up. Name it specifically.
Share your struggle with a trusted friend and invite them to pray with you.
Watch for God to use something small or unexpected (like a jawbone) as part of your freedom story.
PRAY THIS:
Holy Spirit, I feel bound, but I believe I’m not broken. Rush into my weakness, snap the ropes I can’t break, and give me strength to walk free in Your power. Amen.

PLAY THIS:
“Break Every Chain.”