Hi Jason the following in the "by faith" chapter suggests Samsons strength
came from his faith. Sunday school children are taught his strength came
from his long hair, but IMO his long hair was just a symbol of his anointing
from God.
I always feel a little sorry for Samson, he was clearly anointed and chosen
by God, but I don't think he fully achieved all that God intended for him.
He wasted that anointing, but then at the end of his life imprisoned and
humiliated, he called on the name of the Lord again and the anointing came
giving him strength once again.
As to whether he looked physically strong, I don't believe the Bible says
either way. But bearing in mind that the people of bible times had
no modern day transport, machinery, agricultural machinery etc.
I think the people of the bible must have generally been fitter and more
athletic looking than modern day man.
Look at the disciples they rowed all night to catch fish and control the boat.
I don't know about you but I would have been dead after 10 minutes of rowing!
Hebrews 11:32-40 NKJV
[32] And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and
Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:
[33] who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions, [34] quenched the violence of fire,
escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became
valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. [35] Women
received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
[36] Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains
and imprisonment.
[37] They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were
tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins
and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented- [38] of whom the
world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens
and caves of the earth. [39] And all these, having obtained a good
testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, [40] God having
provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect
apart from us.