Samson is Born
The story of the birth of Samson began before he was even born. We learn it is important to have faith in what the LORD God tells us, and to ask with a quiet heart if we do not understand. We learn that the angel of the LORD is a messenger. We are not to give honor to angels only to the LORD. Judges 13:1-25
The children of Israel did evil once again in the sight of the LORD. The LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for 40 years. We remember the Philistines from the story of David and Goliath. They were the neighbors of Israel and lived in a coastal strip between the Mediterranean and the land of Israel and Judah.
The Philistines worshipped the fertility god of agriculture and grains called dagon. They built great temples to dagon. Later in our story we are going to see that this temple plays an important part the telling of Samson.
There was a named Manoah and his wife who could not have babies. One day an angel of the LORD appeared to her and told her she would have a baby boy. The angel of the LORD gave her some rules to follow.
She was not to drink wine or strong drink, and she could not eat anything the Israelites knew to be unclean (these are things that are impure and ritually unclean). Leviticus 11:29 mentions creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise are unclean things.
Once the baby boy was born there was to be no razor to come to his head. The child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. This little baby was chosen to be the deliverer of Israel what a responsibility.
The woman ran and told her husband what the angel of the LORD had told her. Manoah pleaded that the LORD teach them what they shall do unto the child that shall be born. The LORD heard the plea of Manoah and sent the angel again unto them.
The angel of the LORD told Manoah all that he had told the woman let her beware. Manoah asked the angel of the LORD to wait until he could fix a young male goat for him. The angel of the LORD refused to eat and suggested Manoah make it an burnt offering to the LORD God.
Manoah took the young male goat and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD. The angel of the LORD did an extraordinary thing while Manoah and his wife looked on. When the flame went up toward heaven the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar.
Then they realized that they had been speaking to an angel of the LORD. Manoah was so afraid that they were going to die because they had seen God. His wife said unto him, ìIf the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have showed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as the LORD had told them. The woman had a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. The Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of the tribe of Dan.
What Can This Story Teach Us?
The important person in this story is the mother of Samson. She is not named, never the less she plays an important part in preparing for the birth of Samson. If she was not obedient to the LORD then her baby could not fulfill the Will of the LORD.
Many times we are asked to do things that we cannot understand why we are being asked to do it. We should not question the things the LORD has us to do. We need to learn to just do them because we are asked to do so. It is called having faith in the LORD.
Manoah did not understand what they were to do for this unborn baby so he asked that the LORD explain so they could understand. When you had a task to do and need understanding then pray for that understanding and just like with Manoah the LORD God will give you the answer you seek. Just be silent and listen with your heart.
Another important point is when Manoah ask the angel for his name that they might honor him. And the angel of the LORD said unto him, “Why ask after my name, seeing it is secret?” (Judges 13:18). The angel of the LORD is a messenger. We are not to give honor to angels only to the LORD.
We are going to learn next lessons how Samson does accomplish the Will of the LORD.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Samson is Born:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1949,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, January) “Samson is Born:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1949,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “Samson is Born:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1949, (accessed).
