May 31 & June 1, 2025
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Reading along with us in Judges, Proverbs, and Psalms? Here’s today’s reading:
Judges 13 (NIV)
The Birth of Samson
1 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.
2 A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth.……Continue Reading
Judges 13
Judges 13-16
Judges 13
The beginning of chapter 13 it says that Israel did evil again and was delivered into the hands of the Philistines for forty years. Then it goes into Samson`s birth. There was apparently some over lapping for Samson doesn`t seem to judge unto he is a grown man wanting to marry. It doesn`t say how old he was when he started judging or how old when he died. Only that he was judge for 20 years. Of course, his childhood is not mentioned except his birth. And so much is also left out. But it is four chapters worth. Samson was chosen by the Angel of the Lord, whom it would appear is the Second Person of the Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ before being born of a virgin. He speaks to Samon`s parents before Samson is born. I find it interesting that after the offering was made that He ascended in the flame of fire of the altar. Samson right from birth was to be a Nazarite. He was not to drink wine or strong drink, not to eat anything unclean, and not to ever cut his hair. Also noted here is that his mother was barren before she was told that she would have a son. So, God is making it very clear that this is by Him and no one else. Just as God has done in other scriptures. Such as the mother of Samuel, and the mother of Jacob, and the mother of John the Baptist. Perhaps others? God bless.
So the special child that Samson was to be starts with a barren woman chosen to be a mom. She was to watch what she ate and drank and guide him to do the same. It makes sense that the dad would want to meet the person who brought the message and get further instructions, but God is gracious to give him and audience. All indicators are that it is the second member of the trinity interacting with Samson’s parents, even accepting an offering. All these things point to how special God intended Samson to be.
Judges 13
It is interesting to compare the different appearances of “the angel of the Lord” to encounters with just any angel(s). The angel of the Lord accepts a burnt offering.
God uses an unexpected person for something special once again. A barren woman will deliver a baby that clearly has a distinct and important purpose to God for His people. I love that He gives prenatal instruction to her acknowledging and recognizing that the care of our children begins in the womb and not just when they are born. A great reminder of the sanctity of life right from conception!
Judges 13