Judges 13

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Birth of Samson

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The mother of Samson is a godly model for all wives.

  2. The father of Samson is a godly model for all husbands.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let's watch for God's wonders.

QUESTIONS

  1. Outline the first two stages of the seventh and last sin cycle in the Book of Judges.

  2. Explain what is meant by the statement, "The seven sin cycles in the Book of Judges appear to spiral downward."

  3. How was the birth of Samson announced?

  4. What does it mean to be a Nazarite? What were the restrictions?

ANSWERS

  1. a. Rebellion- The children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord (13:1) b. Retribution- The Lord allowed the Philistines to oppress Israel for forty years (13:1).

  2. The sins of the people became greater and their response to the Lord was less. In this last cycle (Judges 13-16), we don't read of a response to the Lord. Also, the Philistines are not completely defeated. Samson only begins to deliver Israel out of the hands of the enemy (13:5).

  3. His birth was announced to his mother by the Angel of the Lord (13:3).

  4. A Nazarite was someone who was separated from the ways of the world and separated unto the Lord. Restrictions: could not drink wine, could not touch anything unclean, including anything dead, and could not cut his hair.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Samson's mother was a godly woman. Scripture indicates this because she submitted to the will of God. There was no complaining or bitterness about her barrenness or about the restrictions that would be placed on her son. She also submitted to her husband, respecting him and sharing everything with him. Read 1 Peter 3:5. If you are a wife, do you submit to your husband? If you are a mother, are you a godly mother?

  2. Samson's father was a godly man. Scripture indicates that he, too, submitted to the will of God. When his wife told him of the Lord's visit he prayed for confirmation. He honored his wife by listening to her and by recognizing that God had spoken to her. Read 1 Peter 3:7. If you are a husband, do you honor your wife? If you are a father, are you a godly father?

  3. Samson's parents were godly parents, but Samson did not turn out to be the most godly person. He broke all the requirements of his Nazarite vow. His parents must have cried many nights together over many of their son's willful actions. Godly parents, don't blame yourselves if your children are not going straight, even though you have brought them up in the admonition of the Lord. There are other factors.

CHALLENGE

  1. The Lord did a wondrous thing while Manoah and his wife looked on (13:19-20). That's the way the Lord is. However, we too often miss the wondrous things He does because we are not watching. Be sure to watch for God's wonders, especially watch for His return.

KEY VERSES

  • "The Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman (awesome)...and to Manoah." Judges 13:1, 6, 9, 11

  • "The Angel of the Lord said, 'Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?'...He did a wondrous thing." Judges 13:18-20

  • "His name will be called Wonderful..." Isaiah 9:6

Judges, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid