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With New Testament Eyes: 25 - The birth of Samson

By Henry Mahan


      Judges 13:1-25

      The preacher of the gospel of Christ will find many things about Samson which will enable him to illustrate the person and work of Christ Jesus.

      Samson's birth was miraculous, his mother being barren--God sent him.

      Samson's birth was foretold by an angel of the Lord.

      Samson was sanctified from the womb--a Nazarite.

      Samson was a MIGHTY man who destroyed the enemy and delivered Israel.

      But a whole chapter in God's word is given to the appearance of the angel of the Lord to Samson's mother and father; and in this chapter we find some strong assurance and confidence in our Samson, the Lord Jesus Christ.

      v. 1. 'The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord.' This evil was IDOLATRY, a sin they were prone to and of which they were frequently guilty. God delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years as punishment for their idolatry.

      vv. 2-5. The angel of the Lord appeared unto the wife of Manoah, of the tribe of Dan. The woman was barren and had never conceived. He told her that she would bear a SPECIAL SON, who would be a Nazarite from the womb and would mightily deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

      A Nazarite was a man or woman who, under Hebrew law, bound himself to abstain from wine and all products of the grape, to wear long, uncut hair, and to observe various forms of purification in the service of the Lord. The period of observance of the vow varied but may cover a lifetime. When the period was concluded, offerings were made, the hair was cut and burned, and the Nazarite was discharged from his vow (Num. 6:1-21).

      Paul assisted four Christian Jews in this ceremony (Acts 21:20- 26).

      vv. 6-8. The woman came and told her husband all that she had seen and heard, and Manoah prayed unto the Lord that he would again send the messenger of God and further instruct them concerning the child.

      vv. 9-14. The angel of the Lord appeared again unto them. We have no doubt that this was the Lord Jesus Christ himself, who often appeared in human form to saints in Old Testament times (Gen. 14:l8; Gen. 32:30; Judges 6:22-24). Verses 18 and 22 indicate that this angel of the Lord was Christ. His name is secret or wonderful (Isa. 9:6). Other angels did not hesitate to identify themselves (Luke 1:19; Dan. 10:13).

      vv. 15-22. Manoah asked the man of God to allow him to offer a lamb before him; but he declined saying, 'If you would offer a burnt offering, offer it to the Lord.' Manoah did not know that this was the angel of the Lord, though his countenance was unusual (v. 6); so he would have been honoring the creature rather than the creator (v. 17). So Manoah offered a kid upon a rock unto the Lord: and as the flame and smoke arose, the man or angel of the Lord ascended to heaven in the flame. Manoah and his wife fell on their faces, realizing that this man was indeed the angel of the Lord! Manoah said to his wife, 'We shall surely die, because we have seen God' (Exo. 33:20). His faith wavered in the presence of such miracles and majesty.

      v. 23. But Manoah's wife was strong in faith and wisdom, and she encouraged him with a three-fold argument. May we, as believers in the grace and mercy of God in Christ Jesus, be encouraged by the same arguments.

      1. 'If the Lord intended to destroy us, he would not have received the burnt offering.'

      We were commanded by the Lord to offer a burnt offering, which we did; and C, the Lord was pleased to show his approval and acceptance by ascending in the very flame of the sacrifice.

      Our Lamb has been sacrificed on Calvary. By faith we look to Christ, the Lamb of God. 'For God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself' (2 Cor. 5:19). It cannot be that Christ loved the church and died for it and the church die also. It cannot be that the Lord laid on him our iniquity and on us also. The Lord Jesus is himself our sacrifice and has not only died but arose and ascended to God's right hand (Heb. 1:3). This is our assurance of grace and mercy.

      2. 'If the Lord intended to destroy us, he would not have showed us all these things.'

      He showed himself in two appearances. He showed us his acceptance of the sacrifice by identifying himself with it. Our Lord has revealed himself to the sons of Adam in the person of the Lord Jesus (John 10:30; John 14:9). Our Lord has revealed his justice, holiness, and righteousness in the sacrifice of his own dear Son (Rom. 3:25-26). Our Lord has showed us the way of life in the obedience and death of Christ. If he did not purpose to save a people, why would he reveal to them Christ, the way of life? (John 14:6).

      3. 'If the Lord intended to destroy us, would he have told us such wonderful things as these?'

      The word to us is that we will have a son called Samson, who would indeed deliver us from bondage. This is the foundation of our faith--to believe God! (Rom. 4:19-25). When we are depressed or filled with doubt and fear, go to the word, the promises of God, and believe! Believe not your feelings nor your human reason, but believe God! God has told us the Saviour would come; he has come! The Old Testament says, 'Someone is coming;' the New Testament says, 'Someone has come and will come again' (Isa. 7:14; Isa. 9:6; John 4:25-26).

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See Also:
   Foreward & Acknowledgements
   1 - The Fall
   2 - Abel's Offering
   3 - The Ark Of Noah
   4 - Sarah and Hagar; Law and Grace
   5 - The Lord Will Provide
   6 - A Bride for the Heir
   7 - Bethel - The House of God
   8 - Peniel - The Face of God
   9 - Joseph Opens the Storehouses
   10 - Joseph and His Brothers
   11 - Shiloh
   12 - The Passover
   13 - The Manna
   14 - Water from the rock
   15 - The Blood Before the Lord
   16 - The Ram of Consecration
   17 - The Day of Atonement
   18 - Caleb - The Faithful Dog
   19 - The High Priest Intercedes
   20 - The Brazen Serpent
   21 - A Prophet Like Moses
   22 - The Cities of Refuge
   23 - Joshua
   24 - The Scarlet Line in the Window
   25 - The birth of Samson
   26 - The Kinsman Redeemer
   27 - The Song of Hannah
   28 - Give us a King
   29 - Saul's Great Sin
   30 - David and Mephibosheth
   31 - Why God Permitted David to Fall
   32 - Comfort from God's Covenant
   33 - I Will Not Offer to God that which Cost me Nothing
   34 - The Queen of Sheba Comes to Solomon
   35 - Three Examples of Faith
   36 - Where is the Lord God of Elijah?
   37 - Empty Vessels Filled
   38 - Naaman, the Leper
   39 - Open his Eyes that He may See
   40 - Four Lepers Teach us a Lesson
   41 - Nehushtan--A Piece of Brass
   42 - Bringing Back the Ark
   43 - Uzziah's Great Transgression
   44 - Four Things Learned in Trouble
   45 - How Can Man be Just With God?
   46 - Three Vital Questions
   47 - I Know that my Redeemer Liveth
   48 - Now Mine Eye Seeth Thee
   49 - The Psalm of Messiah the King
   50 - God's two great books
   51 - The Psalm of the Cross
   52 - The Lord is my Shepherd
   53 - True God - True Israel - True Redeemer
   54 - Eight Great Precepts
   55 - My Hope is in Thee
   56 - Many, O Lord, Are Thy Wonderful Works
   57 - A Song of Love
   58 - The Sinner's Prayer
   59 - My Rock and my Salvation
   60 - Our Lord's Sufferings for Our Sins
   61 - Mercy and Truth are Met Together
   62 - The Victory of the Messiah
   63 - Bless the Lord, O my Soul
   64 - Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So
   65 - The King-Priest
   66 - The Chief Cornerstone
   67 - The Observer and the Observed
   68 - Praise the Lord O my Soul
   69 - Wisdom in Christ
   70 - The Conclusion of the Whole Matter
   71 - Remember Now Thy Creator
   72 - My Beloved is Mine and I am His
   73 - What is Thy Beloved more than Another Beloved?
   74 - The Lord Our Righteousness
   75 - The Believers Hope
   76 - From Nothing to Everything
   77 - Lost, Driven Away, Broken, Sick
   78 - Can These Bones Live?
   79 - Four Things God Taught Nebuchadnezzar
   80 - Thy God Will Deliver Thee
   81 - Hosea--Type of Christ
   82 - A Famine to be Feared
   83 - Salvation is of the Lord
   84 - A Fountain Opened for Mourners
   85 - The Messenger of the Covenant

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