Samson -- Deliverer in Need of Deliverance
Judges 13
8/30/09
INTRODUCTION
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snufwP5SO-Y&NR=1
He-Man is a heroic fictional character in the Masters of the Universe franchise. He is the alter ego of Prince Adam and also the twin brother of She-Ra. He-Man and his friends defend Eternia and the secrets of Castle Grayskull from the evil forces of Skeletor.
It is my belief that for many children when they hear the stories of Samson in the Bible he appears to be the Christian version of He-man, the strong, valiant, hero, who delivers the Tribes of Israel from the Philistines.
Perhaps we have false portrayed him this way, because his life seems to be such an enigma. There are many fallen heroes encountered from Genesis to Revelation, but none looms greater than Samson.
He was ’a He-man with a she-weakness’ --
Powerful and feared by men, Samson was weak and controlled by women.
He could thousands of men, let betray his greatest secrets to women.
He was empowered by the Spirit of God, yet he yielded his body to the appetites of the flesh.
Samson is a Picture of a Deliverer in Need of Deliverance.
He is a picture of someone who accomplishes much in the kingdom yet personally fails.
IN GOD’S DELIVERANCE STORY, OUR HERITAGE AND OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS NEVER EXCUSE PERSONAL COMPROMISE.
I. Cultural Back Ground
The Philistines were great in military
strength of their day. They controlled the secrets of smelting iron.
Bronze was previously used to make tools because its melting point is lower than that of iron. The Iron Age began with the development of higher temperature smelting techniques. During the Iron Age, the best tools and weapons were made from steel, an alloy consisting of iron with a carbon content between 0.02% and 1.7% by weight. Steel weapons and tools were nearly the same weight as those of bronze, but stronger. However, steel was difficult to produce with the methods available. Therefore, many Iron Age tools were fashioned of wrought iron.
They subdue Israel with different weapons.
* Trade
* Intermarriage
* Business and Pleasure
If the Israelites wanted an axe or a plough, they had to go to the Philistines to get it, they had to go to their oppressors.
1 Samuel 13.
If they wanted to marry the sons or the daughters of the Philistines, the Philistines had no objection to them doing it, indeed they encouraged it because in it they saw that they were getting a stranglehold over God’s people.
II. We can fail in God’s deliverance story despite a promising start:
Judg 13
A. Child of Promise
Judg 13:2-7
2 A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was sterile and remained childless. 3 The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, "You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son. 4 Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, 5 because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines."
6 Then the woman went to her husband and told him, "A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn’t ask him where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name. 7 But he said to me, ’You will conceive and give birth to a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from birth until the day of his death.’"
NIV
This news would have reminded Samson’s parents of the story of the Isaac the Patriarch. They understood that as a child of promise, he had incredible purpose and potential in what God would do in the Land.
B. Incredible parents:
Understanding the significance that they will bear a child of promise, Manoah and his wife become ideal parents for their son. Listen to what they were like as parents.
1. prayed for him
8 Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: "O Lord, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born."
2. they sought divine guidance for their child.
8 Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: "O Lord, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born."
3. they honored God, and God things in their home.
Judg 13:15-17
15 Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you."
16 The angel of the LORD replied, "Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD." (Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the LORD.)
17 Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the LORD, "What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?"
18 He replied, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding." 19 Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the LORD. And the LORD did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: 20 As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame.
4. they feared the Lord
Judg13:20 As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground. 21 When the angel of the LORD did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the LORD.
22 "We are doomed to die!" he said to his wife. "We have seen God!"
23 But his wife answered, "If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this."
C. Set apart as holy
Judges 13:7
No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines."
1. Nazirite Vows
Normally taken for a temporary period of time are declared to be the rule for Samson to live by. Jewish tradition prescribed 30 days or a double period of 60 or even triple time of 90 to 100 days. Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist were the only "Nazirites for life" recorded in the Bible. Before they were born, their vows were taken for them by their parents.
(from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
2. Nazirite Requirements
Numbers Chapter 6 gives us the requirements or directives for taking a Nazirite vow. I am going to list the different aspects of this vow and see if I can gain some understanding of the vow and how it impacts the scripture in later passages.
- It is for men and women who want to separate themselves to the Lord. Verse 2
- He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink... he shall not drink vinegar of wine, vinegar of strong drink, liquor of grapes or eat moist grapes or dried grapes all the days of the vow. Verse 3
- He shall eat nothing made from the vine tree, the kernels or the husk. Verse 4
- No razor shall come upon his head all the days of the vow. The purpose of this long hair was to serve as a visible sign of the Nazirite’s consecration to the Lord. (from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
- He shall come to no dead body all the days of his vow. He shall not make himself unclean for father, mother, brother or sister when they die. Verses 6 & 7
- If someone should die suddenly by his side, he shall be defiled and go through a cleansing process and offer sacrifices and then the vow shall begin from the beginning. The days served shall not count toward the fulfillment of the vow. Verses 9 -- 13
- When the days of the vow were fulfilled the man is to shave his head at the tabernacle and offer sacrifices. Verses 13 -- 21
D. Experienced the Power of the Holy Spirit
24 The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the LORD blessed him, 25 and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
As he grows he is blessed by God. God favors him, likely with strength and agility. God was with him in benefit.
The breath of God begins to stir in him as he grows. Samson experiences the moving the, urging the directing of the Holy Spirit on him. He will have no excuse for some the decisions he makes that are outside of the leading of God’s spirit because he knows and understands what it’s like to be led.
II. Lessons from a Promising Start
A. Parents influence the role their children will discover in God’s deliverance story.
B. Prayer, seeking his guidance, honoring an fearing God in our homes creates and environment for children to discover their role in the kingdom
C. The rule of life we live be helps determine who we are and what we will by entrusted with in God’s deliverance story.
D. Experiencing the blessing of God and the presence of his Holy Spirit prepares us for our role in God’s Kingdom.
