Samson - The Right Man For The Right Job Judges 13:1-14:4/Hebrews 11:32-33

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1 Samson - The Right Man For The Right Job Judges 13:1-14:4/Hebrews 11:32-33 Message by Michael J. Barnard March 4, 2018 Teaching Aim: To explore the circumstances surrounding the birth of Israel s 14 th and last Judge: Samson. To understand the significance of the Nazirite vow and realize why this commitment was so unusual in Samson s case. To recognize even the heroes of the faith struggled with weaknesses; in Samson s case it was beautiful women. To realize God sovereignly overrode Samson s evil behavior in order to bring about the defeat of the Philistines! DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD S WORD (BIBLE STUDY) Part I: God blesses the Jewish people with a Judge and deliverer (Judg. 13:1-11) 1. As we come to the last of Israel s Judges, for the seventh and final time in the Book of Judges we see the Israelites back in the cycle of apostasy, servitude, supplication and salvation. This time however, there is no record of the people praying to God for help. God in His grace provides the help the Israelites need in a child. What is the name of this child? 2. When people walk away from the LORD, consequences follow. According to verse 1, how did God punish the Israelites? Note: This was the longest period of oppression against the Israelites recorded in the Book of Judges. Have you ever suffered consequences for being disobedient to the Lord? If so, how? 3. The Philistines were much more advanced than we generally believe. They were the Sea Peoples who had migrated from an area of Greece somewhere around 1,200 B.C. What can we learn about the Philistines from 1 Sam. 13:19-20? How did this affect King Saul s ability to fight them? (See 1 Sam. 13:22) How did this military superiority relate to Samson s day? 4. What can we learn about Manoah and his wife from verse 2? Who made a surprise visit to Manoah s wife in verse 3? What message did He bring? What other births in the Bible were announced ahead of time by an angel? Were there any other people in the Bible who were to be Nazirites from birth? If so, who? (See 1 Sam. 1:11; Luke 1:15) 1

2 5. What three restrictions did the Angel of the LORD place upon the baby s mother (vv. 4-5)? Why? What is the meaning of the word, Nazirite? Who are some of the other famous Nazirites in the Bible? (Hint: Google it) 6. According to verse 6, did Manoah s wife think she was talking to an angel or to a man of God (a prophet)? What did the countenance of this Man remind her of? Was the appearance of the Angel of the LORD similar to what we see portrayed in modern culture today, or did he have the appearance of a man? What are some of the modern-day fallacies about angels today? 7. In verse 7, the woman relayed to her husband the instructions communicated to her that the child was to be a Nazirite from the moment of conception. What does this revelation teach us about when life begins? Why is this important to the current abortion debate? What additional details can we learn about the Nazirite vow from Num. 6:1-8? 8. What was Manoah s reaction to his wife s story (vs. 8)? What two requests did Manoah have for the LORD? How did God respond to Manoah s prayer (vs. 9)? Who was missing when the Angel of the LORD appeared (vs. 10)? How did Manoah s wife react this time? What can we learn from Matt. 7:7-8 about prayer? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your prayer life? 9. Manoah quickly followed his wife (vs. 11). Does Manoah s response in verse 11 to the man of God seem a little rude to you? Why or why not? What if any significance is there to the way the Angel of the LORD responded to Manoah s question in verse 11? Part II: A father unknowingly speaks to the Angel of the LORD (Judg. 13:12-25) 1. Manoah was excited about having a son. His wife had been barren; perhaps the couple thought they would never be able to have a child. What two things did Manoah request of the visitor (vs. 12)? How did the Angel of the LORD respond to Manoah s requests (vv )? 2

3 2. Notice that the Angel of the LORD does not give Manoah any instructions on how to raise the child, this instruction had already been given (vv ). (See Deut. 6:4-8) Where can we find the instructions we need to raise our children today? 3. Why do you think Manoah tried to delay his guest (vs. 15)? How did Manoah s response relate to Near Eastern culture of the time? Can we expect the same of that culture today? 4. What surprising response did the Angel of the LORD have to Manoah s hospitality (vs. 16)? Who would receive glory through this special offering of food? 5. What question did Manoah ask this visitor whom he still thought was a man (vs. 17)? Why? How did the Angel of the LORD respond in verse 18? Note: In ancient times, the greater did not have to give his name to the lesser. (See Gen. 32:27-30) What hint did the Angel of the Lord give to Manoah in verse 18? Who else is described this way in Scripture? (See Isa. 9:6-7) 6. Did Manoah obey the Angel of the LORD (vs. 19)? If so, how? What miraculous event took place following Manoah s offering (vs. 20a)? How did Manoah and his wife respond to this manifestation of God s glory? Can you think of any other examples of people who fell on their faces when in the presence of the holy? (See Luke 5:4-11; Rev. 19:10) 7. How many more times after this miracle did the Angel of the LORD appear to Manoah and his wife again (vs. 21)? What was Manoah s conclusion to what they had witnessed (vs. 22)? Why? (See Exod. 33:18-20) Why do you think people can t see the face of God and live today? 3

4 8. Manoah s wife seemed to keep her cool better than Manoah did in verse 23. What conclusion did she come to? According to verse 24, what did the couple name their son (vs. 24)? What is the meaning of this child s name and how did the meaning relate to the day in which he lived? (See Commentaries) How is the description in the last part of verse 24 similar to that of another deliverer: Jesus? (See Luke 2:52) 9. Verse 25 indicates that a major change began to take place in Samson s life at Mahaneh Dan (or the Camp of Dan) while he lived between Zorah and Eshtaol. What caused this change (vs. 25)? What are some ways the Holy Spirit has changed your life since coming to Christ? Part III: A major weakness in Samson s character revealed (Judg. 14:1-4) 1. Judges 14 picks up the story of Samson after he is an adult. Taking a journey of only a few miles from his home, Samson went into Philistine territory (vs. 1). Verse 1 reveals a major weakness in Samson s character, what is it? In the Jewish culture, the father had complete power in arranging marriages. What did Samson demand from his parents in verse 2? How should Manoah have responded to his special son? 2. Samson s parents tried to reason with him rather than simply saying, No! Why were his parents so concerned about Samson marrying a Philistine bride (vs. 3)? (See Deut. 7:1-4) What was the danger of intermarriage? Did Samson care? What is the danger of believers marrying unbelievers today? (See 2 Cor. 6:14-15) Why do you think so many believers don t care? 3. Make no mistake about it, Samson was being disobedient to God and His Word. What did Samson s father and mother not realize (vs. 25)? Does God still take evil intent today and turn it around for good? (See Rom. 8:28) How has God helped you when someone meant evil for you? 4

5 MINER S CORNER ~ Manna to live by! Israel suffered forty years of oppression at the hand of the Philistines because of the nation s disobedience! There will be consequences to pay whenever people walk away from the LORD! The word Nazirite means to separate or to dedicate ; in this case to the LORD! Samson was God s gift to Israel; a Judge to begin delivering them from Philistine oppression! The Angel of the LORD does not appear again in the Bible after the birth of Christ; this leads many to believe that the Angel of the LORD was a pre-incarnate manifestation of Christ! Samson s parents demonstrated poor parental skills in allowing him to always have his way! God s grace in no way justifies believers to live a sinful lifestyle! The encouraging news is, if God could use Samson with his weaknesses; He can use us with ours today! 5