Year 7, Day 274: Judges 13

Theological Commentary: Click Here

In this chapter we get to experience the birth of Samson.  Samson is a man that I admittedly love to pick on.  It is important to remember that in all things, he was still called upon by God to save the people of God. 

Before we get to Samson, though, look at the people that God uses to bring about Samson.  Here is a woman who is barren.  In the ancient world, being unable to produce children was akin to bearing a scarlet letter of the gods’ judgment against you.  There should be little doubt that this woman lived in the specter of shame.  She may not have felt it every day of her life – at least I hope not!  But it did shroud her life.  Yet, God picked her.

Notice that God comes and talks to her, by the way.  God chooses this woman, whose name is not recorded in the Bible, to bring God’s peace to the family.  God speaks to a barren woman, a soul on the fringe of outcast.  God speaks through her.  God saves His people from the oppression of the Philistines through her.

What is also neat about this story is that her husband, Manoah, has no trouble with any of this.  An angel of the Lord comes to his wife and he is prepared to listen.  He is willing to obey and follow.  For the record, this is a pattern that we see throughout the plan of God’s salvation.  When the law is lost and rediscovered, it is the prophetess Huldah who confirms that the Law is good and it should be followed.  When Jesus is to be born, it is Mary to whom the angel appears first.  When Jesus is raised from the dead, it is Mary Magdalene who is told to bring the message to the disciples.  One of the points that we can take from this story is that God works through men and women.

What do this husband and wife do?  They live in obedience.  Manoah prays to God for more direction and he receives it.  They offer a sacrifice to the Lord.  They do as God asks.  Followers of God hold no prejudice and they live in obedience.  That’s what they do.  That’s what Manoah and his wife do.  It is these people who are the focus of God and his plan to save His people.

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