God’s Chosen Deliverer

August 7, 2011

Lesson: Judges 13:1–8, 24–25

Key Verses: Judges 13:24–25

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Introduction:

Samson, the son of Manoah, from the town of Zorah in the tribe of Dan, fulfilled the office of judge for twenty years. The Lord had chosen Samson as His servant at birth. Manoah bore a son “and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.”

The Philistines, sometimes referred to as “the sea people,” came originally from Caphtor on the island of Crete. They failed in their invasion of Egypt, settling on the coast of Canaan. They invaded the land of Dan and Judah, becoming a thorn in the flesh of Israel even to the David’s reign. The time of Samson was not a pretty sight to behold, with thousands upon thousands being slain, with sin beguiling them without and within. It is not a time foreign to that of today, with its deceit and its wars, reminding us that the battle continues, the principalities and powers of this wicked world moving against God’s people. However, it is Christ, by way of His cross, that “having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:14–15).

The Spirit of God, having chosen Samson as a judge of Israel, moves His servant to do battle with the enemy, to win the battle to the glory of God; as when the “Spirit of the Lord” began to move Samson “in the camp of Dan” with might and strength, tearing a young lion “having nothing in his hand” (Judges 14:6); and when Samson slew thirty men at Ashkelon (14:19); and when the Spirit came mightily upon him and the cords that bound him became as wax burnt with fire, his freed hands finding a jawbone of a donkey, he “slew a thousand men” (15:16).

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A Son is Given—Judges 13:1-5

Again and again; lessons are hard learned, even for the children of God. The Lord is longsuffering with His people, as they continually turn their eyes to the world which brings them to cry out again and again for a Deliverer. However, before they could find hope in a deliverer, they had to learn the depth of their transgression: “And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.” The children of God would have to live under the rule of their neighbor. The Philistines were a violent people. For forty years they would be reminded of their transgression, yet without repentance.

However, the Lord had never left His people without a Deliverer. Again the Lord reveals His covenant love for His people, that by His grace they are delivered: “And there was a certain man of Zorah of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and bare not.” As the people of God were barren without hope, so would this woman be the hope of Israel. For by grace we are saved, not of ourselves but of the love of God in Christ the Son. The Lord is the Deliverer of His people: “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.”

The son that the Lord would provide through the womb of this woman would be Samson, chosen of the Lord to be a judge of Israel, a deliverer. The angel revealed the divine appointment of her son, saying, “Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: for, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite (set apart/Amos 2:11) unto God from the womb: for he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” Matthew Henry made this observation: It is very desirable that our children may be not only devoted entirely to God themselves, but instrumental for the good of others, and the service of their generation—not recluses, candles under a bushel, but on a candlestick. Observe that He shall begin to deliver Israel. This intimated that the oppression of the Philistines should last long, for Israel’s deliverance from it should not so much as begin, not one step be taken towards it, till this child, who was now unborn, should have grown up to a capacity of beginning it. And yet he must not complete the deliverance: he shall only begin to deliver Israel, which intimates that the trouble should still be prolonged. God chooses to carry on his work gradually and by several hands. One lays the foundation of a good work, another builds, and perhaps a third brings forth the top stone. Now herein Samson was a type of Christ.”

Discussion: How does God show His love toward His people?

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The Angel of the Lord—Judges 13:6–8

The woman tells her husband about the visit of the Angel: “A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told me his name: but he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.” Manoah “entreated the Lord, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.”

Manoah asked of the Lord, “What is thy name, when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honor? The Angel answered, “Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?” (3:17–18). The Angel declares that Manoah is in the presence of the glorious person of the Lord. The word ‘secret’ means remarkable or wonderful. M. Henry wrote: “The names of angels were not as yet revealed, to prevent the idolizing of them. After the captivity, when the church was cured of idolatry, angels made themselves known to Daniel by their names, Michael and Gabriel; and to Zacharias the angel told his name unasked (“I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings” Luke 1:19). But here it is secret, or it is wonderful, too wonderful for us. One of Christ’s names is Wonderful, His name was long a secret, but by the gospel it is brought to light: Jesus a Saviour. We rejoice today in the Savior who was named Joshua (Jesus) for He would save His people from their sins: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6).

Discussion: What is important about the message delivered by the Angel?

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The Spirit of the Lord—Judges 13:24–25

It is the Spirit of the Lord who gives strength and authority to His chosen servants. Under-shepherds who serve the King and Head of the Church (His congregation, gathering of people redeemed by the precious blood of Christ), serve by the authority and purpose of the Spirit. Without the Spirit, there is no service. Christ by the Spirit abides with us; and it is the Spirit who leads us in all truth which He has recorded in His marvelous Word.

Samson was born, and he “grew, and the Lord blessed him.” The prophets and apostles were also chosen to serve their Lord; and this appointment must be seen as given when they were still in the womb of their mother. Thus it is confirmed that the Lord blessed them as they grew. Those who are chosen as under-shepherds, as elders, etc, in the Church, the congregation of Christ, not only realize their calling is “’til death do we part’, but that the Lord had been with them to direct their path that led to the day of ordination (that day when they were set apart in the Spirit to that chosen task).

Samson came to the age when the tasks were undertaken that would deliver God’s people. A time when the Lord God Almighty would be glorified: “The Spirit of God moved Samson in the camp of Dan, that is, in the general muster of the trained bands of that tribe, who probably had formed a camp between Zorah and Eshtaol, near the place where he lived, to oppose the incursions of the Philistines. There Samson, when a child, appeared among them, and signalized himself by some very brave actions, excelling them all in manly exercises and trials of strength: and probably he showed himself more than ordinarily zealous against the enemies of his country, and discovered more of a public spirit than could be expected in a child. The Spirit moved him at times, not at all times, but as the wind blows, when he listed, to show that what he did was not from himself; for then he could have done it at any time. Strong men think themselves greatly animated by wine (Psa. 78:65), but Samson drank no wine, and yet excelled in strength and courage, and everything that was bold and brave, for he had the Spirit of God moving him; therefore be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit, who will come to those that are sober and temperate” (M. Henry).

Discussion: What does it mean that the servants of the congregation are chosen by God?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2011 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.

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