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SAMSON (I)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9
Judges 13:1-7

Numbers 6:1-21

 

“…ye shall be unto me a kingdom

of priests, and an holy nation…”

 

SAMSON (I)
 
Samson is the judge who is given the most extensive coverage in the book of Judges. He has four chapters to his account, and the account of his life begins with an account of an angel sent to his parents to announce his birth. Unlike the account of Gideon which focused on the call of Gideon and how God dealt with him in the preparation for his battle with the Midianites, Samson’s account delves mainly into his forays and his personal life and weaknesses even as he was used by God. Thus, Gideon’s account highlights man’s response to the sovereignty of God in calling and using him, while Samson’s account highlights man’s responsibility in maintaining a life worthy of the vocation and call to which God has called him. For all the other judges, the call of each one of them is presented as a personal one, with God dealing with them personally. For Samson, before he was born, an angel was sent to his mother.
 
“Now therefore beware, I pray thee…the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death” (Judg 13:4-7). The account begins with the first encounter of Manoah’s wife with the angel. This is set in the summary statement of the forty-year Philistine oppression with no details of how they were oppressed. The angel announced the good news that she would be a mother, and immediately gave instructions concerning her responsibility, and the child’s calling. The accounts of the other judges present the judges with respect to the duty of their call. In Samson’s case, what is emphasised is not what he shall do, but what he should be. The duty of the other judges were to be done by the strength and empowering of the LORD. The Spirit of the LORD repeatedly coming upon them points to this. In the case of Samson, the purity of life and consecration to God, not only during the days of service, but the whole of life, is emphasised as pointed out in the angel’s visit to Manoah’s wife. Note also that Manoah’s wife did not negotiate these terms, nor did she raise any question. Her first response was to relay to her husband her encounter with the angel. God’s service must be on God’s terms; man’s responsibility is simply to comply.
 
THOUGHT: As children of God, holiness must be our standard and aim.
PRAYER: Grant, O Father, that we may abide in Christ and obey His Word for Thy praise and glory all the days of our lives.

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