Judges 13-15
An Overview of Chapter 13
Again the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and were given to the Philistines as slaves for forty years. During this time an angel of the Lord visited a barren woman whose husband, Manoah, was from the tribe of Dan. The angel told her that she will give birth to a son and that from the womb he would be a Nazarite. When the woman told her husband he asked God to see the angel for himself. His wish was granted and the angel repeated his message to Manoah. Manoah asked the angel to stay so they could eat, but the angel said instead of eating offer the meal as a sacrifice to the Lord. As the sacrifice was burning the angel ascended to heaven in the smoke. Manoah and his wife then realized that it was not an angel, it was the Lord, so they worshipped God.
The woman gave birth to Samson and the Lord blessed Samson and sent His Spirit to Samson.
An Overview of Chapter 14
Samson saw a pretty Philistine woman and begged his parents to let him marry her. His parents were not happy about it, but Samson was insistent that she be his wife. We also discover that the Lord would use this mixed marriage to take advantage of the Philistines. On his way to visit his girlfriend Samson killed a lion with the help of the Lord. Later that lion was filled with honey which Samson and his parents ate. At the wedding feast Samson challenged his 30 groomsmen with a riddle about the lion. The winner would get 30 new outfits. The men could not figure it out so they convinced Samson’s wife to help them. She convinced Samson to tell her and she told the answer to the men. Samson was so angry that he killed 30 men and took their clothes to pay his debt, then he left his wife. She hooked up with Samson’s best friend.
An Overview of Chapter 15
Some time later Samson decided he wanted his wife back, but found out she was with his best friend. This really angered Samson so he caught 300 foxes, tied them together in twos and put torches in their tales then let them run through the Philistines crops. The end result was that the Philistines crops were destroyed. As retribution the Philistines burned Samson’s father in law and his wife.
Samson then decided to take revenge for their death and he killed all the men involved, then hid out in a rock in Judah. The Philistines came looking for him and the leaders of Judah gave him up to them bound with rope. The Spirit of the Lord empowered Samson and he broke out of his bonds and slaughtered 1000 men with a donkey’s jaw bone. Then the Lord miraculously provided Samson with a drink of water. Samson became the judge of Israel for 20 years.
Reflection
When God gives a message to your spouse do you trust them or request that the message be given to you as well? When you see God working, do you take the time to worship Him? What undesirable circumstances has God used in your life to do His work? Do you respond to problems with anger? How has the Spirit of the Lord come upon you in the past? How has the Lord miraculously provided for you?
For Further Study
Nazarite: Numbers 6:1-21, 1Samuel 1:11, Luke 1:15, Acts 18:18.
Again the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and were given to the Philistines as slaves for forty years. During this time an angel of the Lord visited a barren woman whose husband, Manoah, was from the tribe of Dan. The angel told her that she will give birth to a son and that from the womb he would be a Nazarite. When the woman told her husband he asked God to see the angel for himself. His wish was granted and the angel repeated his message to Manoah. Manoah asked the angel to stay so they could eat, but the angel said instead of eating offer the meal as a sacrifice to the Lord. As the sacrifice was burning the angel ascended to heaven in the smoke. Manoah and his wife then realized that it was not an angel, it was the Lord, so they worshipped God.
The woman gave birth to Samson and the Lord blessed Samson and sent His Spirit to Samson.
An Overview of Chapter 14
Samson saw a pretty Philistine woman and begged his parents to let him marry her. His parents were not happy about it, but Samson was insistent that she be his wife. We also discover that the Lord would use this mixed marriage to take advantage of the Philistines. On his way to visit his girlfriend Samson killed a lion with the help of the Lord. Later that lion was filled with honey which Samson and his parents ate. At the wedding feast Samson challenged his 30 groomsmen with a riddle about the lion. The winner would get 30 new outfits. The men could not figure it out so they convinced Samson’s wife to help them. She convinced Samson to tell her and she told the answer to the men. Samson was so angry that he killed 30 men and took their clothes to pay his debt, then he left his wife. She hooked up with Samson’s best friend.
An Overview of Chapter 15
Some time later Samson decided he wanted his wife back, but found out she was with his best friend. This really angered Samson so he caught 300 foxes, tied them together in twos and put torches in their tales then let them run through the Philistines crops. The end result was that the Philistines crops were destroyed. As retribution the Philistines burned Samson’s father in law and his wife.
Samson then decided to take revenge for their death and he killed all the men involved, then hid out in a rock in Judah. The Philistines came looking for him and the leaders of Judah gave him up to them bound with rope. The Spirit of the Lord empowered Samson and he broke out of his bonds and slaughtered 1000 men with a donkey’s jaw bone. Then the Lord miraculously provided Samson with a drink of water. Samson became the judge of Israel for 20 years.
Reflection
When God gives a message to your spouse do you trust them or request that the message be given to you as well? When you see God working, do you take the time to worship Him? What undesirable circumstances has God used in your life to do His work? Do you respond to problems with anger? How has the Spirit of the Lord come upon you in the past? How has the Lord miraculously provided for you?
For Further Study
Nazarite: Numbers 6:1-21, 1Samuel 1:11, Luke 1:15, Acts 18:18.
posted by Shaun Sells | 9:33 AM
2 Comments:
Pastor, how do you know when the Lord is speaking to your heart?
Over the years of following Him I have come to recognize His voice. For me it is generally scripture that comes to mind. Often times I am feeling that I need to say something or do something, but until scripture comes to mind I don't move too quickly. There are other ways, but that is the most common for me. I find it amazing as I read through the Bible how scripture seems to jump out at me as useful in a situation I have been praying about or considering.
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