Samson Archives – Sonshine's Journal

March 11, 2022March 11, 2022

The Power of a Praying Parent &

the Boy with the Nazarite Vow

The author of Judges reminds us that the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord in Judges 13:1. But he also reminds us that even in those evil times, God had a remnant of His believers. They were praying, believing, and obeying. This should encourage us when we see the evil in our world to keep on praying, keep on being obedient, keep on trusting God.

Samson came into this world with a promise: he will be dedicated to God from birth to death. [Judges 13:7]. And again he will “begin to deliver Israel from the power of the Philistines.” [Judges 13:5] Samson knew all of this but Samson was not a child of obedience. He was one of those children that cause great anguish to his parents because of his choices. His last was the worst as he gave himself to a prostitute who was a nagger and a mocker and would be his downfall. As we listen to this we see God’s graciousness in giving Samson time to rethink and repent as he ground the Philistine’s grain. God heard his prayer and used him to fulfill the prophecy to take down the evil Philistines.

So what is the lesson we can learn from this saga? Just because you are a faithful parent does not guarantee you a faithful child. We all must make that choice for ourselves. Samson lived a life of decadence but on his deathbed, his parent’s prayer was answered.

Don’t give up praying for your wayward child. You may not see God’s answer, but He hears your prayers.

April 4, 2021April 4, 2021

How much faith do you have?

Judges 13-15 This chapter reveals a God who cares for His people even if they don’t seem to care for Him. God loves all His people, especially barren women. God, in particular, loves to bless these women. For four chapters, we read about Samson, the son of Manoah and “Mrs. Manoah.” It is the “Mrs.” that has the initial contact with the angel of God. It is she that quoted verbatim his words to her husband, Manoah. But, like the priest Zechariah, Manoah needed more confirmation.

Mr. Manoah, as well as Zechariah, may not have understood all the details about the birth to come, but they are commended for their obedience and faith as they entreated the Lord.

Mr. Manoah, like Jacob, wanted to know the name of the “man of God.” He needed confirmation on all accounts. After seeing the miracle of the flame and the rising of the angel to heaven, he then had a crisis of belief: “surely we will die for we have seen God.” But Mrs. Manoah was perceptive: look at the evidence, God answered our prayer, he accepted our offering, and he wouldn’t have shown us these things or let us hear something like this! How great was her faith! And God blessed her with a son.

When God speaks, do we believe Him 100 %! Or do we need more confirmation like Manoah and Zechariah did?

March 9, 2020

Faith Barometer

Judges 13

God loves all people, but not all people love God, unfortunately. When you read the book of Judges, you need to keep that information front and center; otherwise, you will miss the blessings that He has for you.

In Judges 13, we meet a barren woman and her husband. Both are godly people, but it seems that God, in particular, loves infertile women, and in this story, this woman, we will call her “Mrs. Manoah.” She, like Elizabeth in Luke 1 and Hannah in the book of 1Samuel, is barren. To be infertile is a stigma, and God hears her heart. For four chapters, we read about this dear woman who will soon have her heart’s desire in a son named Samson. It is the “Mrs.” who is busy in the field and meets the angel of God. It is she that quoted verbatim his words to her husband, Manoah. But, like Zechariah, when Manoah heard that his wife would bear a child, he needed more confirmation. And, both sons, John the Baptist and Samson would be a Nazarite.

Mr. Manoah may not have understood all the details about Samson’s birth, but he is commended for his obedience and faith as he entreated the Lord. And like Jacob, wants to know the name of the “man of God.” He needs confirmation on all accounts. After seeing the miracle of the flame and the rising of the angel to heaven, he then has a crisis of belief: “surely we will die for we have seen God.” Not so, Mrs. Manoah! She was perceptive: look at the evidence, God answered our prayer, he accepted our offering, he wouldn’t have shown us these things or let us hear things like this! How great was her faith! And God blessed her with a son.

When God speaks, do we believe Him 100 %! Or do we need more confirmation like Manoah and Zechariah did?