Not Again!
March 1, 2006 - Judges 13.1-25
Open It
What three words would you use to describe your family?
What do you think is the biggest challenge of parenting?
What would you say are the greatest rewards of being a parent?
Explore It
Why did the Philistines have power over Israel? (13:1)
What instructions and promise did the angel of the Lord give to Manoah's wife? (13:2-5)
What did the woman do when the angel of the Lord appeared to her? (13:6)
How did Manoah react to the news his wife received from the Lord? (13:8)
How did the Lord answer Manoah's prayer? (13:9)
Under what circumstances did the angel appear to the woman a second time? (13:9)
What did Manoah want to find out from the angel of the Lord? (13:12)
Why did the angel advise Manoah to prepare a burnt offering rather than a meal? (13:16)
What amazed Manoah and his wife? (13:19-20)
How did Manoah and his wife react when they saw the angel ascend in the flame of their offering? (13:20)
When did Manoah realize that he had seen an angel of the Lord? (13:21)
Why did Manoah think he and his wife would die? (13:22)
How did Manoah's wife respond to her husband's fearful prediction? (13:23)
Get It
What kind of people were Manoah and his wife?
In what ways was Manoah's wife prepared to be the mother of Samson?
Keeping in mind that she was childless, how do you imagine Manoah's wife felt when the angel told her she would have a child?
How have you experienced the compassion and forgiveness of the Lord?
Apply It
What is one way you can remind yourself or a friend of God's goodness?
What new perspective could you have this week on a difficult situation in your life?
In what way could you encourage a friend or family member who is dealing with disappointment or loss?
Notes
Judges 13:1ff: Once again the cycle of sin, judgment, and repentance began (Judges 3:8-9, 14-15; Judges 4:1-4; Judges 6:1-14; Judges 10:6-11:11). The Israelites would not turn to God unless they had been stunned by suffering, oppression, and death. This suffering was not caused by God, but resulted from the fact that the people ignored God, their Judge and Ruler.
Judges 13:5: Samson was to be a Nazirite-a person who took a vow to be set apart for God's service. Samson's parents made the vow for him. A Nazirite vow was sometimes temporary, but in Samson's case, it was for life. As a Nazirite, Samson could not cut his hair, touch a dead body, or drink anything containing alcohol.
Judges 13:5: Manoah's wife was told that her son would begin the deliverance of Israel from Philistine oppression. It wasn't until David's day that the Philistine opposition was completely crushed (2 Samuel 8:1). Samson's part in subduing the Philistines was just the beginning, but it was important nonetheless.
Judges 13:18: Why did the angel keep his name a secret? In those days people believed that if they knew someone's name, they knew his character and how to control him. By not giving his name, the angel was not allowing himself to be controlled by Manoah. He was also saying that his name was a mystery beyond understanding and too wonderful to imagine.
Judges 13:19: Manoah sacrificed a grain offering to the Lord. A grain offering was grain, oil, and flour shaped into a cake and burned on the altar along with the burnt offering (the young goat). The grain offering, described in Leviticus 2, was offered to God as a sign of honor, respect, and worship.
Judges 13:25: Samson's tribe, Dan, continued to wander in their inherited land (Judges 18:1), which was yet unconquered (Joshua 19:47-48). Samson must have grown up with his warlike tribe's yearnings for a permanent and settled territory. Thus his visits to the tribal army camp stirred his heart, and God's Spirit began preparing him for his role as judge and leader against the Philistines.