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Disobedience always brings judgment. The Israelites present a perfect example of what we are not to do. Instead of learning from experience that God will always punish rebellion against Him, they continued to disobey and suffer God’s displeasure and discipline. If we continue in disobedience, we invite God’s discipline, not because He enjoys our suffering, but “because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son” (Hebrews 12:6).
The Book of Judges is a testament to God’s faithfulness. Even “if we are faithless, He will remain faithful” (2 Timothy 2:13). Though we may be unfaithful to Him, as the Israelites were, still He is faithful to save us and preserve us (1 Thessalonians 5:24) and to forgive us when we seek forgiveness (1 John 1:9). “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful” (1 Corinthians 1:8-9)
Samson’s life is one of contradiction. He was a man of great physical strength yet displayed great moral weakness. He was a judge for 20 years and “a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth” (Judges 13:5), yet he continually broke the rules of a Nazirite. The Spirit of God came upon him many times, giving him great strength to fight the Philistines, the oppressors of the Israelites. This in spite of the fact that Samson was a womanizer and a vengeful man. Samson’s life illustrates the necessity of saying “no” to fleshly temptation, God’s use of even flawed, sinful men to accomplish His will, the consequences of sin, and the mercy of God.
The life of Samson – his birth
Samson’s story begins with the announcement of his birth. A Danite man named Manoah was married to a woman who was unable to have children (Judges 13:2). The angel of the Lord visited the wife and told her, “You are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son” (verse 3). The angel also commanded her to follow the rules of the Nazirite during her pregnancy—no fermented drink, nothing made of grapes, and no non-kosher food. The woman told Manoah, and he prayed that the angel would pay them another visit and give more information about their future son’s upbringing (verse 8).
Book of Judges: Guarding the Heart pt. 1, “Small Compromises”, Judges 13
Philistines Oppress Again – Judges 13:1-5 NASB1995
“1 Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, so that the Lord gave them into the hands of the Philistines forty years.
2 There was a certain man of Torah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had borne no children. 3 Then the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son. 4 Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. 5 For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” ” – Judges 13:1-5 NASB1995
God answered Manoah’s prayer. The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife again, and she ran to get her husband. The angel then repeated his message to Manoah, who asked the angel’s name. In response, the angel said, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding” (Judges 13:18). Manoah then sacrificed a goat on a rock, and “as the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame” (verse 20). Only then did Manoah realize whom they had been speaking to: “‘We are doomed to die!’ he said to his wife. ‘We have seen God!’” (verse 22).