The story of Samson is a short story (only four chapters long) but dense with biblical truth and life application. But how could that be? It is the truncated story of the strongest man in the bible. It combines long-forgotten history with hyperbole and chronicles a superhero of sorts, a man with amazing strength who doesn’t quite live up to his calling. Is Samson a hero or merely a normal guy who doesn’t understand his incredible God-given power? Is he strong or weak? And most importantly, what is God trying to tell us in this small Old Testament story?
1 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.
This is the phrase that opens the story of Samson and shows us that the cycle of sin is again at play. The Israelites have fallen away again, and in doing so they have been oppressed by the Philistines for the longest amount of time in the entire Book of Judges, 40 years.
2 A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. 3 The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. 4 Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean.
When we see “Angel of the Lord,” we have to understand it appears in scripture in two different contexts. When we hear “an Angel of the Lord appeared,” this is to alert us that this is a messenger of God, like Gabriel. Also, in those instances, the Angel has to often say, “Don’t be afraid,” because the appearance is something strikingly different from an ordinary man. “The Angel of the Lord” is God, a Christphany or Theophany. As in this story, you’ll notice that Manoah’s wife is awestruck but not afraid. This is because he appears as a man, although she knows that this is no mere man.
5 You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
God can do the impossible. We’ve seen it before in the story of Abraham and Sarah, and in the New Testament Mary, Elizabeth and Zechariah. But we see something a little different here. He will “take the lead” in delivering Israel. More on that as we continue. Samson is also to be a Nazarite from birth. We need to learn a little about the Nazarite Vow. The Nazarite Vow is a temporary vow given by an individual to the Lord for a specific amount of time (Numbers 6:1-21). Here is a rundown of what the vow includes: 1. Dedication to God 2. Can be a man or woman 3. Specific Time frame 4. Specific Requirements/Restrictions A. No wine or fermented drink B. No grapes/seeds/skins C. No Haircuts D. Cannot touch a dead body 5. Sacrifice offered at conclusion
The Nazarite Vow is taken by those who wanted to show a special dedication to God. In that time the requirements had to be obeyed or the vow was dissolved and they would have to start over, meaning the head would be shaved and then they would repeat. But what about the specifics of the vow? 1. Grapes: wine, fermented drink, even the building blocks of wine could not be allowed. This was because grapes, in this culture, was foundational. Like a person who fasts deprives themselves of food, deprivation of a fundamental aspect of life was a way to grow in the spirit (inside appearance)
2. Hair: Hair was grown to show those around them they were taking this vow. It would help people understand not to tempt him, respect the vow, and also to show people he was seriously following (outside appearance)
3. Dead body: (Touching a dead body in this culture made one ceremonially unclean. If you recall, people were often ousted from the Israelite camp in the desert for doing this. (Num 19:11)
Each of these speak to the person taking the vow as a person serious about holiness. They must practice spiritual cleanliness (inside), an outward appearance (others must see he is serious), and be in a constant state of ceremonial readiness.
At the conclusion of the vow, a sacrifice would be offered. The hair would be cut and placed on the altar with the sacrifice, and once burned, the vow would end. Take the Lead- Samson’s mission isn’t to stop the Philistines, but to begin the process of Israel’s liberation. The Philistines still are a problem into the time of David, when they are ultimately vanquished.
6 Then the woman went to her husband and told him, “A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn’t ask him where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name. 7 But he said to me, ‘You will become pregnant and have a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.’”
You’ll notice that Manoah’s wife regards the angel with awe, not fear. That tells us that she is connected with God. But you will also notice that she has a large part in this too. She must be faithful to the Nazarite Vow.
8 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.” 9 God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field; but her husband Manoah was not with her. 10 The woman hurried to tell her husband, “He’s here! The man who appeared to me the other day!” 11 Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, “Are you the man who talked to my wife?” “I am,” he said. 12 So Manoah asked him, “When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule that governs the boy’s life and work?” 13 The angel of the Lord answered, “Your wife must do all that I have told her. 14 She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, nor drink any wine or other fermented drink nor eat anything unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her.”
Did you catch the faith of the parents? This is striking and important. Manoah never doubts. He doesn’t ask for verification. He simply asks for him to come again so they can understand how to bring their child up properly for God. In verse 12, Manoah says, “When your words…” as opposed to “If your words…” Manoah has a deep faith.
5 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you.” 16 The angel of the Lord replied, “Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the Lord.” (Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the Lord.)
Even without the parenthetical we can understand a great truth as to the identity of The Angel of the Lord: he accepts a sacrifice. Angels don’t do that. God does.
17 Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?” 18 He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.[a]” 19 Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the Lord. And the Lord did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: 20 As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground. 21 When the angel of the Lord did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the Lord. 22 “We are doomed to die!” he said to his wife. “We have seen God!” 23 But his wife answered, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this.”
Again we can tell that Manoah is a good man of God. He wants to show his gratitude at being a part in God’s Plan. He wants to offer a sacrifice. And when it dawns on him that this is truly God, he hits the floor and thinks he’s doomed. Why? Exodus 33:20. Manoah obviously knows the scriptures.
24 The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him, 25 and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
This is noteworthy because we see the spirit moving in Samson at an early age. This tells us that Samson is aware of God and is important in the story moving forward.