Judges 13b Commentary

Judges 13b Commentary

“He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” Verse 5b. Actually, Samson would be killed by the Philistines! How God’s great and awesome plans are undone by men’s wickedness!

“Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean.” Verse 4. Don’t pollute God’s special plan for your child with drunkenness! Consecration could be the reason saints don’t “drink wine or other fermented drink.”

The scripture doesn’t have a lot of examples of good couples. But Manoah and his wife are a good example for us. They followed instructions to the letter.

Of course, Samson would later cut his hair, but not in his father’s house. He did marry a foreign woman but against his father’s godly advice.

God answers Manoah’s prayer but it’s to the woman that the angel of the LORD appears. The thought is that the woman has a history with the angel of the LORD. The LORD won’t reintroduce Himself to her.

The angel of the LORD is nothing else but human. Yes, he is awesome, but still human. He speaks the language of Manoah. Many saints have encountered angels, but didn’t know because they were all human and spoke the saint’s language!

Check the instruction: “She must do everything I have commanded her.” Verse 14. The word is “must”. The LORD doesn’t issue casual instructions.

God’s name is beyond understanding. Verse 18. It’s not for mortals to comprehend!

“The Spirit of the LORD began to stir him…” Verse 25. It is a standard feature of the Book of Judges that deliverances are initiated and executed by the Holy Spirit.

Manoah and his wife are such sweet fellows who have given us a reason to smile. How we needed it! This book has been such a rough ride!

They are a godly couple whose example we need to emulate. Like them, we need to seek the face of the LORD for instructions concerning the ‘life and work’ of our children. Like them, we need to ensure that we, ourselves, do not eat unclean things – holiness must begin with us. Like them, we need to ensure that our children stick to the rules. They shouldn’t start taking drugs under our roof. Like them, we need to continue providing guidance to our children, explaining to them why they should ‘keep their hair’.

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