Judges 13-16 then talks about Samson – this man who is listed in the people who ‘by faith…..’ pleased God (Hebrews 11).
Judges 13
An angel comes to a woman!
Again – a woman! I’m no feminist but I see that all along, it’s really like Paul says.
She is told you’re going to have a son! She’s like an early Mary!
Do not drink wine or strong drink! Again – why this instruction? I find these things interesting, especially as we have a Christian culture that is so adamant about being free to drink alcohol and wine. Again #foodforthought – let every man’s conscience be before God (again a Paul quote)
Why do angels come?
At what times in history did they come? Because this leads to Samson coming.
But when they ask the angels name he says,
‘Why ask after my name, seeing it is a secret?
Does that remind you of anything???
Genesis 32:29 when Jacob wrestles the man/angel?? Fascinating.
The angel ascends in the flame of the altar when the couple made their offering to God!
What does your offering accomplish with God???
His mother had an experience almost like Mary. And the angel says the same words to her said to Jacob in Gen 32 (is it the same angel?????).
Judges 14
And what fascinated me in 14:4 is that God wanted Samson because he ‘sought an occasion against the Philistines’.
Who is God seeking an occasion against?
‘Now is the judgement of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out’ (John 12:31)
The Cross is THE most significant historical event yet. Do we even take the time to grasp its significance? Or are we just happy with the narrative ‘Jesus died for me that’s all I need to know’
God reveals the way he unfolds his plans, and the people he chooses to participate and the way he deals with the enemy – while not forgetting the consequences his own people have brought on themselves!
It’s…. Staggering.
What other god is like this?
What mystical enlightenment can a Shaman give that compares?
Christ – the wisdom of God.
Christ – the power of God.
We see Samson, bamboozling people with this riddle, and the treachery unleashed to undo him.
Judges 15
This is the consequence of the ‘occasion’ God was looking for against the enemy.
Samson sets fire to the place but the ‘church’ or his own people said to him, ‘Dude, don’t rock the boat. We don’t want to upset anyone’. Sounds familiar doesn’t it?
God wants the war. We think it’s all ‘love and peace’.
Samson again wreaks havoc as the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him.
What makes us think we can do anything successfully without the anointing of the Holy Spirit? Without the power of God?
Judges 16
The infamous story of Delilah. She drove him absolutely nuts. It’s a sad but true fact that women can do this to a man, so that their soul is ‘vexed unto death’. Song of Solomon is full of the learnings of dealing with some women.
But remember, God was looking for occasion to really deal with the Philistines. They were offering ‘a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand’ (Judges 16:23)
Idolatry. The worship of Satan. And the brashness of their boasting.
These verses tell the story in detail of Samson who judged Israel for 20 years, and whom God used to deal with enemy.
