Judges 13:1-7
1 Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord handed them over to the Philistines for forty years.
2 And there was a man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was infertile and had not given birth to any children.
3 Then the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold now, you are infertile and have not given birth; but you will conceive and give birth to a son.
4 And now, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing.
5 For behold, you will 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 will begin to save Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, “A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. So I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name.
7 But he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’ ”
Birth of Samson Foretold
Manoah and his wife
During those times, not having a child was a great sadness that is beyond our imagination today. In the Bible, there are many stories of such barren women receiving blessings from God and giving birth to significant individuals. God knows well those who are in sorrow and provides them help at the right time. The Israelites sinned against the Lord and as a result, they fell under the oppression of the Philistines. This oppression lasted for a lengthy period of 40 years. It continued until the time when the prophet Samuel led them to victory against the Philistines (1 Sam. 7). While Samson’s judgeship lasted for 20 years, it falls within the timeframe of the 40-year Philistine oppression. Manoah’s wife, belonging to the tribe of Dan and unnamed, was a barren woman. The angel of the Lord appeared to her, announcing the birth of a son. (1) This child would be dedicated to God from the womb and would be a Nazirite. The term “Nazirite” means a “consecrated (or dedicated) one” (ref. Num. 6:1-21). (2) Three commands were given: abstain from wine, refrain from eating any unclean thing, and refrain from cutting the hair. (3) Nazirite vows could be lifelong or for a specified period. Samson was a lifelong Nazirite, and his parents were required to temporarily live as Nazirites as well.
Lessons to us
In the New Testament, John the Baptist lived as a lifelong Nazirite. A Nazirite separates themselves from the world and lives a consecrated life for God. In this sense, even Jesus, as a human, fulfilled the life of a Nazirite. Spiritually, we as Christians are also Nazirites, and we have been designated as lifelong Nazirites. By being tied to Christ, we have received eternal life. Are you connected to Christ daily? Let’s remember the words of Jesus: “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who remains in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father of Jesus Christ, sanctify me from this world and send me further into this world. May I continue to stay connected with the Lord Jesus today. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.