Judges 13:1-25 Comments by Stephen Ricker
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Samson Born
Comments for Study 12

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Memory Verse: 13:5
Questions
Outline
A MAP OF THE DIVISION OF CANAAN
A MAP OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF ISRAEL
ISRAEL'S HISTORY
ISRAEL'S JUDGES

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I. A Nazirite (13:1-7)

>1. What problem was Israel in and why? (1)

* Judges 13:1 "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."

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>What was Manoah's family problem? (2)

* Judges 13:2 "A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was sterile and remained childless."

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>Why did the Lord use this family problem in ancient times so often? (Deut. 7:14; Psalm 127:3-5)

* Deuteronomy 7:14 "You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor any of your livestock without young."

* Psalm 127:3-5 "Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate."

* Genesis 15:2-3 "But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir."

* 1 Samuel 1:2 "He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none."

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>2. What joyful news did the angel of the Lord deliver? (3)

* Judges 13:3 "The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, "You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son."

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>What special instructions did she have to follow? (4)

* Judges 13:4 "Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean,"

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>What was a Nazirite? (5; Num. 6:1-4)

* Judges 13:5 "because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.""

* Numbers 6:1-4 The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the LORD as a Nazirite, he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. As long as he is a Nazirite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins."

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>3. What did the woman do with the message she received? (6)

* Judges 13:6 "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."

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>Did she convey the angels message fully? (7)

* Judges 13:7 "But he said to me, 'You will conceive and give birth to 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 birth until the day of his death.'"

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>What would you think if you was in his place?

* After living with the stigma of a childless marriage it would be hard to believe her. He might even think she was mentally ill, drunk, or pregnant by another man. How many have angels visiting them?

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II. A Husband's Inquire (13:8-14)

>4. Why did Manoah pray as he did? (8)

* Judges 13:8 "Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: "O Lord, I beg you, 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."

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>Did the angel appear directly to Manoah? (9-10)

* Judges 13:9-10 "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. The woman hurried to tell her husband, "He's here! The man who appeared to me the other day!"

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>Why might this be so?

* God established spiritual men to be the head of their household. However, a spouse's faith is seldom the same as the others. It appears Manoah did not have the faith of his spouse and thus was not the spiritual leader.

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>5. How did the angel of the Lord answer Manoah's question? (11)

* Judges 13:11 "Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, "Are you the one who talked to my wife?" "I am," he said."

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>What question did he ask the angel? (12)

* Judges 13:12 "So Manoah asked him, "When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule for the boy's life and work?"

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>Why might he as the angel to repeat himself? (16b)

* Judges 13:16b "Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the LORD."

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>6. What can we learn from the angel's answer? (13-14)

* Judges 13:13-14 "The angel of the LORD answered, "Your wife must do all that I have told her. 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."

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>When the Lord reveals his plans for our lives how should we respond? (Isaiah 50:10)

* Isaiah 50:10 "Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God."

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>Why does the Lord often give us plans that are outside of our confort level? (Heb. 12:7-8; John 14:1)

* Hebrews 12:7-8 "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons."

* John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me."

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III. Offer it to the Lord (13:15-25)

>7. What did Manoah want to do and why might he want to do that? (15)

* Judges 13:15 "Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you."

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>How did the angel respond? (16)

* Judges 13:16 "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.)"

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>8. What did Manoah still not understand? (17)

* Judges 13:17 "Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the LORD, "What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?"

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>How does the angel's simple reply help us understand how to deal with those whose spiritual eyes are closed? (18)

* Judges 13:18 He replied, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding."

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>What did Manoah proceed to do? (19)

* Judges 13:19 "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:"

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>What amazing thing did the Lord do? (20-21)

* Judges 13:20-21 "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. 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."

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>9. What did Manoah believe when he finally believed the angel? (22)

* Judges 13:22 "We are doomed to die!" he said to his wife. "We have seen God!"

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>What was he mistaken about?

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>How did his wife's words show her faith? (23)

* Judges 13:23 "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."

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>What can be learned from her on how to live with a spouse that has weak or no faith? (Eccl. 4:9-12)

* Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

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>10. What does it mean that "the Spirit of the Lord began to stir in him? (24-25)

* Judges 13:24-25 "The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the LORD blessed him, and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

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>How does the Spirit work in Jesus' people today?

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