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Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
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Matthew Henry |
J U D G E S
CHAP. XIII.
At this chapter begins the story of Samson, the last of the judges of
Israel whose story is recorded in this book, and next before Eli. The
passages related concerning him are, from first to last, very
surprising and uncommon. The figure he makes in this history is really
great, and yet vastly different from that of his predecessors. We never
find him at the head either of a court or of an army, never upon the
throne of judgment nor in the field of battle, yet, in his own proper
person, a great patriot of his country, and a terrible scourge and
check to its enemies and oppressors; he was an eminent believer
and a glorious type of him who with his own arm wrought salvation. The
history of the rest of the judges commences from their advancement to
that station, but Samson’s begins with his birth, nay, with his
conception, no less than an angel from heaven ushers him into the
world, as a pattern of what should be afterwards done to John Baptist
and to Christ. This is related in this chapter.
I. The occasion of raising up this deliverer was the oppression of
Israel by the Philistines,
II. His birth is foretold by an angel to his mother,
III. She relates the prediction to his father,
IV. They both together have it again from the angel
(ver. 8-14),
whom they treat with respect
(ver. 15-18),
and who, to their great amazement, discovers his dignity at parting,
V. Samson is born,
| An Angel Appears to Manoah’s Wife. | B. C. 1161. |
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1 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the
LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the
Philistines forty years.
2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the
Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and
bare not.
3 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said
unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but
thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.
4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor
strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor
shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto
God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of
the hand of the Philistines.
6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of
God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance
of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he
was, neither told he me his name:
7 But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a
son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any
unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from
the womb to the day of his death.
The first verse gives us a short account, such as we have too often met
with already, of the great distress that Israel was in, which gave
occasion for the raising up of a deliverer. They did evil, as they had
done, in the sight of the Lord, and then God delivered them, as
he had done, into the hands of their enemies. If there had been no sin,
there would have needed no Saviour; but sin was suffered to abound,
that grace might much more abound. The enemies God now sold them to
were the Philistines, their next neighbours, that lay among them, the
first and chief of the nations which were devoted to destruction, but
which God left to prove them
the five lords of the Philistines, an inconsiderable people in
comparison with Israel (they had but five cities of any note), and yet,
when God made use of them as the staff in his hand, they were very
oppressive and vexatious. And this trouble lasted longer than any yet:
it continued forty years, though probably not always alike violent.
When Israel was in this distress Samson was born; and here we have his
birth foretold by an angel. Observe,
I. His extraction. He was of the tribe of Dan,
v. 2.
Dan signifies a judge or judgment,
Gen. xxx. 6.
And probably it was with an eye to Samson that dying Jacob foretold,
Dan shall judge his people, that is, “he shall produce a judge
for his people, though one of the sons of the handmaids, as one, as
well as any one, of the tribes of Israel,”
The lot of the tribe of Dan lay next to the country of the Philistines,
and therefore one of that tribe was most fit to be made a bridle upon
them. His parents had been long childless. Many eminent persons were
born of mothers that had been kept a great while in the want of the
blessing of children, as Isaac, Joseph, Samuel, and John Baptist, that
the mercy might be the more acceptable when it did come. Sing, O
barren! thou that didst not bear,
Isa. liv. 1.
Note, Mercies long waited for often prove signal mercies, and it is
made to appear that they were worth waiting for, and by them others may
be encouraged to continue their hope in God’s mercy.
II. The glad tidings brought to his mother, that she should have a son.
The messenger was an angel of the Lord
(v. 3),
yet appearing as a man, with the aspect and garb of a prophet, or man
of God. And this angel (as the learned bishop Patrick supposes, on
was the Lord himself, that is, the Word of the Lord, who was to
be the Messiah, for his name is called Wonderful,
v. 18,
and Jehovah,
v. 19.
The great Redeemer did in a particular manner concern himself about
this typical redeemer. It was not so much for the sake of Manoah and
his wife, obscure Danites, that this extraordinary message was sent,
but for Israel’s sake, whose deliverer he was to be, and not only so
(his services to Israel not seeming to answer to the grandeur of his
entry) but for the Messiah’s sake, whose type he was to be, and whose
birth must be foretold by an angel, as his was. The angel, in the
message he delivers,
1. Takes notice of her affliction: Behold now, thou art barren and
bearest not. Hence she might gather he was a prophet, that though a
stranger to her, and one she had never seen before, yet he knew this to
be her grievance. He tells her of it, not to upbraid her with it, but
because perhaps at this time she was actually thinking of this
affliction and bemoaning herself as one written childless. God often
sends in comfort to his people very seasonably, when they feel most
from their troubles. “Now thou art barren, but thou shalt not
be always so,” as she feared, “nor long so.”
2. He assures her that she should conceive and bear a son
(v. 3)
and repeats the assurance,
v. 5.
To show the power of a divine word, the strongest man that ever was was
a child of promise, as Isaac, born by force and virtue of a promise,
and faith in that promise,
Many a woman, after having been long barren, has borne a son by
providence, but Samson was by promise, because a figure of the promised
seed, so long expected by the faith of the Old-Testament saints,
3. He appoints that the child should be a Nazarite from his birth, and
therefore that the mother should be subject to the law of the Nazarites
(though not under the vow of a Nazarite) and should drink no wine or
strong drink so long as this child was to have its nourishment from
her, either in the womb or at the breast,
Observe, This deliverer of Israel must be in the strictest manner
devoted to God and an example of holiness. It is spoken of as a
kindness to the people that God raised up of their young men for
Nazarites,
Other judges had corrected their apostasies from God, but Samson must
appear as one, more than any of them, consecrated to God; and,
notwithstanding what we read of his faults, we have reason to think
that being a Nazarite of God’s making he did, in the course of his
conversation, exemplify, not only the ceremony, but the substance of
that separation to the Lord in which the Nazariteship did
consist,
Those that would save others must by singular piety distinguish
themselves. Samuel, who carried on Israel’s deliverance from the
Philistines, was a Nazarite by his mother’s vow
(1 Sam. i. 11),
as Samson by the divine appointment. The mother of this deliverer must
therefore deny herself, and not eat any unclean thing; what was lawful
at another time was now to be forborne. As the promise tried her
faith, so this precept tried her obedience; for God requires both from
those on whom he will bestow his favours. Women with child ought
conscientiously to avoid whatever they have reason to think will be any
way prejudicial to the health or good constitution of the fruit of
their body. And perhaps Samson’s mother was to refrain from wine and
strong drink, not only because he was designed for a Nazarite, but
because he was designed for a man of great strength, which his mother’s
temperance would contribute to.
4. He foretels the service which this child should do to his country:
He shall begin to deliver Israel. Note, It is very desirable
that our children may be not only devoted entirely to God themselves,
but instrumental for the good of others, and the service of their
generation–not recluses, candles under a bushel, but on a
candlestick. Observe, He shall begin to deliver Israel.
This intimated that the oppression of the Philistines should last long,
for Israel’s deliverance from it should not so much as begin, not one
step be taken towards it, till this child, who was now unborn, should
have grown up to a capacity of beginning it. And yet he must not
complete the deliverance: he shall only begin to deliver Israel,
which intimates that the trouble should still be prolonged. God chooses
to carry on his work gradually and by several hands. One lays the
foundation of a good work, another builds, and perhaps a third brings
forth the top stone. Now herein Samson was a type of Christ,
(1.) As a Nazarite to God, a Nazarite from the womb. For, though our
Lord Jesus was not a Nazarite himself, yet he was typified by the
Nazarites, as being perfectly pure from all sin, not so much as
conceived in it, and entirely devoted to his Father’s honour. Of the
Jewish church, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, because to
them pertained the promise of him,
By virtue of that promise, he long lay as it were in the womb of that
church, which for many ages was pregnant of him, and therefore, like
Samson’s mother, during that pregnancy was made a holy nation and a
peculiar people, and strictly forbidden to touch any unclean thing
for his sake, who in the fulness of time was to come from them.
(2.) As a deliverer of Israel; for he is Jesus a Saviour, who saves his
people from their sins. But with this difference: Samson did only begin
to deliver Israel (David was afterwards raised up to complete the
destruction of the Philistines), but our Lord Jesus is both Samson and
David too, both the author and finisher of our faith.
III. The report which Manoah’s wife, in a transport of joy, brings in
all haste to her husband, of this surprising message
The glad tidings were brought her when she was alone, perhaps
religiously employed in meditation or prayer; but she could not, she
would not, conceal them from her husband, but gives him an account,
1. Of the messenger. It was a man of God,
v. 6.
His countenance she could describe; it was very awful: he had such a
majesty in his looks, such a sparkling eye, such a shining face, so
powerfully commanding reverence and respect, that according to the idea
she had of an angel he had the very countenance of one. But his name
she can give no account of, nor to what tribe or city of Israel he
belonged, for he did not think fit to tell her, and, for her part, the
very sight of him struck such an awe upon her that she durst not ask
him. She was abundantly satisfied that he was a servant of God; his
person and message she thought carried their own evidence along with
them, and she enquired no further.
2. Of the message. She gives him a particular account both of the
promise and of the precept
(v. 7),
that he also might believe the promise and might on all occasions be a
monitor to her to observe the precept. Thus should yoke-fellows
communicate to each other their experiences of communion with God, and
their improvements in acquaintance with him, that they may be helpful
to each other in the way that is called holy.
| The Angel’s Appearance to Manoah. | B. C. 1161. |
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8 Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the
man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us
what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.
9 And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of
God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah
her husband was not with her.
10 And the woman made haste, and ran, and showed her husband,
and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that
came unto me the other day.
11 And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the
man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the
woman? And he said, I am.
12 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall
we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?
13 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I
said unto the woman let her beware.
14 She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine,
neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean
thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.
We have here an account of a second visit which the angel of God made
to Manoah and his wife.
I. Manoah earnestly prayed for it,
v. 8.
He was not incredulous of the story his wife told him; he knew she was
a virtuous woman, and therefore the heart of her husband did safely
trust in her; he knew she would not go about to impose upon him,
much less was he, as Josephus unworthily represents him, jealous of his
wife’s conversation with this stranger; but,
1. He takes it for granted that this child of promise shall in due time
be given them, and speaks without hesitation of the child that shall
be born. There was not found so great faith, no, not in
Zechariah, a priest, then in waiting at the altar of the Lord, and to
whom the angel himself appeared, as was in this honest Danite. Things
hidden from the wise and prudent, who value themselves upon the
niceness of their enquiries, are often revealed unto babes, who know
how to prize God’s gifts and to take God’s word. Blessed are those
that have not seen and yet, as Manoah here, have believed.
2. All his care is what they should do to the child that should
be born. Note, Good men are more solicitous and desirous to know the
duty that is to be done by them than to know the events that shall
occur concerning them; for duty is ours, events are God’s. Solomon
enquires concerning the good men should do, not the good they
should have,
Eccl. ii. 3.
3. He therefore prays to God to send the same blessed messenger again,
to give them further instructions concerning the management of this
Nazarite, fearing lest his wife’s joy for the promise might have made
her forget some part of the precept, in which he was desirous to be
fully informed, and lie under no mistake: “Lord, let the man of God
come again unto us, for we desire to be better acquainted with
him.” Note, Those that have heard from heaven cannot but wish to hear
more thence, again and again to meet with the man of God. Observe, He
does not go or send his servants abroad, to find out this man of God,
but seeks him upon his knees, prays to God to send him, and, thus
seeking, finds him. Would we have God’s messengers, the ministers of
his gospel, to bring a word proper for us, and for our instruction?
Entreat the Lord to send them to us, to teach us,
II. God graciously granted it: God hearkened to the voice of
Manoah,
v. 9.
Note, God will not fail some way or other to guide those by his counsel
that are sincerely desirous to know their duty, and apply themselves to
him to teach them,
1. The angel appears the second time also to the wife, when she is
sitting alone, probably tending the flocks, or otherwise well employed
in the field where she has retired. Solitude is often a good
opportunity of communion with God; good people have thought themselves
never less alone than when alone, if God be with them.
2. She goes in all haste to call her husband, doubtless humbly
beseeching the stay of this blessed messenger till she should return
and her husband with her,
She did not desire him to go with her to her husband, but would fetch
her husband to him. Those that would meet with God must attend where he
is pleased to manifest himself. “Oh,” says she, overjoyed, “my dear
love, thy prayers are answered–yonder is the man of God, come to make
us another visit–he that came the other day,” or, as some read it,
this day, for other is not in the original, and it is
probable enough that both these visits were on the same day, and at the
same place, and that the second time she sat expecting him. The man of
God is very willing she should call her husband,
Those that have an acquaintance with the things of God themselves
should invite others to the same acquaintance,
Manoah is not disgusted that the angel did not this second time appear
to him, but very willingly goes after his wife to the man of God. To
atone (as it were) for the first fatal miscarriage, when Eve earnestly
pressed Adam to that which was evil, and he too easily yielded to her,
let yoke-fellows excite one another to love and good works; and, if the
wife will lead, let not the husband think it any disparagement to him
to follow her in that which is virtuous and praiseworthy.
3. Manoah having come to the angel, and being satisfied by him that he
was the same that had appeared to his wife, does, with all humility,
(1.) Welcome the promise
(v. 12):
Now let thy words come to pass; this was the language, not only
of his desire, but of his faith, like that of the blessed Virgin,
“Be it according to thy word. Lord, I lay hold on what thou hast
said, and depend upon it; let it come to pass.”
(2.) Beg that the prescriptions given might be repeated: How shall
we order the child? The directions were given to his wife, but he
looks upon himself as concerned to assist her in the careful management
of this promised seed, according to order; for the utmost care of both
the parents, and their constant joint endeavour, are little enough to
be engaged for the good ordering of children that are devoted to God
and to be brought up for him. Let not one devolve it on the other, but
both do their best. Observe from Manoah’s enquiry,
[1.] In general, that, when God is pleased to bestow any mercy upon us,
our great care must be how to use it well, and as we ought, because it
is then only a mercy indeed when it is rightly managed. God has given
us bodies, souls, estates; how shall we order them, that we may answer
the intent of the donor, and give a good account of them?
[2.] In particular, those to whom God has given children must be very
careful how they order them, and what they do unto them, that they may
drive out the foolishness that is bound up in their hearts, form
their minds and manners well betimes, and train them in the way
wherein they should go. Herein pious parents will beg divine
assistance. “Lord, teach us how we may order our children, that they
may be Nazarites, and living sacrifices to thee.”
4. The angel repeats the directions he had before given
(v. 13, 14):
Of all that I forbad let her beware; and all that I
commanded her let her observe. Note, There is need of a good deal
both of caution and observation, for the right ordering both of
ourselves and of our children. Beware and observe; take heed not only
of drinking wine or strong drink, but of eating any
thing that cometh of the vine. Those that would preserve themselves
pure must keep at a distance from that which borders upon sin or leads
to it. When she was with child of a Nazarite, she must not eat any
unclean thing; so those in whom Christ is formed must
carefully cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and
spirit, and do nothing to the prejudice of that new man.
| Manoah’s Alarm. | B. C. 1161. |
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15 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let
us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.
16 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou
detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a
burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew
not that he was an angel of the LORD.
17 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy
name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?
18 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou
thus after my name, seeing it is secret?
19 So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it
upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and
Manoah and his wife looked on.
20 For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven
from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the
flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and
fell on their faces to the ground.
21 But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and
to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.
22 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because
we have seen God.
23 But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill
us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat
offering at our hands, neither would he have showed us all these
things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as
these.
We have here an account,
I. Of what further passed between Manoah and the angel at this
interview. It was in kindness to him that while the angel was with him
it was concealed from him that he was an angel; for, had he known it,
it would have been such a terror to him that he durst not have
conversed with him as he did
(v. 16):
He knew not that he was an angel. So Christ was in the world,
and the world knew him not. Verily thou art a God that hidest
thyself. We could not bear the sight of the divine glory unveiled.
God having determined to speak to us by men like ourselves, prophets
and ministers, even when he spoke by his angels, or by his Son, they
appeared in the likeness of men, and were taken but for men of God.
Now,
1. The angel declined to accept his treat, and appointed him to turn it
into a sacrifice. Manoah, being desirous to show some token of respect
and gratitude to this venerable stranger who had brought them these
glad tidings, begged he would take some refreshment with him
(v. 15):
We will soon make ready a kid for thee. Those that welcome the
message will be kind to the messengers for his sake that sends them,
But the angel told him
(v. 16)
he would not eat of his bread, any more than he would of
Gideon’s, but, as there, directed him to offer it to God,
Angels need not meat nor drink; but the glorifying of God is their meat
and drink, and it was Christ’s,
And we in some measure do the will of God as they do it if, though we
cannot live without meat and drink, yet we eat and drink to the glory
of God, and so turn even our common meals into sacrifices.
2. The angel declined telling him his name, and would not so far
gratify his curiosity. Manoah desired to know his name
(v. 17),
and of what tribe he was, not as if he doubted the truth of his
message, but that they might return his visit, and be better acquainted
with him (it is good to increase and improve our acquaintance with good
men and good ministers); and he has a further design: “That when thy
sayings come to pass, we may do thee honour, celebrate thee as a
true prophet, and recommend others to thee for divine
instructions,–that we may call the child that shall be born after thy
name, and so do thee honour,–or that we may send thee a present,
honouring one whom God has honoured.” But the angel denies his request
with something of a check to his curiosity
(v. 18):
Why askest thou thus after my name? Jacob himself could not
prevail for this favour,
Note, We have not what we ask when we ask we know not what. Manoah’s
request was honestly meant and yet was denied. God told Moses his name
because there was a particular occasion for his knowing it, but here
there was no occasion. What Manoah asked for instruction in his duty he
was readily told
(v. 12, 13),
but what he asked to gratify his curiosity was denied. God has in his
word given us full directions concerning our duty, but never designed
to answer all the enquiries of a speculative head. He gives him a
reason for his refusal: It is secret. The names of angels were
not as yet revealed, to prevent the idolizing of them. After the
captivity, when the church was cured of idolatry, angels made
themselves known to Daniel by their names, Michael and Gabriel; and to
Zacharias the angel told his name unasked
(Luke i. 19):
I am Gabriel. But here it is secret, or it is
wonderful, too wonderful for us. One of Christ’s names is
Wonderful,
Isa. ix. 6.
His name was long a secret, but by the gospel it is brought to light:
Jesus a Saviour. Manoah must not ask because he must not know.
Note,
(1.) There are secret things which belong not to us, and which we must
content ourselves to be in the dark about while we are here in this
world.
(2.) We must therefore never indulge a vain curiosity in our enquiries
concerning these things,
Nescire velle quae Magister maximus docere non vult erudita inscitia
est–To be willingly ignorant of those things which our great Master
refuses to teach us is to be at once ignorant and wise.
3. The angel assisted and owned their sacrifice, and, at parting, gave
them to understand who he was. He had directed them to offer their
burnt-offering to the Lord,
Praises offered up to God are the most acceptable entertainment of the
angels; see
worship God. And Manoah, having so good a warrant, though he was
no priest and had no altar, turned his meat into a meat offering, and
offered it upon a rock to the Lord
(v. 19),
that is, he brought and laid it to be offered. “Lord, here it is, do
what thou pleasest with it.” Thus we must bring our hearts to God as
living sacrifices, and submit them to the operation of his Spirit. All
things being now ready,
(1.) The angel did wondrously, for his name was
Wonderful. Probably the wonder he did was the same with what he
had done for Gideon, he made fire to come either down from heaven or up
out of the rock to consume the sacrifice.
(2.) He ascended up towards heaven in the flame of the
sacrifice,
v. 20.
By this it appeared that he was not, as they thought, a mere man, but a
messenger immediately from heaven. Thence certainly he descended, for
thither he ascended,
This signified God’s acceptance of the offering and intimates to what
we owe the acceptance of all our offerings, even to the mediation of
the angel of the covenant, that other angel, who puts much incense
to the prayers of saints and so offers them before the
throne,
Rev. viii. 3.
Prayer is the ascent of the soul to God. But it is Christ in the heart
by faith that makes it an offering of a sweet-smelling savour: without
him our services are offensive smoke, but, in him, acceptable flame. We
may apply it to Christ’s sacrifice of himself for us; he ascended in
the flame of his own offering, for by his own blood he entered in
once into the holy place,
Heb. ix. 12.
While the angel did this, it is twice said
that Manoah and his wife looked on. This is a proof of the
miracle: the matter of fact was true, for out of the mouth of these two
eye-witnesses the report of it is established. The angel did all that
was done in the sacrifice; they did but look on; yet doubtless, when
the angel ascended towards heaven, their hearts ascended with him in
thanksgiving for the promise which came thence and in expectation of
the performance to come thence too. Yet, when the angel has ascended,
they dared not, as those that were the witnesses of Christ’s ascension,
stand gazing up into heaven, but in holy fear and reverence they fell
on their faces to the ground. And now,
[1.] They knew that it was an angel,
v. 21.
It was plain it was not the body of a man they saw, since it was not
chained to the earth, nor prejudiced by fire; but ascended, and
ascended in flame, and therefore with good reason they conclude it was
an angel; for he maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a
flame of fire.
[2.] But he did not any more appear to them; it was for a particular
occasion, now over, that he was sent, not to settle a constant
correspondence, as with prophets. They must remember and observe what
the angel had said and not expect to hear more.
II. We have an account of the impressions which this vision made upon
Manoah and his wife. While the angel did wondrously, they looked on,
and said nothing (so it becomes us carefully to observe the wondrous
works of God, and to be silent before him); but when he had gone,
having finished his work, they had time to make their reflections.
1. In Manoah’s reflection upon it there is great fear,
v. 22.
He had spoken with great assurance of the son they should shortly be
the joyful parents of
(v. 8, 12),
and yet is now put into such a confusion by that very thing which
should have strengthened and encouraged his faith that he counts upon
nothing but their being both cut off immediately: We shall surely
die. It was a vulgar opinion generally received among the ancient
Jews that it was present death to see God or an angel; and this notion
quite overcome his faith for the present, as it did Gideon’s,
2. In his wife’s reflection upon it there is great faith,
Here the weaker vessel was the stronger believer, which perhaps was the
reason why the angel chose once and again to appear to her. Manoah’s
heart began to fail him, but his wife, as a help meet for him,
encouraged him. Two are better than one, for, if one fall into
dejections and despondencies, the other will help to raise him up.
Yoke-fellows should piously assist each other’s faith and joy as there
is occasion. None could argue better than Manoah’s wife does here:
We shall surely die, said her husband; “Nay,” said she, “we need
not fear that; let us never turn that against us which is really for
us. We shall not die unless God be pleased to kill us: our death must
come from his hand and his pleasure. Now the tokens of his favour which
we have received forbid us to think that he designs our destruction.
Had he thought fit to kill us,
(1.) He would not have accepted our sacrifice, and signified to us his
acceptance of it by turning it to ashes,
Ps. xx. 3,
margin. The sacrifice was the ransom of our lives, and the fire
fastening upon that was a plain indication of the turning away of his
wrath from us. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, but you
see ours is not so.
(2.) He would not have shown us all these things, these strange sights,
now at a time when there is little or no open vision
nor would he have given these exceedingly great and precious promises
of a son that shall be a Nazarite and a deliverer of Israel–he would
not have told us such things as these if he had been pleased to kill
us. We need not fear the withering of those roots out of which such a
branch is yet to spring.” Note, Hereby it appears that God designs not
the death of sinners that he has accepted the great sacrifice which
Christ offered up for their salvation, has put them in a way of
obtaining his favour, and has assured them of it upon their repentance.
Had he been pleased to kill them, he would not have done so. And let
those good Christians who have had communion with God in the word and
prayer, to whom he has graciously manifested himself, and who have had
reason to think God has accepted their works, take encouragement thence
in a cloudy and dark day. “God would not have done what he has done for
my soul if he had designed to forsake me, and leave me to perish at
last; for his work is perfect, nor will he mock his people with his
favours.” Learn to reason as Manoah’s wife did, “If God had designed me
to perish under his wrath, he would not have given me such
distinguishing tokens of his favour.” O woman! great is thy
faith.
| The Birth of Samson. | B. C. 1161. |
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24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and
the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the
camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Here is,
1. Samson’s birth. The woman that had been long barren bore a son,
according to the promise; for no word of God shall fall to the ground.
Hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
2. His name, Samson, has been derived by some, from Shemesh,
the sun, turned into a diminutive, sol exiguus—the sun
in miniature, perhaps because, being born like Moses to be a
deliverer, he was like him exceedingly fair, his face shone like a
little sun; or his parents so named him in remembrance of the shining
countenance of that man of God who brought them the notice of him;
though they knew not his name, yet thus, now that his sayings had come
to pass, they did him honour. A little sun, because a Nazarite born
(for the Nazarites were as rubies and sapphires,
Lam. iv. 7,
and because of his great strength. The sun is compared to a strong
man
Ps. xix. 5);
why should not a strong man then be compared to the sun when he goes
forth in his strength? A little sun, because the glory of, and a light
to, his people Israel, a type of Christ, the Sun of righteousness.
3. His childhood. He grew more than is usual in strength and stature,
far out-grew other children of his age; and not in that only, but in
other instances, it appeared that the Lord blessed him, qualified him,
both in body and mind, for something great and extraordinary. Children
of promise shall have the blessing.
4. His youth. When he grew up a little the Spirit of the Lord began
to move him,
v. 25.
This was an evidence that the Lord blessed him. Where God gives his
blessing he gives his Spirit to qualify for the blessing. Those are
blessed indeed in whom the Spirit of grace begins to work betimes, in
the days of their childhood. If the Spirit be poured out upon our
offspring, they will spring up as willows by the water
courses,
Isa. xliv. 3, 4.
The Spirit of God moved Samson in the camp of Dan, that is, in the
general muster of the trained bands of that tribe, who probably had
formed a camp between Zorah and Eshtaol, near the place where he lived,
to oppose the incursions of the Philistines; there Samson, when a
child, appeared among them, and signalized himself by some very brave
actions, excelling them all in manly exercises and trials of strength:
and probably he showed himself more than ordinarily zealous against the
enemies of his country, and discovered more of a public spirit than
could be expected in a child. The Spirit moved him at times, not
at all times, but as the wind blows, when he listed, to show that what
he did was not from himself, for then he could have done it at any
time. Strong men think themselves greatly animated by wine
but Samson drank no wine, and yet excelled in strength and courage, and
every thing that was bold and brave, for he had the Spirit of God
moving him; therefore be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the
Spirit, who will come to those that are sober and temperate.
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