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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. ¹⁰ The woman hurried to tell her husband, “He’s here! The man who appeared to me the other day! (NIV)

It would appear that Manoah’s wife was alone when the angel of God returned.

‘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.’ Matthew Henry

Early on in John Mark Comer’s latest book, ‘Into the quiet’, he quotes Henri Nouwen:

‘We do not take the spiritual life seriously if we do not set aside some time to be with God and to listen to him.’

Commenting on the habit of Jesus to frequently withdraw into ”lonely places” Comer asks, ‘Do we really think we can live without what Jesus himself considered essential?

I remember reading a book, and being arrested by a chapter heading: ‘Solitary Refinement’

”But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16)

That quiet place can be a room in your house, a park bench, a walk by the river…??? There are so many possibilties.

But as someone once said: ‘If you want to meet God everywhere you must meet Him somewhere; and if you want to find Him all the time you must meet Him some time.’

I wanted to insert this thought before we continue to work through the details of this chapter. Samson’s mother, Manoah’s wife, reminds us yet again that high profile doesn’t matter, but faithful obedience does. It’s a challenge to us isn’t it? Am I prepared to serve anonymously without ever being known, or well-known?

This quote comes from the ‘Jewish Women’s Archive’:

‘Like so many biblical women, Samson’s mother is described as infertile. Like so many Biblical women, she is also nameless. Though her name has been lost to time, her impact has not. When God granted her a son and commanded her and her husband to raise the child as a Nazirite, she herself had to keep the Nazirite vows so that her son would do the same.’

Although we don’t know her name, it seems to me that she was a little more spiritually ‘switched on’ than her husband. Matthew Henry makes these great points:

‘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.’

Also:

‘Here the weaker vessel was the stronger believer, which is perhaps why the angel chose once and again to appear to her. Yoke-fellows should piously assist each other’s faith and joy as there is occasion.’

So, what counts at the end of the day? Is it that your name should live on, or your impact?

Food for thought!

Then Manoah prayed to the Lord: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to 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.”

⁹ 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. ¹⁰ The woman hurried to tell her husband, “He’s here! The man who appeared to me the other day!”

¹¹ Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, “Are you the man who talked to my wife?”

“I am,” he said.

¹² So Manoah asked him, “When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule that governs the boy’s life and work?”

¹³ The angel of the Lord answered, “Your wife must do all that I have told her. ¹⁴ 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.” (NIV)

The gift of children (or a child) is a blessing, a privilege and a sacred trust. In Manoah’s prayer I am reminded of these words from James 1:5:

”If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

James goes on to say that we should ask in faith, not wavering in unbelief.

We certainly do need God’s wisdom in order to train up our children in the way they ”should go” (Prov.22:6).

‘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.’ Matthew Henry

PRAYER: Lord, we pray that our children will become the people you want them to be; and we ask that we will be the parents you desire us to be.

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. ⁷ But he said to me, ‘You will become pregnant and have 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 the womb until the day of his death.’” (NIV)

Matthew Henry makes the important pastoral point that it is good for a believing wife to share her spiritual experience with her husband. Indeed, it is important that both the husband and wife should share their walk with God, and the things He is showing them/saying to them. What a blessing, and a privilege, it is. Here are Henry’s words:

‘Thus should yoke-fellows communicate to each other their experiences of communion with God, that they may be helpful to each other in the way that is called holy.’

Over my years in Christian ministry, I have found that there are wives (and it usually has been wives) who feel spiritually lonely. For some reason, although they are in the most intimate of relationships, their Christian husbands will not pray with them, or talk to them about the things of God.

Why is that do you think? Is there a spiritual warfare element? (see Matt.18:19,20)

In 1 Peter 3:7, the apostle Peter writes:

”Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

I remember reading one commentator who suggested that this could mean ‘your prayers together’.

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.

² A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. ³ The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. ⁴ Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. ⁵ You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. (NIV)

Roy Castle sang the theme song of a children’s television programme, ‘Record breakers’. The show highlighted stories from ‘the Guinness Book of Records’. Roy was himself one of the presenters, and his song said ‘It takes dedication, if you’re gonna be a record breaker.’

Today’s reading shows that Samson was to be ”…a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb.” Therefore, his mother had to live as a Nazirite while he was being nourished by her in the womb. The details of the Nazirite vow are contained in Numbers 6:1-21. They need not detain us here, other than for us to note that it spoke of ”dedication” to the Lord.

I heard Alan Shearer talking about Harry Kane’s recent award of the ‘Ballon D’or’ – a trophy given annually by France football to the world’s best performing footballer. Shearer was effusive in his comments about Harry. He said, ‘He is a good example of where dedication can get you.’

PRAYER: Lord, help me to be fully dedicated to you, with nothing held back

A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. ³ The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. (NIV)

If you feel a strong Biblical resonance as you read these words, you are not alone. It reminded me of the announcement of John the Baptist’s birth, in Luke 1:5ff. Samson, along with John, is one of a few characters in Scripture whose birth was announced in advance. The others are Ishmael (Genesis 16:11), Isaac (Genesis 18:10), and Jesus Himself (Luke 1:30,31)

‘Samson’s mother had been barren (verse 2), like other famous biblical mothers before her (Genesis 11:30; 25:21; 29::31) and after her (1 Samuel 1:2; Luke 1:7). So, as He had done for these other mothers, God enabled Samson’s mother to conceive and give birth to a son.’ (Tom Hale)

Many years ago I came across the beautiful hymn, ‘Spirit divine attend our prayers.’ One of the verses says:

‘Come as the dew and sweetly bless
this consecrated hour;
may barrenness rejoice to own
thy fertilizing power.‘

I wrote in my journal the words I have put in italics. They spoke deeply to my soul. No matter how intractable a situation may seem, with God things can change. Where we are ”unable”, He is able.

PRAYER: Lord I lay before you this issue that I cannot resolve…I know that you are all-powerful and can do something about it, if it is your purpose. I pray about it in confidence that you will do the right thing and the best thing, whether I recognise it as answer to prayer or not.

(By the way, the tribe of ‘Dan’ lay adjacent to where the Philistines lived. It seems appropriate that a ”Danite” was raised up to defeat them)

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. (NIV)

We have repeatedly seen the Judges ‘cycle’: Spiritual decline – an experience of chastisement – crying out to God – the raising up of a ‘Judge’ (Deliverer/Saviour/Rescuer).

But in this case, there were forty years of divine discipline at the hands of the Philistines, yet there is no record of there being any heart cry to God.

‘Perhaps they had simply given up on God and turned completely to the gods of Canaan. If so, God’s raising up of Samson was an act of pure grace – all the more so because of its miraculous nature.’ (Tom Hale)

‘Even Samson’s name, commonly linked to sun worship, hints at Israel’s drift toward Canaanite ways; indeed, his whole story mirrors Israel’s—consecrated and empowered, yet wayward, while God’s mercy never fails.’ (Bible Gateway)

It seems God just stepped in. He is sovereign. He can do that. So when things seem bad, let’s not lose hope. Things can change.

After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters in marriage outside his clan and brought in thirty daughters-in-law from the outside for his sons.

¹⁰ He judged Israel seven years. Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.

^11-12 After him, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel. He judged Israel ten years. Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

^13-15 After him, Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys. He judged Israel eight years. Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim in the Amalekite hill country. (The Message)

Once again I am reminded that although a few of God’s servants may become very well known, the majority do not; and that’s okay. It’s ultimately about God’s purposes. Do your very best in whatever sphere God gives you, be it large or small.

We are about to start looking at the life of Samson, the last of the Judges. Whereas there will be widespread recognition of his name (after all, he had both fame and infamy), Ibzan, Elon and Abdon do not spring readily to mind. But here’s the thing: each one of them played their part. You and I can do the same.

There’s a lot to be said for obscurity (although I doubt these 3 were anonymous in their time). I heard a pastor of a mega-church somewhere in Asia say how nice it would be to go into the city with his family, and not be recognised. To just be able to lead a quiet life. But he was so well-known, with thousands upon thousands in his church, and an international television ministry, that such a life was not possible.

So you have to do the best with whatever God gives you, wherever he puts you, and not be looking over your shoulder at someone else’s ‘allotment’.

Remember:

”They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.” (John 3:26,27)

And:

”Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:20-22)

In a book entitled, ‘No easy answers’, in one chapter, Enoch Powell dialogues with Malcolm Muggeridge. I enclose below a short extract from their conversation:

‘POWELL

…I am aware in relation to religion, of a sensation which is like that of being hungry, as one can be of a similar sensation in relation to poetry or music.

MUGGERIDGE

What are you hungering for?

POWELL

I’m hungering to hear, to be told, and to receive, things which I don’t know where to find elsewhere, and which I feel I shall be the poorer if I don’t hear and receive, and which I believe in some sense I shall die if I don’t have. That’s vague—I’m sorry. When one talks of music, one has to talk in musical terms, and when you talk of religion you must talk in religious terms.’

As I discovered this book, through the recommendation of a friend, I thought that Powell was expressing something that lies deep in every human heart: a spiritual hunger only Jesus can satisfy. He is the ‘living Bread’

“Bread of Life? Jesus lived up to the title. But an unopened loaf does a person no good. Have you received the bread? Have you received God’s forgiveness?” Max Lucado