Samson

Reading Portion

Judg. 13; 15:20

Lesson Content

1. Before the birth of Samson, the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty y ears (Judg.13:1).

2. Samson’s father was Manoah, of the tribe of Dan (Judg.13:2).

3. An angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and foretold Samson’s birth. He also told her of the consecration that she and the child that was to be born should observe (Judg.13:3-5).

4. The woman told her husband about this incident (Judg.13:6,7).

5. Manoah, not knowing that it was an angel of God that appeared to his wife, prayed to the Lord to send the same man of God again to teach them how they should bring up the child that was to be born (Judg.13:8).

6. The Lord hearkened to the prayer of Manoah and the angel came again (Judg.13:9,10).

7. The conversation between Manoah and the angel (Judg.13:11-14).

8. Manoah invited the angel for a meal, but the angel declined saying that he could instead offer a burnt offering to the Lord if he wished (Judg.13:15,16).

9. Manoah asked the angel of the Lord for his name and the reply he gave (Judg.13:17,18).

10. Manoah offered a burnt offering and a meat offering unto the Lord an d the angel ascended in the flame of the altar, and disappeared (Judg.13:19,20).

11. Manoah’s fear — his wife instils courage (Judg.13:21-23).

12. The woman gave birth to a son as foretold by the angel, and called his name Samson. The Lord blessed him and the Spirit of the Lord began to move him (Judg.13:24,25).

13. Later, Samson rose to be the judge over Israel for twenty years and during this time the Lord used him as a mighty instrument to deliver His people out of the hand of the Philistines (Judg.15:20; 13:5).

Moral

The Lord has a great plan concerning every child. To accomplish His divine plan, we should be careful to keep His commandments revealed to us in the Word of God. If we do so, when we grow up we will be able to deliver the people who are bound by evil powers.