The Rearing Of A Spiritual Leader

Text: Judges 13:1-14

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (03/10/02)

Introduction:   

Give BACKGROUND of Samson’s place in the Book of Judges.

Last of the Judges (12 in all)

Seventh Cycle in book of Judges

Father Manoah = rest (Compare with Noah)

OVERVIEW of Samson’s life.

Judges 13:5  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.

In that region of the world (ancient Philistia now Palestine) the battle is not yet over.

He was a Nazarite from conception.

A man who knew the power of God’s Spirit.

Not a man of exceptional physical strength, but an ordinary man with an exceptional God.

To be sure he had weakness of character – especially manifest in his relationship with Delilah.

But, he is also mentioned in the great chapter of Hebrews 11:32

One of the most outstanding (yet often overlooked) features of Samson’s life is that of his parent’s godly character.

Briefly relate CONTEXT of passage here.

Notice Manoah’s prayer in vs.8 & 12.

Important Parenting Principles taken from Manoah’s prayer:

These are some timeless truths that Manoah recognized.

I. Manoah Recognized that a child is a gift from God.

Manoah and his wife were childless and they had prayed for a child.

They would recognize this truth more powerfully than others.

Samson is one of many children of Scripture born in answer to prayer.  EG.  Isaac, Joseph, Samuel, and James (“Prayed for”)

Psalms 127:3  Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Who can understand the miracle of life?

LOOK UP & READ Psalm 139:13-16

Parents, Children are a gift from God.  They represent a sacred trust that the Lord has placed in us.  They are His before they are ours!!

II. Manoah Recognized that God’s way of rearing children is best.

Manoah’s attitude was the Lord will have to teach us.

He will have to teach us what to do and how to do it.

And what was God’s way?  SEE Vs.13-14  It was that Samson be instructed according to the Word of the Lord.

2 Timothy 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 6:4  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

There are many philosophies of child-rearing these days!

GIVE EXAMPLES:

Permissive Parenting / Detached Parenting / Latchkey parenting

Proverbs 29:15  The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

There is abusive parenting.  Authoritarian without reason!!

There are many models of parenting to choose from.

Scientific Models (Behaviorism – laboratory rats)

Evolutionary Models (Are things getting better?)

Psychological Models (Give your kids ritalin)

Educational Models (gone beyond education to indoctrination)

Do-it- yourself Models (fly by the seat of your pants)

Colossians 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Whatever happened to the Biblical Model???

Oh that every one of our Children could grow up God’s way!!!

III. Manoah Recognized that God has a specific plan for each child.

Samson was unique.

He was to be a Nazarite (separated).  EXPLAIN 3 Prohibitions

SEE Numbers 6

He was to judge Israel (A deliverer vs.5)

Now he was separated for this unique purpose from his mother’s womb.

There are a number of other Biblical examples.

Moses Parents –

Hebrews 11:23  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

John the Baptist – Filled with God’s Spirit even in his mother’s womb.

Jeremiah –

Jeremiah 1:5  Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Now God has an ordained purpose for every one of your children.

And He has specially created them and formed them for that purpose.

Our job as parents is to continue to guide them and prepare them for the fulfillment of that Holy purpose.

IV. Manoah recognized that Child-rearing is a parental responsibility.

There are some who suggest that the father is praying regarding Samson’s future work.

(NAS) - Jdges 13:12  Manoah said, "Now when your words come to pass, what shall be the boy's mode of life and his vocation?"

(NIV) - 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?"

What is clear here is that it was the parents work that Manoah was concerned with.

He said “Teach us!!”  and  “How shall we….”

Ephesians 6:4  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

LOOK UP & READ Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Our responsibilities include….

• Rearing them

• Rehearsing God’s Words and Works in their ears.

• Rendering a Godly example before their eyes.

• Releasing them to walk in God’s will for their lives.

V. Manoah recognized that parents need God’s help in rearing their children.

His recognition was that without God he would fail.

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Psalms 127:1  Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Conclusion:     (Review)