Celebrating the Godly Woman, Wife and Mom!
Mother's Day • Sermon • Submitted
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· 17 viewsSamson's mom is a great example of a woman, wife and mom who chose to be different in an extremly dark culture by living the way God wanted her to live.
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So they needed to keep the cost down for this conference to enable as many pastors to be able to come as possible so even though it's off-season on the beaches, well, they selected a hotel that was, let's just say, inexpensive as possible. I've been to a number of emerging Third World countries and their hotels can be interesting. Interesting. This particular one where I stayed had 9 stories, hundreds of guest rooms but only one very small elevator. Unfortunately, the elevator didn't always work. I came out of my room, I was on the third floor and one morning when I had just gotten there, the elevator doors were just partially open and you could look down and see all the way down to the bottom of the elevator shaft. At that point, I decided that perhaps the Lord wanted me to get some additional cardiovascular exercise by just taking the stairs for the rest of my stay there. That was a bit challenging because the teaching sessions were on the top floor, on the 9th floor, but that seemed better than the toppling down the elevator shaft option so that's what I did.
The Real War on Women!
The Real War on Women!
One night I had finished teaching and the sun had already gone down. We're coming down the stairs and we're starting to mix with quite a few of the other hotel guests who were coming in for the weekend when all the lights went out. All the lights went out. There's nothing quite like being in a stairwell with a bunch of people who don't speak your language when things go pitch black. Several things started happening. Some people just started screaming and on Mother's Day, I won't go into the gender of the persons who thought that was the best option. I'm way smarter than that so we'll just skip that part of the story. But that was decidedly unhelpful. It really was but that didn't stop them. It didn't stop them at all. Others started talking loudly in Albanian about what I assume was either guesses about the nature of the problem or maybe the possible solution. That didn't do much for me either because I couldn't understand a word that they were saying. Finally, a man I didn't even know, I assume now he was someone from the conference that I don't even know, he tapped me on the shoulder, he reached into his pocket and he took out a cell phone and because he had apparently been in this situation on a number of occasions before, he had installed an app on his iPhone. He turned it on, the flashlight app, and led me safely to my room. I was reminded once again of the well-known but very true saying: it's often better to light a candle or in this case light a cell phone, than to scream at the darkness. You see, only one person was able to get me to safety. That was the fellow with the light. The fellow with the light.
In this politically driven culture, you hear the phrase “war on women” as political jargon thrown around in efforts to convince you that this particular person or group hates women...
we are not here to open the can of worms of political debates, but I ask you, is what our culture defines as a “war on women” really what they say it is or could there be something far deeper, far darker and more sinister at play?
Think with me for just a moment and consider the sinister level to which our culture has plummeted...
God’s definition of the family...a man married to a woman…no need to go any further...
I would suggest to you that that metaphor is especially appropriate for followers of Jesus Christ on a Sunday like Mother's Day. I don't think there's ever been a point in any of our lifetimes where the cultural darkness has been more pervasive, especially when it comes to the nature of the family. What it means to be a woman, what it means to be a wife, what it means to be a mother is now being openly debated in ways that are shockingly dark. Shockingly dark. So a political candidate proudly proclaims that religion must change in order to accommodate her particular view of abortion on demand. Just recently, she and those like her will decide when a person is a mother and when she isn't and when a child's life is worthy of preserving and when it's not. And make no mistake about this: when she recently publicly condemned the company like Hobby Lobby's position on this matter, she wasn't just saying that you could not exercise your religious freedom or that your opinion shouldn't be considered when making public policy, she was demanding that everyone's religious views worldwide have to change.
I would suggest to you that that metaphor is especially appropriate for followers of Jesus Christ on a Sunday like Mother's Day. I don't think there's ever been a point in any of our lifetimes where the cultural darkness has been more pervasive, especially when it comes to the nature of the family. What it means to be a woman, what it means to be a wife, what it means to be a mother is now being openly debated in ways that are shockingly dark. Shockingly dark. So a political candidate proudly proclaims that religion must change in order to accommodate her particular view of abortion on demand. Just recently, she and those like her will decide when a person is a mother and when she isn't and when a child's life is worthy of preserving and when it's not. And make no mistake about this: when she recently publicly condemned the company like Hobby Lobby's position on this matter, she wasn't just saying that you could not exercise your religious freedom or that your opinion shouldn't be considered when making public policy, she was demanding that everyone's religious views worldwide have to change.
. What it means to be a woman, what it means to be a wife, what it means to be a mother is now being openly debated in ways that are shockingly dark. Shockingly dark. So a political candidate proudly proclaims that religion must change in order to accommodate her particular view of abortion on demand. Just recently, she and those like her will decide when a person is a mother and when she isn't and when a child's life is worthy of preserving and when it's not. And make no mistake about this: when she recently publicly condemned the company like Hobby Lobby's position on this matter, she wasn't just saying that you could not exercise your religious freedom or that your opinion shouldn't be considered when making public policy, she was demanding that everyone's religious views worldwide have to change.
Gender confusion verses Gender creation...parents even allowing their children to undergo gender transformation surgery is not considered child abuse...
Murdering babies inside the womb has now turned to allowing murder of those outside the womb who survive abortions....they can be left to die on a table while the people decide what to do next…
What it means to be a woman, what it means to be a wife, what it means to be a mother is now being openly debated in ways that are shockingly dark.
What it means to be a woman, what it means to be a wife, what it means to be a mother is now being openly debated in ways that are shockingly dark.
Fundamental questions like “At what point does a woman become a mother?” and “when is a child’s life worth saving” fail to be asked.
Fundamental questions like “At what point does a woman become a mother?” and “when is a child’s life worth saving” fail to be asked.
I would suggest to you this morning that the “war on women” is not a political platform…what it means to be a woman and what it means to be a wife and what it means to be a mother is attacked openly within a culture that is driven by spiritual darkness and Satan himself.
The very definition of marriage is now before 9 Supreme Court judges and at least Justice Kennedy was willing to be honest publicly about the core issue. This isn't a matter of rights, first and fundamentally it's an issue of definition which is why he said, "This definition has been with us for millennia," that is, the traditional definition of marriage being between one man and one woman. He said, I quote, "This definition has been with us for millennia. It's very difficult for the court to say, well, we know better." We'll see. That's why Chief Justice Roberts later explained, "You're not just seeking to join this institution but change what this institution is." And their decision, as you know, is expected next month and I don't know anybody who believes anything but that the justices will move to redefine marriage which, if that happens, will be one of the court's most far reaching decisions in their 225 year history but that's where we are.
I would suggest to you this morning that the “war on women” is not a political platform…what it means to be a woman and what it means to be a wife and what it means to be a mother is debated openly within a culture that is driven by spiritual darkness and Satan himself.
The question then becomes: what are people who say they know and love God supposed to do in a culture that is so dark?
We could throw our arms up in despair, surround ourselves with tons of bubble wrap and try to protect ourselves from the wicked onslaught...
Or we could face the challenge head on and stand firm in the Word of God that declares right from wrong and sets the pattern for what we think and do!
What does the Word of God tell us about being a woman, wife and mother in a way that is counter-cultural?…in other words,
How can today’s believing woman, wife and mother shine the light of Christ in a pervasively dark world?
How can today’s believing woman, wife and mother shine the light of Christ in a pervasively dark world?
How can today’s believing woman, wife and mother shine the light of Christ in a pervasively dark world.
To answer that question let’s turn to the pages of the Old Testament to ...
If you know anything about Scripture, you know that the period of the Judges looks a lot like the culture of the 21st century...
This spring we're doing a series entitled "Grace for the Family." Aren't you glad there is grace for the family? That's what makes having any kind of light possible, of course, grace for the family. That's part of our overall theme this year of "Finding Grace." Finding grace. Our study this morning, I realize you might be shocked that I ask you on Mother's Day to turn to the book of Judges, well, our study this morning brings us to a very sad time in the history of God's people, the period of the judges, the years between the conquest of the Promised Land under Joshua to the establishment of Israel's first king, King Saul, in 1043 BC. I recently read through this book as part of my devotional time and that's why it's good to read through books of the Bible at one sitting if you can. I was just struck by how similar this period of history is to the day and age in which we live but what's marvelous is the gracious saving hand of our redeeming God in spite of the rebellion of even his own people and the rare examples of faithfulness that shine like the bright lights that Paul would later describe, including an unnamed woman who just happened to be the mother of one of Israel's judges, a wild man in many ways. We know his name, huh? His name was Samson. But Samson's story is fascinating for all sorts of reasons including how much of this entire narrative is devoted to the story of his mom.
This was a sad time in the history of God's people…but one of the marvelous truths about that time period can also be true of ours…that truth is that God can graciously deliver a nation in spite of the rebellion and provide shining lights in world plagued with darkness...
I am presently reading through this book as part of my devotional time and I am quickly drawn into the comparisons of that time period to ours...
One of the marvelous truths about that time period can be true of ours…that truth is that God can graciously deliver a nation in spite of the rebellion and provide shining lights in world plagued with darkness...
When people who don’t know the Bible are asked to name a character from the Bible, a high percentage of people will name Samson…one of Israel's judges…his story is a fascinating one, but the text we are looking at this morning is devoted to the story of his mom…
Our focus on this Mother’s Day is to examine this godly woman, wife and mother who lived in a time much like ours to discover truth for today’s woman who wants to glorify God.
Even In Dark Times Godly Women Honor God!
Even In Dark Times Godly Women Honor God!
1 Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, so that the LORD gave them into the hands of the Philistines forty years. 2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had borne no children. 3 Then the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son. 4 Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. 5 For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines."
That's the most important part of everything that I have read so far, "he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines."
6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, "A man of God came to me and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. And I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name. 7 But he said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or strong drink nor eat any unclean thing, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.'" 8 Then Manoah entreated the LORD and said, "O Lord, please let the man of God whom You have sent come to us again that he may teach us what to do for the boy who is to be born." 9 God listened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again to the woman as she was sitting in the field,
It's interesting Manoah was not there.
Let's examine this unnamed woman and think about 3 characteristics of the woman, wife and mother who desires to honor God...
but Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, "Behold, the man who came the other day has appeared to me." 11 Then Manoah arose and followed his wife, and when he came to the man he said to him, "Are you the man who spoke to the woman?" And he said, "I am." 12 Manoah said, "Now when your words come to pass, what shall be the boy's mode of life and his vocation?" 13 So the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, "Let the woman pay attention to all that I said. 14 She should not eat anything that comes from the vine nor drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing; let her observe all that I commanded."
So in other words, the same thing I already said.
15 Then Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "Please let us detain you so that we may prepare a young goat for you." 16 The angel of the LORD said to Manoah, "Though you detain me, I will not eat your food, but if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the LORD." [to Jehovah] For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the LORD. 17 Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "What is your name, so that when your words come to pass, we may honor you?" 18 But the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?" 19 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering and offered it on the rock to the LORD, and He performed wonders while Manoah and his wife looked on. 20 For it came about when the flame went up from the altar toward heaven, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground. 21 Now the angel of the LORD did not appear to Manoah or his wife again. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the LORD. 22 So Manoah said to his wife, "We will surely die, for we have seen God." 23 But his wife said to him, "If the LORD had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have let us hear things like this at this time." 24 Then the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson; and the child grew up and the LORD blessed him. 25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Let's examine this unnamed woman and think about 3 characteristics of the woman, wife and mother who desires to honor God...
They Choose to Be Ruled By God, Not Their Culture.
They Choose to Be Ruled By God, Not Their Culture.
Here is what the book of Judges says about this time period…these are the book ends so to speak…after Joshua dies we read..
All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.
Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals,
at the end of the book we read this...
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
One of the ways that Samson's mom stands out is that she chooses to live in a way that is counter-cultural by letting God rule her life.
Remember this? "In those days," the days of the judges, "there was no king in Israel so everybody did that which is right in his own eyes." Now, please keep that in mind, friends, because Jesus is here in this passage much closer than anyone realizes, the great King, whose exploits someday will make Samson's pale in comparison. But one of the ways that Samson's mom stands out is how she selects her king wisely in contrast to everybody else around her. There is so much evidence of darkness in this passage like the sons of Israel who again did evil. Again, in the sight of the Lord. If you have ever studied this book before, you know that there is a clear 4 part cycle that is repeated over and over and over throughout the book so Israel departs from following the Lord, then God allows them to be subjugated to some foreign power, then his people cry out for deliverance and then the Lord sends a judge or a deliverer, literally a savior who leads them to overcome their oppressors.
The darkness of her culture is clearly evident in verse 1…sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Remember this? "In those days," the days of the judges, "there was no king in Israel so everybody did that which is right in his own eyes." Now, please keep that in mind, friends, because Jesus is here in this passage much closer than anyone realizes, the great King, whose exploits someday will make Samson's pale in comparison. But one of the ways that Samson's mom stands out is how she selects her king wisely in contrast to everybody else around her. There is so much evidence of darkness in this passage like the sons of Israel who again did evil. Again, in the sight of the Lord. If you have ever studied this book before, you know that there is a clear 4 part cycle that is repeated over and over and over throughout the book so Israel departs from following the Lord, then God allows them to be subjugated to some foreign power, then his people cry out for deliverance and then the Lord sends a judge or a deliverer, literally a savior who leads them to overcome their oppressors.
If you have ever studied this book before you know that during this time period there was this ridiculous cycle that was repeated over and over again where Israel does evil by departing from God, God allows them to be enslaved by some foreign power, they cry out for deliverance and then God raises up a deliverer, a judge, a savior that leads them to victory over their oppressors...
If you have ever studied this book before you know that during this time period there was this ridiculous cycle that was repeated over and over again where Israel does evil by departing from God, God allows them to be enslaved by some foreign power, they cry out for deliverance and then God raises up a deliverer, a judge, a savior that leads them to victory over their oppressors...
So Samson's mom finds herself at the beginning of yet another one of those cycles where the sons of Israel again are doing evil in the sight of the Lord.
So Samson's mom finds herself at the beginning of yet another one of those cycles where the sons of Israel again are doing evil in the sight of the Lord.
But did you notice what is missing from this one?…there is no crying out to God for deliverance... they are people unwilling to even repent and cry out to God.
they are people unwilling to even repent and cry out to God.
I think that makes the days in which Samson's mother is living even more dark....In fact, she is surrounded by people who had no apparent desire for the salvation of the Lord. That's how bad it was.
We see this right after Samson begins to function the way God wanted him to…and he burns the Philistine crops...this is part of God using Samson to deliver His people, who didn’t want to be delivered...
In fact, she is surrounded by people who had no apparent desire for the salvation of the Lord. That's how bad it had gotten.
As part of God's potential deliverance for his wayward and apathetic people and here's what happens:
This was right after Samson burns the Philistines' crops. Do you remember this?
As part of God's potential deliverance for his wayward and apathetic people and here's what happens:
11
Then 3,000 men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam and said to Samson, “Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?” And he said to them, “As they did to me, so I have done to them.”
Done to us?
then 3,000 men of Judah, God's people, went down to the cleft of the rock of Adam and said to Samson, "Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?" Done to us? God was doing that to their oppressors but they were so used to the worship of false gods and becoming progressively as morally and spiritually dark as the culture around them, they didn't even want to be delivered and they complained about it when it happened.
God was doing that to their oppressors but they had become so comfortable with the worship of false gods and they were content with the moral and spiritual darkness around them...they didn't even want to be delivered and they complained about it when it happened.
There is definitely a darkness among God’s people...
Here is something else the context reveals to us...she wasn't just facing the darkness and hopelessness of what was happening around her, she was also experiencing an even greater heartache of what was not happening inside of her.
Here is something else the context reveals to us...she wasn't just facing the darkness and hopelessness of what was happening around her, she was also experiencing an even greater heartache of what was not happening inside of her.
This passage affirms twice these sad words, "and his wife was barren and had borne no children," as if the word "barren" needs definition.
In Ancient times, in practically every nation and culture, if you were barren, you were considered cursed…you had displeased your god and now he was punishing you and your family by not allowing the line of your husband to continue...
And then to make matters worse when the angel of the Lord appears, (by the way this is Jesus…as the chapter unfolds you will see this more and more)...those are among his first words, "Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children."
So not only do we have the context of spiritual darkness,there is also emotional heartache and familial disgrace and disappointment.
Here’s the point...
Samson’s mom is an example of a woman living in an incredibly dark time who chooses to be ruled by her God, not her culture…she chooses God in spite of her own doubts and hurts and exercises her faith in Him.
Samson’s mom is an example of a woman living in an incredibly dark time who chooses to be ruled by her God, not her culture…she chooses God in spite of her own doubts and hurts and exercises her faith in Him.
On this Mother’s day we need to pause to thank and commend every mom, wife and mother who has made a similar choice.
We want to thank and commend every mom and every woman here who has made a similar choice.
If there has been a definite time in your life where you admitted your need and you placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and your Lord, your life, your marriage, your spouse, your children all better because YOU wisely chose Jesus as your King...
Men…stop trying to be her King…there is no room for you on the throne, your desire for your wife is that she chooses God first...
And if you are here this morning and you've not yet made that decision, we would invite you to do so today. There is no more important decision for a wife, for a mother, for anyone to make than who is going to be your Savior, who is going to be your King, and in a culture where there is no king in Israel and everybody does what is right in their own eyes, deciding who your rightful King, Lord, Savior is going to be is more important than ever…you need to make the wise choice...
The second characteristic we see here regarding godly women is that...
Men we need to take an honest look at what we say and do to our spouse that communicates an expectation that we consider ourselves to be her master…your relationship with her is not to be “get in the kitchen and make me some chicken”...
Well anyway, last October, I began working with a family. They were from about an hour away. They claimed to be Christians. They didn't have a church at the time and they had marriage problems that had reached the place that the mom had filed for divorce, even though there were young children in that home. We listened that first session just very carefully to what was going on and, frankly, started to confront the husband on some of the ways that he needed to change and he was thankfully very receptive to that confrontation. Then because there was no biblical grounds for divorce in that particular situation, I asked the wife and the mom to consider taking the divorce off the table. Now, I'm honestly not a very good note taker. If you have ever seen my notes you would say, "Are you in second grade?" So I'm not a very good note taker but what I have in my file from the next week is that they reported that they had told all their children that they were coming for counseling. They told their children openly that they had decided they wanted to work together on their marriage and that mom had contacted her attorney and postponed the divorce. You see, she at that moment was like Samson's mom, she was choosing her King wisely. She was doing what she was doing because she believed that's what her King wanted her to do.
Men are you constantly demanding their submission and pressuring your wife to make pleasing you her highest priority? then you have forced her to chose the wrong king....you have dethroned Christ and you are now sitting on the throne that only He deserves…your heart for her should be that she pleases God first, not you....If you’re thinking you don’t do that or you don’t know if you do that…ASK HER!
If you’re thinking you don’t do that or you don’t know if you do that…ASK HER!
Single guys…it is very important that from the outset of your relationship with a young lady that you understand this and that you look for the things in her that identify Jesus as her King...
Single ladies…if he wants to be the king of your castle you need to lovingly tell him there is no room for Him to be king because Jesus is your king...
Implication for the Ladies — Who is Your King?
Implication for the Ladies — Who is Your King?
Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
Implication for the Ladies — Who is Your King?
Implication for the Ladies — Who is Your King?
Now, the first question for all of us would be: have we done the same? Has there been a definite time in your life where you have acknowledged your need and you have made Jesus the foundation that we were singing about earlier in our service? And for some who will hear this message today, you have had a mama talking to you about that for a long time. Here's my message to you: what a great Mother's Day gift you would give if you would repent and believe in Christ as Savior and Lord. And don't do it simply to make your mama happy, do it because it's right and because Jesus deserves to be your King and I promise you, "Faultless stand before the throne," that ain't going to happen to nobody unless you have a perfect Savior who died on the cross for your sin, making it possible for your sin to be forgiven and for simultaneously his righteousness to be placed on your account. So do it because it's theologically right, but do it also because you can later on today tell your mama that you finally trusted Christ and then you probably need to ask her forgiveness for your stubbornness but she'll do a happy dance as much as Baptist type people can do happy dances. It will bring joy to her heart for sure. Have you made Jesus your rightful King?
Ladies this doesn’t mean you go home and conk your husband on the head with a rolling a pin or frying pan and tell him to get off the throne of the couch or out of his man cave…i don’t want to field phone calls from angry husbands this week...
Instead you lovingly show him what it means for you to live with Jesus as your King, even if your home is as dark as the culture around you…you live in such a way that is clear your heart is set on pleasing God…and here is the marvelous thing that can happen in your marriage…when pleasing God is your priority and you seek to honor him in your role as a godly wife and mom, your husband can be won over to Him...
In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,
as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.
Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;
but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.
Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;
but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
1 pet
Ladies has there been a definite time in your life where you have acknowledged your need and you have made Jesus the foundation of your life and you chose Him as your King? Can others around you testify of that truth?
Has there been a definite time in your life where you have acknowledged your need and you have made Jesus the foundation of your life?
Or are you an approval junkie? Are there other people you are letting determine how you think and act because you desire their approval instead of God’s…
Are you ruling your own life, living how you want, are you allowing the darkness of this culture to negatively impact how you think and act?
The second characteristic we see here regarding godly women is that...
They are careful to do what is right in God’s eyes.
They are careful to do what is right in God’s eyes.
What we are reading here is a direct contrast to the dark culture in which she lived where everybody simply did that which was right in their own eyes.
They are careful to obey God first and foremost in their own walk with Him.
They are careful to obey God first and foremost in their own walk with Him.
Did you notice that 3 times in this text Jesus tells her what is expected of her before she even gets pregnant with Samson?...
Read , , 13-14
Clearly in this text over and over, "You shall receive and give birth to a son."
“For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
“But he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or strong drink nor eat any unclean thing, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’ ”
Did you also notice that 3 times in this text Jesus tells her what is expected of her before she even gets pregnant with Samson?...
7
“Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing.
This son is a gift from God. She would have agreed with the psalmist who said, "Behold, children are a gift of the Lord. The fruit of the womb is his reward." The principle is this: show me a mom who truly believes her children are from God, I'll show you a mom who wants God's word to be her guide for the way they are raised because she really believes God's way is best for her children.
Judg 13:4
“But he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or strong drink nor eat any unclean thing, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’ ”
“But he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or strong drink nor eat any unclean thing, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’ ”
So the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Let the woman pay attention to all that I said.
Judg
Judg 13
“She should not eat anything that comes from the vine nor drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing; let her observe all that I commanded.”
Before she could have any impact on her son, she had to make sure she was living obediently to the Lord first…He commanded her that she was to live a life separated to God because her son was to live a life separated to God…you cannot expect your children to follow God when you are not following God!
The angel of the Lord explains that Samson was to live lifelong under the Nazirite vow explained in the book of which included these 3 conditions: no strong drink, never touching a dead body and not cutting one's hair.
Being a Nazirite was open to any man or woman who wanted to dedicate themselves to the Lord…
The priesthood was reserved for Aaron’s family, but any woman or man could be dedicated to the Lord’s work (Nazirite = one consecrated, devoted) by means of the vow of a Nazarite, it was a visible sign of a clear separation…it could be temporary or lifelong…if there was a violation of the vows, the hair had to be cut and the vow started over...
Now, just to be clear, the point is not that there is anything right or wrong about any of those 3 things...
The issue is obedience to whatever commands God gives at the time and what stands out here is her desire to get it right.
There is a carefulness to this mom...And the word "careful” in verse 4 and “pay attention” in verse 13, is the same word that is translated in other places in the New Testament as "guard." That's the point, there is a carefulness about this.
Here’s the point...
Ladies, before you can have any impact for God as a wife or mother, you must pay attention to being God’s Kind of Woman!
Ladies, before you can have any impact for God as a wife or mother, you must pay attention to being God’s Kind of Woman!
for we walk by faith, not by sight—
Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
Matthew
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
God’s kind of woman takes special care to be obedient to Him, regardless of what others around her are saying or doing, including her spouse and children.
God’s kind of woman takes special care to be obedient to Him, regardless of what others around her are saying or doing, including her spouse and children.
Ladies you cannot be God’s kind of marriage partner if you are not God’s kind of person…you cannot be God’s kind of parent without being God’s kind of marriage partner…
Men we should be making it easier for our spouses to obey God rather than a burden…we need to be encouraging them to pursue the things of God and help them find the ways God has equipped them to serve the entire body of Christ, not just us!
Scripture commands the wife to be submissive to her husband as she would to the Lord, but men let’s be honest, submitting to our leadership of them can be quite frightening and extremely difficult when we are not acting like godly men and husbands ought to act.
In my years of marriage counseling I have found that the husbands are the greatest opposition to the wife trying to please God because they want to please their husbands too, and sometimes those two concepts are incompatible!
To be God’s kind of woman takes the discipline to do what is right in face of opposition and the courage to walk by faith believing your God will follow through with His promise to bless your obedience.
To be God’s kind of woman takes the discipline to do what is right in face of opposition and the courage to walk by faith believing your God will follow through with His promise to bless your obedience.
They are careful to believe God’s way is best for her children.
They are careful to believe God’s way is best for her children.
She was living in a time where parents weren’t teaching their children the importance of loving God and being obedient to him…the culture around her was callous to the things of God…each cycle begins with the same terminology… “they did evil in the sight of the Lord”…and now her time was even worse because they grew angry when someone came along who disrupted their comfortableness of disobedience…
The people of her time were not concerned with the things of God and when she was told that God was going to bless her with a son, she believed that God’s way was the best and that she was going to follow through with raising her child the way God wanted, not her culture.
Verse 5, "For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son." She repeated that in verse 7, "he said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son.'" This son is a gift from God. She would have agreed with the psalmist who said, "Behold, children are a gift of the Lord. The fruit of the womb is his reward." The principle is this: show me a mom who truly believes her children are from God, I'll show you a mom who wants God's word to be her guide for the way they are raised because she really believes God's way is best for her children.
Here’s what we learn from her...
Godly moms know God’s way is always best for their children; and they are going to make it a priority to set God as the standard for what is right and wrong and will follow His Word in raising them.
Godly moms know God’s way is always best for their children; and they are going to make it a priority to set God as the standard for what is right and wrong and will follow His Word in raising them.
That is not always going to be the most popular and culturally acceptable way of parenting....one of the reasons our culture is so dark is in part, because of parents who are more concerned about being a friend to their child instead of the godly parent.
As my father-in-law states, “Sometimes the board of education needs to be applied to the seat of understanding”.
no strong drink, never touching a dead body and not cutting one's hair.
Godly moms are motivated by the desire to get it right according to God’s plan...to guard the commands of God. you should want to be sure as a mom that you’re letting the word of God govern the way you raise your children, even though you recognize you’re living in a culture where everybody does that which is right in their own eyes. You should desire to be a bright light shining against that darkness."
Now, just to be clear, the point is not that there is anything right or wrong about any of those 3 things...
The issue is obedience to whatever commands God gives at the time and what stands out here is her desire to get it right. There is a carefulness to this mom.
It's like the person described in ...
By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
"By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments." And the word "keep" in that text is the same word that is translated in other places in the New Testament as "guard." That's the point, there is a carefulness about this. "I want to be sure that I get this right. I want to guard the commands of God. I want to be sure as a mom and as a dad, I want to be sure that I'm letting the word of God govern the way I raise my child even though I recognize I'm living in a culture where everybody does that which is right in their own eyes. I want to be a bright light shining against that darkness." It's what Paul would later describe as walking circumspectly. Circum, around, spect, to look. A mom who is very, very careful just like Samson's mom was to get this right. "To let the word of my God, my King, be the determinate for how I'm going to raise my child."
"I want to be sure that I get this right. I want to guard the commands of God. I want to be sure as a mom and as a dad, I want to be sure that I'm letting the word of God govern the way I raise my child even though I recognize I'm living in a culture where everybody does that which is right in their own eyes. I want to be a bright light shining against that darkness."
"I want to be sure that I get this right. I want to guard the commands of God. I want to be sure as a mom and as a dad, I want to be sure that I'm letting the word of God govern the way I raise my child even though I recognize I'm living in a culture where everybody does that which is right in their own eyes. I want to be a bright light shining against that darkness."
We have many moms with us today, that's the way they lived, and that's the way they continue to live…they don’t allow the culture to squeeze them or their children in its mold…they refuse to live in the darkness by shining the light of God’s Word on it and by choosing to know it and live by it...
We have many moms with us today, that's the way they lived, and that's the way they continue to live…they don’t allow the culture to squeeze them or their children in its mold…they refuse to live in the darkness by shining the light of God’s Word on it and by choosing to know it and live by it...
Even women here that do not have children, or perhaps their children are no longer in the home…they live with a particular goal of doing that which is right in God's eyes and they choose to let that impact they way they interact with someone else’s children…some of them are your kid’s day care providers or Sunday School teachers, coaches, leaders, etc...
What was her motivation for doing this?…She longed to see God's purpose fulfilled.
What was her motivation for doing this?…She longed to see God's purpose fulfilled.
It's because she longed to see God's purpose fulfilled.
It's because she longed to see God's purpose fulfilled.
Notice verse 5 that Samson "shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines."
The details of this story are fascinating..the angel of the Lord who is Jesus Himself appears to a woman who is barren and tells her she is going to have a son, and there is an expectation that she will need to obey, but what is most fascinating is that God is going to use her son as an instrument of deliverance with his erring people who didn’t even want to be be delivered...
Stop and think with me for a moment what it must have been like to be the mother of Samson…The Bible is silent about Samson in the years leading up to his adulthood…and the exploits of him as an adult give me the indication that Samson was a handful…perhaps even a rascal, to put it mildly…He was probably the boy version of Baruka from Willa Wonka and the Chocolate factory...
She knew God was going to deliver Israel and He was going to use her son to do it…she wanted to make sure that she was doing her part as a godly mom to prepare him to be used by God... she stuck with it, making sure that the time she had with him was all geared towards that purpose...
Isn’t that the desire of every godly mom…your children are used by God to minister grace and proclaim His salvation to others...but Samson didn’t respond to his mom or his dad like he should have did he?
If you know the story, you know that Samson’s lack of respect for his parents and their teaching coupled with his lack of moral purity as an adult would eventually cost him his eyes...but that just screams a message about God’s grace and his mother’s faithfulness to live the way she did even when her child was not responding the way he should.
Godly moms do what they do, not because of immediate gratification, but because it is right in God’s eyes and they leave the timing and the results in His hands.
Godly moms do what they do, not because of immediate gratification, but because it is right in God’s eyes and they leave the timing and the results in His hands.
Godly moms do what they do not because of immediate gratification, but because it is right in God’s eyes and they leave the timing and the results in His hands.
Godly moms do what they do not because of immediate gratification, but because it is right in God’s eyes and they leave the timing and the results in His hands.
Sometimes parents, you can do everything right in God’s eyes and your children can rebel against that and go their own way…they are responsible for what they do with what you teach them and what you model for them...
I’m sure there are moms and dads here whose hearts break everyday because their adult children have forsaken the truth…when they were little and in your house, you never gave up bringing God into the picture and how they needed to think and act like Christ wanted them to act…
moms, if you have adult children who are walking contrary to what they know is the truth, you can follow the example of Samson’s mom and continue to do what is right in God’s eyes…you keep your relationship with God in front of them…you do what godly moms always do…
Regardless of whether they want to hear it or not, you speak the truth to them in love and you allow God to do what only God can do.
Regardless of whether they want to hear it or not, you speak the truth to them in love and you allow God to do what only God can do.
You pray that God’s purpose is fulfilled in them and you trust in the sovereign God that His Word that you worked so hard to implant in them will never come back empty.
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Transition…what happens next here is Samson's father asked the angel of the Lord to return and he graciously did. Then interestingly, he doesn't give them any new information. He just repeated the instructions he had given to Samson's mom and Manoah offered to make him a meal and asked him his name....that's when it was revealed that this wasn't just any messenger. This is what is known in theology as a theophany. This was the angel of the Lord. This was the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus Christ who was initiating this salvation among the people of God…
Well, this text explains that Samson's father asked the angel of the Lord to return and he graciously did. Then interestingly, he doesn't give them any new information. He just repeated the instructions he had given to Samson's mom and Manoah offered to make him a meal and asked him his name. That's when it was revealed that this wasn't just any messenger. This is what is known in theology as a theophany. This was the angel of the Lord. This was the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus Christ who was initiating this salvation among the people of God.
Well, this text explains that Samson's father asked the angel of the Lord to return and he graciously did. Then interestingly, he doesn't give them any new information. He just repeated the instructions he had given to Samson's mom and Manoah offered to make him a meal and asked him his name. That's when it was revealed that this wasn't just any messenger. This is what is known in theology as a theophany. This was the angel of the Lord. This was the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus Christ who was initiating this salvation among the people of God.
...and the text now shows us that Samson’s mom was a woman who possessed great reverence and trust…third characteristic...
A few weeks before Easter, Jade was driving to his evening shift at work and was having trouble getting any other stations on the radio and he came across a Christian radio station and the song he heard that evening was by Casting Crowns, "I'll praise you in the storm," and I don't know exactly why but song at that moment impacted him deeply and he actually pulled his van over to the side of the road and started crying and was reminded of all of the truth that he had been taught by his parents growing up, about all the ways his parents had been gracious to him, how often he had rebelled and right there on the side of the road, he gave his life to Christ. Of course, the first person he called was his mama and right then began the process of reconciliation. The youth pastor helped him begin to take some steps in the right direction. All of that happened because a mom and a dad decided that Jesus Christ was going to be their Savior and their King and they were going to raise their children in a way that was right in God's eyes, even when it was incredibly hard.
e Lord Jesus Christ who was initiating this salvation among the people of God.
Well, this text explains that Samson's father asked the angel of the Lord to return and he graciously did. Then interestingly, he doesn't give them any new information. He just repeated the instructions he had given to Samson's mom and Manoah offered to make him a meal and asked him his name. That's when it was revealed that this wasn't just any messenger. This is what is known in theology as a theophany. This was the angel of the Lord. This was the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus Christ who was initiating this salvation among the people of God.
They possess great reverence and trust.
They possess great reverence and trust.
Godly women rightly fear the Lord.
Godly women rightly fear the Lord.
The angel invited them to make an offering to the Lord and when they did, he ascended up in the flame and when Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground.
She rightly feared the Lord. I get the picture of her that even if Manoah had not fallen to the ground she would have…she recognized Him as God and that brought an immediate response from her...You see that throughout this text.
Ladies regardless of whether your husband acknowledges God as his God or not, you keep honoring God with your life.
Ladies regardless of whether your other lady friends acknowledge God as their God, don’t allow them to press you into their mold and cause you to forsake Him…you keep fearing God and you keep honoring Him, you be the light those other ladies need...
Manoah was incredibly wrong here and needed the counsel of his wife here…he wrongly suggested that they were going to die because they had seen the Lord, but do you notice what and Samson's mom does here...
Godly women joyfully trust the Lord.
Godly women joyfully trust the Lord.
Let’s face it men…sometimes we just need simple logic and so she gave Manoah a simple answer...
But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have let us hear things like this at this time.”
Then the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson; and the child grew up and the Lord blessed him.
Please allow me some freedom here to interpret what she said…I can just see her lovingly placing her palms on Manoah’s cheeks, focusing her eyes on his eyes and saying “Dear, if that were true, he would not have accepted our offering, he would not have told us what was going to happen, and how can I give birth to a son if I am dead.”
Simple logic at its best...
Her trust in God would not allow her to be sucked into the darkness of her culture!
Her trust in God would not allow her to be sucked into the darkness of her culture!
She took her thoughts captive and measured them against the Word of God and allowed His promises to her to guide her response.
His wife said to him, "If the Lord had desired, just simple logic, if the Lord had desired to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, plus it would be really hard for me to give birth to this son if that's what he's about to do. Nor would he have shown us all these things, nor would he have let us hear these things like this at this time."
What an incredible theological and even emotional balance that comes to a wife and mother who isn't sucked into the darkness of her culture, huh? That's called clear, precise thinking, for sure. Of course, ultimately this is pointing to those who would trust in God's perfect Savior. God was bringing about rescue to his very wayward people though through a very imperfect deliverer but the day would come when an announcement would be made to another young mother, her name was Mary, and she too chose to believe what God had said and part of her response was, "My soul exalts the Lord. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior," Mary said, ""For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him."
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
If there ever was a time and culture when our thoughts needed to be taken captive it is now…we need women, wives and moms who are willing to stand in the gap and shine in the darkness...
We need men and women alike who view their world and all that is in it through the lens of Scripture and that guides their steps.
So where do we go from here...
This story would foreshadow the day when an announcement would be made to another young mother, remember her?...Mary, and she too chose to believe what God had said and part of her response was,
And Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
“For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
“And His mercy is upon generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
Luke 1:"My soul exalts the Lord. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior," Mary said, ""For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him."
“His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him...” even when that generation lives in a culture that is becoming progressively darker…what do we do?
You see, what does it take, what do we do when we live in a culture that is progressively becoming darker in many ways but especially right now regarding God's word and the family? Well, how about celebrating the light of the lives of mothers who chose to be like Samson's mom? So if you are this kind of woman or this kind of mother today, we thank you for allowing the Savior to work in your life in this way and if this study has given you reason to reconsider ways your light should be brighter, I want to encourage you to take those steps even on Mother's Day. If you have such a woman in your life or in many of our cases several women like this in your lives, I would challenge you to thank them and commend them today if you possibly can and if you have such a person in your life who has lived for Christ before you and quietly and faithfully witnessed to you, if you haven't accepted their King as your Lord and Savior and therefore let's just face it, you are doing that which is right in your own eyes, I would urge you to repent and believe in the rightful King today.
You see, what does it take, what do we do when we live in a culture that is progressively becoming darker in many ways but especially right now regarding God's word and the family? Well, how about celebrating the light of the lives of mothers who chose to be like Samson's mom? So if you are this kind of woman or this kind of mother today, we thank you for allowing the Savior to work in your life in this way and if this study has given you reason to reconsider ways your light should be brighter, I want to encourage you to take those steps even on Mother's Day. If you have such a woman in your life or in many of our cases several women like this in your lives, I would challenge you to thank them and commend them today if you possibly can and if you have such a person in your life who has lived for Christ before you and quietly and faithfully witnessed to you, if you haven't accepted their King as your Lord and Savior and therefore let's just face it, you are doing that which is right in your own eyes, I would urge you to repent and believe in the rightful King today.
What do we do?
Celebrate women, wives and moms who chose to be godly, even when others around them are not!
Celebrate women, wives and moms who chose to be godly, even when others around them are not!
So if you are this kind of woman or this kind of mother today, we thank you for allowing the Savior to work in your life in this way…my prayer is that somehow this study this morning has encouraged you to keep shining and even discover ways you can shine brighter...
Men, if you have such a woman in your life or in many of our cases several women like this in your lives, I would challenge you to thank them and commend them today...
Are you encouraging them in their godliness…are you making it a joy for them to lovingly serve God…are you lovingly helping them grow in their own walk with Christ?
Friends, if you have such a person in your life who has lived for Christ before you and quietly and faithfully witnessed to you, if you haven't accepted their God as your God, their Savior as your Savior, you are doing that which is right in your own eyes, I would urge you to repent and believe today.
No matter how dark the culture may be or become, godly women, wives and moms will choose God and His way and joyfully and faithfully live for Him.
A little later on that evening at the track meet, Jade ran into a fellow student who had bullied him when he was in high school and initiated a conversation that led to their reconciliation right there on the side of the track meet and someone took that shot as well.
At that meet, a little after that particular incident, Jade told his parents he'd like to start over. He'd like to move back home. He would like to live under their authority. There at the track meet they told him, "You can do that. In fact, son, you can move back right now, right after the track meet if you want to. You can come home. We're so glad for what God is doing in your life and what you're allowing him to do in your life." He said he thought it would be better for him to go on to his job that evening. He felt that he should not give his job the proper amount of notice and then make the move.
He was traveling north just a few hours after that picture was taken. There was another young man coming from the opposite direction. Eyewitnesses say that the second driver was behaving very erratically, dangerously passing cars at speeds estimated at nearly 100 miles an hour. Tried to pass yet another car. Didn't make it back into his lane in time. Instead struck Jade's van head-on who was traveling at an estimated 60 miles an hour in the other direction. Both young men were ushered into eternity and this couple received that news at 2 o'clock the next morning and they had called me to ask me if I would try to help them with their unspeakable grief.
It's another one of those many conversations which I wish our entire church family was present because this couple is determined with the help of God together as a husband and a wife and a family to draw near to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in their time of need. And here was the repeated refrain on Monday night, "What if this would have happened to us last October? Where would our marriage be? And where would our son be?" You see, friends, wise people choose their King and then joyfully and faithfully live for him while they have the opportunity to do so.
Our Father in heaven, we want to thank you this morning for just a very unusual story in your word and, Father, your saving, redeeming, initiatory grace is so evident in this dark, dark period of time, the judges. And Father, I pray that that would encourage our hearts and, Lord, I pray that we wouldn't spend a whole lot of time worrying about the darkness. I pray that we would focus on the joy of shining a light and we would focus on the joy of the amazing grace of our God who has sent his Son, making it possible for by his grace our sin to be forgiven, for his righteousness to be placed on our account, for us to have a hope that is Jesus' blood and righteousness. Father, one of the lies of this dark culture is that there will always be another day; just keep living in a way that is right in your own eyes and there will always be another day. Lord, I pray that we would reject that as abject folly and I pray that we would choose while we have the opportunity to do so, to be mothers, to be fathers, to be men, to be women, to be people of grace. We pray this in Christ's name. Amen.