Sermon Tone Analysis

The Grace of His Word

God often moves in unexpected ways (vv.1-3)

He honors the dishonored

He gives oddly specific directions (Num.

6:1-21) Samson’s vow was not voluntary and it was for the whole of his life (7), so his Nazirite state must be set in a special category, perhaps paralleled by Samuel who, in a Qumran text (4Q Sam.a; cf. 1 Sam.

1:22), is described as ‘a Nazirite for ever all the days of his life’.1 1 Arthur E. Cundall and Leon Morris, Judges and Ruth: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 7, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1968), 152.

He speaks through common voices

The Grace of His Presence

God is more gracious than assumed

He answers Manoah’s prayer

He waits for Manoah

Manoah’s request was typical of the hospitality of the Israelites and other similar groups, and the time involved in preparing such a meal is indicative of the leisureliness of the period, a far cry from the quick-frozen, ‘prepared-in-ten-minutes’ meals of the modern Western world!

In the Middle and Far East there are still places where this kind of ‘timelessness’ exists.

The sharing of a meal in the ancient world was a solemn act of fellowship.

This incident brings to mind the hospitality proffered by Abraham (Gen.

18:3–8) and Gideon (Judg.

6:17–23)...

11 Arthur E. Cundall and Leon Morris, Judges and Ruth: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 7, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1968), 153.

The Grace of Mercy

God reveals his glory, and Manoah has the right response (Ex.

33:20)

Manoah’s wife understands that God’s grace is sufficient.

Heb.

10:1-4 “1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.

4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

Jesus personifies the grace of God.

Questions:

What was confusing about this reading?

Where do you see the Gospel in this reading?

Discuss a time when you’ve known that God was speaking to you.

How could you tell?