1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: For lo thou shalt conceive and bear a son, and 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: no razor shall come upon his head, for the child 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb, and 4 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand 5 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 1: of the Philistines. Judge Is thirteen five, Dear Heavenly Father, 6 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: just like Samson and Judges thirteen, I know I too 7 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: have been called to be set apart. I will not 8 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: treat myself as common, because you have created me to 9 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:38,639 Speaker 1: be extraordinary, like extraordinary athletes that require extraordinary training. I 10 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 1: realize that my life is no exception. Therefore, when my 11 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 1: feet touched the ground, I will first connect my heart 12 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: and soul to your incredible power. I will shift my 13 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: mind and increase my faith, because as I walk with You, 14 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 1: all things become possible. I declare that I have been 15 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,919 Speaker 1: marked for greatness. I declare that the way I choose 16 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: to live my life will be in proportion to the 17 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: anointing and calling I'm stepping into. I will no longer 18 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 1: compare myself to others, because what God is doing in 19 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 1: my life cannot be imitated. I am one of a kind. 20 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: I am not afraid to be different and do different 21 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 1: if it means that I will be able to experience 22 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 1: a life completely different from others. I have been marked 23 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 1: for greatness, and I accept that life in Jesus name. Amen. 24 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:46,479 Speaker 1: Listening to these daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God. 25 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: Continue hearing from the Lord by listening to to day's 26 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: Bible in a Year, brought to you by Bible in 27 00:01:53,920 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 1: a Year dot com. 28 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 2: The Birth of Samson. In our last story, we peered 29 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 2: into the life of the outcast Jephtha. He was a 30 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 2: forgotten bastard son who led Israel out of captivity from 31 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 2: the Ammonites. However, he made a promise to God that 32 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 2: he would sacrifice the first thing he saw after battle. 33 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 2: Little did he know it would be his daughter. So 34 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 2: Jephtha mourned and was remembered for his foolishness. In this story, 35 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 2: we learn of Israel's disobedience and need for another hero. 36 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 2: This time, God prepares the way for another hero, a 37 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 2: hero that would be stronger than all the others combined. 38 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 2: Yet his story would be a mixture of heroism and tragedy. 39 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,239 Speaker 2: Inspired by the Book of Judges. 40 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 3: We're so glad you've joined us on the Bible and 41 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 3: of your podcast today the Bible. Any of your podcast 42 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 3: is an outreach each of PowerPoint ministries and can only 43 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 3: come to you each week through the support of listeners 44 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 3: just like you. Your support today is so important that 45 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 3: we want to thank you for your gift by giving 46 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 3: you a copy of my book called The Jesus Book. 47 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 3: It is a powerful guide that shows how every book 48 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,359 Speaker 3: of the Bible points to Jesus and how his living word, 49 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 3: the truth of God's Word, will transform your life. So 50 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 3: to get a copy of The Jesus Book, simply go 51 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 3: to Jack Graham dot org slash Jesus. That's Jack Graham 52 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 3: dot org slash Jesus, and thank you for your support. 53 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 3: In our last episode, we heard the tragic story of Jephtha, 54 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 3: a mighty warrior who led Israel in victory against the Ammonites, 55 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 3: but whose impulsive and foolish promise cost him his daughter, 56 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 3: his only child. Though Jeptha is remembered as a hero 57 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 3: of the faith in Hebrews, he is also remembered for 58 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 3: this crazy vow and the high price that he paid. 59 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 3: His family paid because he kept a vow that he 60 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 3: should never have made. Today, we'll hear how Israel disobeyed 61 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:09,119 Speaker 3: God again and needed a new hero to rescue them. 62 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 3: A new deliverer, a judge by the name of Samson. 63 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 3: Samson doesn't come onto the scene as a full grown 64 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 3: man ready to be the people's man, the people's hero. 65 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 3: We'll get to see his story from the beginning, from 66 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 3: his birth and how God chose him for a very 67 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 3: special purpose. But more than anything, today's story is one 68 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 3: of grateful parents to be who seek God's wise counsel 69 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 3: for how to raise the child they are about to 70 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 3: bring into the world. So let's listen now to today's scripture. 71 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 2: Like moths to a flame, Israel drew close to their sin. 72 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:49,840 Speaker 2: They had an insatiable appetite for idolatry. Their lewdness reflected 73 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 2: a sickness that plagued man. Since the Garden of Eden, 74 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 2: God would allow them to be held captive by the Philistines. 75 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 2: Their captivity to the Philistines reflect a greater captivity in 76 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 2: their hearts. Their own sin enslaved their souls, and the 77 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 2: Philistines enslaved their bodies. For forty years, they lived in misery. 78 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 2: During this time, there was a man of Zorah named Manoah. 79 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: Manoah and his wife were childless for his wife was barren. 80 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:23,359 Speaker 2: Yet God had a plan for them. An angel of 81 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 2: God met Manoah's wife and said to her, you will 82 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,600 Speaker 2: conceive a son in due time, and when you do, 83 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 2: he will live a life set apart for me. He 84 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 2: will have no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. 85 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 2: No razor shall come upon his head, for he shall 86 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 2: be a Nazarite of God. For I shall rise him 87 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,480 Speaker 2: up to be a conquering hero, and he will do 88 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 2: great things to liberate Israel from the Philistines. The woman 89 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 2: ran to her husband and told him of the visitation 90 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:57,600 Speaker 2: from a strange man. Manoah prayed to God for guidance 91 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 2: and wisdom, imploring that the angel again to give them 92 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:05,359 Speaker 2: more insight. God answered, and the angel appeared again to 93 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 2: the woman. She ran back to her husband, saying, look, 94 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 2: the man from before is here. So Manoah ran to 95 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 2: go greet him. Are you the one who spoke to 96 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 2: my wife before, Manoah asked. The Angel of God nodded 97 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 2: and said it was so. Manoah knelt before him and 98 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 2: begged him to stay longer. How shall we raise our child, 99 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,719 Speaker 2: Manoah asked, for they had dreamed of being parents, and 100 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 2: if their son was to be a hero. They wanted 101 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 2: to be faithful. So God instructed Manoah as he did 102 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 2: to his wife previously. He would have no wine or 103 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 2: strong drink. He would eat clean foods and never cut 104 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 2: his hair or face. God wanted to groom a warrior 105 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 2: unlike any other before him. Please stay with us awhile, 106 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 2: Manoah asked, he will have a feast and make a 107 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 2: burnt offering to you, and the Angel of the Lord 108 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 2: refused the food, but remained for the sacrifice made to 109 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 2: the Lord. Manoah did not know he was speaking to 110 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 2: God himself, so he asked the angel a simple question 111 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 2: with profound implications. What is your name? Manoah asked. God 112 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 2: looked upon Manoah as a father would a child. Why 113 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 2: do you ask me my name? God asked, It is wonderful. 114 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 2: He said the name Wonderful would be prophesied as the 115 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 2: name of the Messiah. Hundreds of years later, Manoah and 116 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 2: his wife laid an offering down at the altar of God. 117 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 2: They watched as the flames danced in front of them. 118 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 2: It was night, and the light of the fire drew 119 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 2: them in close. Then, in a rush like the wind, 120 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 2: was pushing the flames upwards. The angel of the Lord 121 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 2: rose up with the smoke and disappeared into the sky. 122 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 2: Manoah and his wife fell on their faces, finally realizing 123 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 2: who it was they were speaking to. The Lord will 124 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 2: surely kill us, since we have seen him. Manoah trembled. 125 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 2: If he wanted to kill us. 126 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 1: We would be dead. 127 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:07,559 Speaker 2: His wife replied, God would not visit them in this way. Again, 128 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 2: the two conceived and bore a child. They named him Samson. 129 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 2: The young boy grew into a strong man. God blessed 130 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 2: Samson in everything, and his strength was unmatched by anyone 131 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 2: in the land. Year by year, God groomed him. He 132 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 2: abstained from drinks that would dwindle his wits, and he 133 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 2: abstained from foods that would weaken his body. He did 134 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 2: not shave, and lived in the land under the training 135 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 2: in favor of God. For one day he would be 136 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 2: called upon to save all of Israel. 137 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 3: We begin today's story with Israel once again in sinful 138 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 3: rebellion against God. They turned to other gods. Little gods 139 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 3: know gods at all idols, and they began to do 140 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 3: evil in the side of the Lord. God gave them 141 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 3: over to the Philistines for forty years. But this time 142 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 3: we don't hear the people crying for the help of God. 143 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 3: So God begins preparing a mighty leader among them. And 144 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 3: it starts with a couple who are unable to have children, 145 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 3: and God chooses to bless them with a son. Manoah 146 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 3: and his wife were clearly God fearing, righteous people. They 147 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 3: were about to be chosen to raise a boy who 148 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,679 Speaker 3: would become a great man in Israel. So when an 149 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 3: angel from God appeared to Manoah's wife, she listened carefully 150 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 3: to what he told her. It was joyous news. A 151 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 3: child would soon come into their family, and he wouldn't 152 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 3: be just any child. The angel gave her strict instructions 153 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:45,200 Speaker 3: for how she was to eat and drink while she 154 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 3: carried the child, as well as how he was to 155 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 3: be raised to be set apart as a Nazarite. Manoah's 156 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 3: wife runs to tell her husband the amazing news and 157 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 3: the instructions that she had received. His response is such 158 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 3: a great example for any expecting parent. We read it 159 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 3: in Judges three eight. Then Manoah prayed to the Lord 160 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 3: and said, O Lord, please let the man of God 161 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 3: whom you sent come again to us and teach us 162 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 3: what we're to do with the child who will be born. 163 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 3: He had just received the best news of his life. 164 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:22,560 Speaker 3: Not only a child, but a son was coming. Manoah 165 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 3: knew that his child would fulfill a very special purpose. 166 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 3: So what does he do? He once again seeks God 167 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 3: and asks for direction and instruction. What a wonderful thing 168 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 3: it is for any parent to be to ask God 169 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 3: for guidance and to pray that he would enable us 170 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 3: to raise our children for a righteous purpose. That's exactly 171 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 3: what Manoah and his wife did, and God honored their request, 172 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 3: sending his angel once more to instruct them. Manoah invited 173 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 3: the angel to stay and eat with them, and the 174 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 3: angel told them that he would not eat, but would 175 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:02,680 Speaker 3: stay while they made aus sacrifice to the Lord. Manoa 176 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 3: then asked the angel his name so that they could 177 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 3: honor this angel. And the angel's reply is prophetic, for 178 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 3: he says his name is wonderful. It is a title 179 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 3: that will be given one day to the Messiah, the 180 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 3: Wonderful counselor the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father. So this 181 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 3: was no angel, This was a pre incarnate appearance of Jesus. 182 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:29,959 Speaker 3: What we know in theology as a theophany an appearance 183 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 3: of God in the Old Testament, when the flames of 184 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 3: the offering leap into the sky, Manoah and his wife 185 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 3: watches the angel goes up into the heavens with the flames. 186 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 3: Realizing that they've seen God, they fall in adoration, the 187 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:48,959 Speaker 3: only proper response to an encounter with God. The child 188 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 3: is born and his name is Samson. His parents follow 189 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 3: all the instructions, and he grows stronger and stronger and stronger. 190 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 3: He will become a superhero of sorts, a legend, a 191 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:06,440 Speaker 3: strong man like no other. God will use Samson in 192 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 3: a mighty way despite his failings and weaknesses, and we're 193 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:12,839 Speaker 3: going to hear more of his story the next time. 194 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 3: Dear God, we do thank you for the example of 195 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 3: Samson's parents, Godly parents who sought You and your wisdom 196 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 3: and guidance for the raising of their child. Help us 197 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,199 Speaker 3: to do the same, as we want to bring up 198 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 3: our children in the nurture and in the training of 199 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 3: the Lord. Give us wisdom, Lord, to be faithful parents, 200 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:34,840 Speaker 3: to set the right example, and to bring up our 201 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 3: children to love and serve You in Jesus' name. Amen. 202 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible into Your podcast, 203 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 3: and before we go, I wanted to let you know 204 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 3: that the Bible into Your Podcast is an outreach of 205 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:53,439 Speaker 3: PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to you each week 206 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 3: through the support of listeners like you. Your support today 207 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 3: is so important that we want to thank you for 208 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 3: your gift by giving you a copy of my book 209 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 3: called The Jesus Book. This book is a powerful guide 210 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 3: that shows how every book in the Bible points to Christ, 211 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 3: and how you can better read and understand the Bible 212 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:16,840 Speaker 3: and how God's Word transforms our lives. So to get 213 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 3: your copy of The Jesus Book, simply go to Jaggraham 214 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 3: dot org slash Jesus. That's Jagraham dot org slash Jesus 215 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:27,839 Speaker 3: and thank you for your support.