1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: Let us pray for lo thou shalt conceive and bear 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, 3 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 1: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from 4 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: the womb, and he shall begin to deliver Israel out 5 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: of the hand of the Philistines. Judge Is thirteen five, 6 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: Dear Heavenly Father, just like Samson and Judges thirteen, I 7 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: know I too have been called to be set apart. 8 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: I will not treat myself as common, because you have 9 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: created me to be extraordinary, like extraordinary athletes that require 10 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 1: extraordinary training. I realize that my life is no exception. Therefore, 11 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:49,599 Speaker 1: when my feet touched the ground, I will first connect 12 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: my heart and soul to your incredible power. I will 13 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: shift my mind and increase my faith, because as I 14 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: walk with You, all things become possible. I declare that 15 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 1: I have been marked for greatness. I declare that the 16 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 1: way I choose to live my life will be in 17 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: proportion to the anointing and calling I'm stepping into. I 18 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: will no longer compare myself to others, because what God 19 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: is doing in my life cannot be imitated. I am 20 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,400 Speaker 1: one of a kind. I'm not afraid to be different 21 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,400 Speaker 1: and do different if it means that I'll be able 22 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: to experience a life completely different from others. I have 23 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: been marked for greatness, and I accept that life in 24 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 1: Jesus's name. Amen. Listening to these daily prayers strengthens your 25 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: relationship with God. Continue hearing from the Lord by listening 26 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: to today's Bible in a Year, brought to you by 27 00:01:55,720 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: Bible in a Year dot com The. 28 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 2: Birth of Samson. In our last story, we peered into 29 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 2: the life of the outcast Jephthah. He was a forgotten 30 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 2: bastard son who led Israel out of captivity from the Ammonites. However, 31 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 2: he made a promise to God that he would sacrifice 32 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 2: the first thing he saw after battle. Little did he 33 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 2: know it would be his daughter. So Jephtha mourned and 34 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:36,079 Speaker 2: was remembered for his foolishness. In this story, we learn 35 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 2: of Israel's disobedience and need for another hero. This time, 36 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 2: God prepares the way for another hero, a hero that 37 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 2: would be stronger than all the others combined. Yet his 38 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:51,959 Speaker 2: story would be a mixture of heroism and tragedy. Inspired 39 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 2: by the Book of Judges. 40 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 3: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the 41 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. In our last episode, we 42 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 3: heard the tragic story of Jephtha, a mighty warrior who 43 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 3: led Israel in victory against the Ammonites, but whose impulsive 44 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 3: and foolish promise cost him his daughter, his only child. 45 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 3: Though Jephtha is remembered as a hero of the faith 46 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 3: in Hebrews, he is also remembered for this crazy vow 47 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 3: and the high price that he paid and his family paid, 48 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 3: because he kept a vow that he should never have made. 49 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 3: Today we'll hear how Israel disobeyed God again and needed 50 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 3: a new hero to rescue them, a new deliverer, a 51 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 3: judge by the name of Samson. Samson doesn't come on 52 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 3: to the scene as a full grown man ready to 53 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 3: be the people's man, the people's hero. We'll get to 54 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 3: see his story from the beginning, from his birth and 55 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 3: how God chose him for a very special purpose. But 56 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 3: more than anything, today's story is one of grateful parents 57 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 3: to be who seek God's wise counsel for how to 58 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 3: raise the child they are about to bring into the world. 59 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 3: So listen now to today scripture. 60 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 2: Like moths to a flame, Israel drew close to their sin. 61 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 2: They had an insatiable appetite for idolatry. Their lewdness reflected 62 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,479 Speaker 2: a sickness that plagued man since the Garden of Eden, 63 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 2: God would allow them to be held captive by the Philistines. 64 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 2: Their captivity to the Philistines reflected a greater captivity in 65 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,840 Speaker 2: their hearts. Their own sin enslaved their souls, and the 66 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 2: Philistines enslaved their bodies. For forty years, they lived in misery. 67 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,799 Speaker 2: During this time, there was a man of Zora named Manoah. 68 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 2: Manoah and his wife were childless, for his wife was barren. 69 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 2: Yet God had a plan for them. An angel of 70 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,840 Speaker 2: God met Manoah's wife and said to her, you will 71 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 2: conceive a son in due time, and when you do, 72 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 2: he will live a life set apart for me. He 73 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 2: will have no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. 74 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 2: No razor shall come upon his head, for he shall 75 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 2: be a Nazarite of God. For I shall rise him 76 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 2: up to be a conquering hero, and he will do 77 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 2: great things to liberate Israel from the Philistines. The woman 78 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,799 Speaker 2: ran to her husband and told him of the visitation 79 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 2: from a strange man. Manoah prayed to God for guidance 80 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 2: and wisdom, imploring that the angel visit again to give 81 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 2: them more insight. God answered, and the angel appeared again 82 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: to the woman. She ran back to her husband, saying, look, 83 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 2: the man from before is here. So Manoah ran to 84 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 2: go greet him. Are you the one who spoke to 85 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 2: my wife before, Manoah asked. The Angel of God nodded 86 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:47,479 Speaker 2: and said it was so. Manoah knelt before him and 87 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 2: begged him to stay longer. How shall we raise our child, 88 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,039 Speaker 2: Manoah asked, for they had dreamed of being parents, and 89 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 2: if their son was to be a hero, they wanted 90 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 2: to be faithful. So God instruct Manoah as he did 91 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,280 Speaker 2: to his wife previously. He would have no wine or 92 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 2: strong drink. He would eat clean foods and never cut 93 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:11,280 Speaker 2: his hair or face. God wanted to groom a warrior 94 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 2: unlike any other before him. Please stay with us awhile, 95 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 2: Manoah asked, he will have a feast and make a 96 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:22,159 Speaker 2: burnt offering to you, and the Angel of the Lord 97 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 2: refused the food, but remained for the sacrifice made to 98 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 2: the Lord. Manoah did not know he was speaking to 99 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 2: God himself, so he asked the Angel a simple question 100 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 2: with profound implications. What is your name? Manoah asked. God 101 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 2: looked upon Manoah as a father would a child. Why 102 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 2: do you ask me my name? God asked, It is wonderful. 103 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 2: He said the name Wonderful would be prophesied as the 104 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 2: name of the Messiah. Hundreds of years later, Manoah and 105 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 2: his wife laid an offering down at the altar of God. 106 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 2: They watched as the flames danced in front of them. 107 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 2: It was night, and the light of the fire drew 108 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 2: them in close. Then, in a rush, like the wind 109 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 2: was pushing the flames upwards, the Angel of the Lord 110 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 2: rose up with the smoke and disappeared into the sky. 111 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 2: Manoah and his wife fell on their faces, finally realizing 112 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 2: who it was they were speaking to. The Lord will 113 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 2: surely kill us, since we have seen him. Manoa trembled. 114 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 2: If he wanted to kill us, we would be dead. 115 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 2: His wife replied, God would not visit them in this way. Again. 116 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 2: The two conceived and bore a child. They named him Samson. 117 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 2: The young boy grew into a strong man. God blessed 118 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 2: Samson in everything, and his strength was unmatched by any 119 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 2: one in the land. Year by year God groomed him. 120 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 2: He abstained from drinks that would dwindle his wits, and 121 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 2: he abstained from foods that would weaken his body. He 122 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 2: did not shave and lived in the land under the 123 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 2: training and favor of God. For one day he would 124 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 2: be called upon to save all of Israel. 125 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 3: We begin today's story with Israel once again in sinful 126 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 3: rebellion against God. They turned to other gods little gods 127 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 3: know gods at all idols, and they began to do 128 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 3: evil in the sight of the Lord. God gave them 129 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 3: over to the Philistines for forty years. But this time 130 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 3: we don't hear the people crying for the help of God. 131 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 3: So God begins preparing a mighty leader among them. And 132 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:37,680 Speaker 3: it starts with a couple who are unable to have children, 133 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 3: and God chooses to bless them with a son. Manoah 134 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:46,559 Speaker 3: and his wife were clearly God fearing, righteous people. They 135 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 3: were about to be chosen to raise a boy who 136 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 3: would become a great man in Israel. So when an 137 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:55,199 Speaker 3: angel from God appeared to Manoah's wife, she listened carefully 138 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 3: to what he told her. It was joyous news a 139 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 3: child come into their family, and he wouldn't be just 140 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 3: any child. The Angel gave her strict instructions for how 141 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 3: she was to eat and drink while she carried the child, 142 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 3: as well as how he was to be raised to 143 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 3: be set apart as a Nazarite. Manoah's wife runs to 144 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 3: tell her husband the amazing news and the instructions that 145 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:23,199 Speaker 3: she had received. His response is such a great example 146 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 3: for any expecting parent. We read it in Judges three 147 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 3: to eight. Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, 148 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 3: O Lord, please let the man of God whom you 149 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 3: sent come again to us and teach us what we're 150 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 3: to do with the child who will be born. He 151 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 3: had just received the best news of his life. Not 152 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 3: only a child, but a son was coming. Manoah knew 153 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 3: that his child would fulfill a very special purpose. So 154 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 3: what does he do? He once again seeks God and 155 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 3: asks for direction and instruction. What a wonderful thing it 156 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,960 Speaker 3: is for any pers to be to ask God for 157 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 3: guidance and to pray that he would enable us to 158 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 3: raise our children for a righteous purpose. That's exactly what 159 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 3: Manoah and his wife did, and God honored their request, 160 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 3: sending his angel once more to instruct them. Manoah invited 161 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 3: the angel to stay and eat with them, and the 162 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:22,320 Speaker 3: angel told them that he would not eat, but would 163 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 3: stay while they made a sacrifice to the Lord. Manoa 164 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 3: then asked the angel his name, so that they could 165 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 3: honor this angel. And the angel's reply is prophetic, for 166 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 3: he says his name is wonderful. It is a title 167 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 3: that will be given one day to the Messiah, the 168 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 3: Wonderful counselor the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father. So this 169 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 3: was no angel. This was a pre incarnate appearance of Jesus, 170 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 3: what we know in theology as a theophany, an appearance 171 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 3: of God in the Old Testament, when the flames of 172 00:10:56,679 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 3: the offering leap into the sky, Mana and his wife 173 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 3: watches the angel goes up into the heavens with the flames. 174 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 3: Realizing that they've seen God, they fall in adoration, the 175 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 3: only proper response to an encounter with God. The child 176 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 3: is born and his name is Samson. His parents follow 177 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 3: all the instructions, and he grows stronger and stronger and stronger. 178 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 3: He will become a superhero of sorts, a legend, a 179 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 3: strong man like no other. God will use Samson in 180 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 3: a mighty way despite his failings and weaknesses, and we're 181 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 3: going to hear more of his story the next time. 182 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 3: Dear God, we do thank you for the example of 183 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 3: Samson's parents, godly parents who sought You and your wisdom 184 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 3: and guidance for the raising of their child. Help us 185 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 3: to do the same, as we want to bring up 186 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 3: our children in the nurture and in the training of 187 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 3: the Lord. Give us wisdom, Lord to be faithful parents, 188 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 3: to set the right example, and to bring up our 189 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 3: children to love and serve You. You in Jesus' name, Amen, 190 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 3: Thank you once again for listening to today's Bible in 191 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 3: a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham, pastor of the Prestonwood 192 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 3: Baptist Church in the Dallas area here in Texas, and 193 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 3: I want to encourage you to download Theprey dot com 194 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 3: app and make this time together in God's Word a 195 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 3: priority in your life. Tell other people about it, encourage 196 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:31,319 Speaker 3: your family and friends about this podcast. And by sharing 197 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 3: this podcast, you can make a difference in someone's life. 198 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 3: You might even be the one who leads that person 199 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 3: to a personal faith in Christ. Because Christ is in 200 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 3: the Bible, and the Bible is all about Jesus. If 201 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 3: you want to know more about the Lord, how to 202 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 3: know him, how to serve him and be his disciple, 203 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 3: then let me encourage you to visit my website, which 204 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 3: is Jack Graham dot org. We would love to assist 205 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 3: you in any way as you grow in your journey 206 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 3: of faith. Again, that's Jack Graham dot org. God bless you. 207 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare 208 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality. Welcome 209 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 1: to the pre News podcast, where hope is our only bias. 210 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: Each day, we'll unpack the most prominent stories happening in 211 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 1: the news and offer a Christian perspective. We won't shy 212 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 1: away from the hard topics, and we won't dilute the 213 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 1: hopeful message of Christ. This is more than a daily 214 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 1: brief on the news. 215 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 2: It's a way to be informed and transformed. 216 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: Listen to Prey News on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 217 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts.