Bible Lessons

Listen from:
• BibleTruthPublishers.com
Judges 13.
VERSE 1: When those who are in relationship to Him are marked by ways of sin, God, who is holy as well as loving, and a “consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:2929For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)), allows them to suffer at the hands of their enemies. The divinely given history which we are reading has to say that “the children of Israel did evil again,” but their God is faithful; He had not given them up, though they had all but given Him up, as we have before noticed in this book of the Judges. How slow He is to turn away; how long put off is the day of judgment! And men are today, as of long time, scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” 2 Peter 3:3-153Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (2 Peter 3:3‑15).
The Philistines here become the oppressors; they were not as the Moabites; the Canaanites under Sisera; the Midianites, Amalekites and children of Ammon, enemies from outside the borders of the land, but enemies inside the enclosure of Israel. The Philistines had already proved themselves enemies (chapter 10:7), and now were at the height of their power. From an enemy within, when the condition of God’s people is such that they cannot be led out against an enemy as in the preceding examples of this book, we are in this chapter pointed directly and at length to the resource provided of God for our own times: entire separation from the evil. (2 Timothy 2:2121If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21)).
The name “Nazarite”, (found also in Numbers 6, Lamentations 4:7, 8,7Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire: 8Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick. (Lamentations 4:7‑8) and Amos 2:11, 12,11And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the Lord. 12But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not. (Amos 2:11‑12)) means simply “separated”. The Nazarite might not touch, strong drink, or anything that came from the vine, —typical of turning away from sources of earthly energy, and joy; no razor must come upon his head,—suggestive of the giving up of self and of natural rights and proprieties as man (see 1 Corinthians 11:7, 147For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. (1 Corinthians 11:7)
14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? (1 Corinthians 11:14)); he must not touch any dead body,—typical of avoiding contact with moral defilement, association with the world viewed as dead and separated from God because of sin. The one great example of true Nazariteship was the Lord Jesus in His spotless, God-glorifying life on earth, when evil reigned among the people to whom He came; though one of the people, He was not of them, but apart, separate from the evil. And since His resurrection He is completely separate from sinners; the world sees Him no more except in judgment.
Separation to God as indicated in Samson’s case, and in its fulness in Jesus, is, under the circumstances, the only means of enjoying the strength of God.
Samson’s birth, like that of Isaac (Genesis 18:10, 1110And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. 11Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. (Genesis 18:10‑11)), of Samuel, (1 Samuel 1) and of John the Baptist (Luke 1:7, 13- 207And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. (Luke 1:7)
13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 18And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings. 20And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. (Luke 1:13‑20)), and above all of our Lord Jesus who was born into the world in a way peculiar to Himself alone (Luke 1:3535And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)), marked the power of God passing by man who is powerless through sin.