A Heavy Burden
Pastor Tim Holt
Part of Samson—Strength Under Siege
October 6, 2024

I. In The Beginning

The Israelites again did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines forty years. —Judges 13:1 CSB

  • Main Point: The Israelites are oppressed by the Philistines due to their sin, but God has a plan to deliver them.
    • Key Takeaway: Even in the midst of failure, God is preparing a way out.
    • Application: Trust that God is always at work, even when we can’t see it.

II. Paint the Nursery Blue

There was a certain man from Zorah, from the family of Dan, whose name was Manoah; his wife was unable to conceive and had no children. 3 The angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Although you are unable to conceive and have no children, you will conceive and give birth to a son. 4 Now please be careful not to drink wine or beer, or to eat anything unclean; 5 for indeed, you will conceive and give birth to a son. You must never cut his hair, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from birth, and he will begin to save Israel from the power of the Philistines.” —Judges 13:2-5 CSB

  • Main Point: Samson’s birth is miraculously announced, and he is set apart as a Nazirite with a special mission.
    • Key Takeaway: God’s calling comes with preparation and responsibility.
    • Application: Embrace your unique calling and commit to living a life set apart for God.

III. A Few Questions from The Father

Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, “Please, Lord, let the man of God you sent come again to us and teach us what we should do for the boy who will be born.” God listened to Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman. She was sitting in the field, and her husband, Manoah, was not with her. The woman ran quickly to her husband and told him, “The man who came to me the other day has just come back!” So Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he asked, “Are you the man who spoke to my wife?” “I am,” he said. Then Manoah asked, “When your words come true, what will be the boy’s responsibilities and work?” The angel of the Lord answered Manoah, “Your wife needs to do everything I told her. She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine or drink wine or beer. And she must not eat anything unclean. Your wife must do everything I have commanded her.” —Judges 13:8-14 CSB

  • Main Point: Manoah seeks guidance on how to raise his child, showing faith and trust in God.
    • Key Takeaway: A godly home is one that seeks God’s direction in all things.
    • Application: Pray for wisdom in raising children and guiding them toward God’s purpose.

IV. Staying for Supper?

The angel of the Lord said to him, “If I stay, I won’t eat your food. But if you want to prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the Lord.” (Manoah did not know he was the angel of the Lord.) 17 Then Manoah said to him, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your words come true?” 18 “Why do you ask my name,” the angel of the Lord asked him, “since it is beyond understanding?” 19 Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered them on a rock to the Lord, who did something miraculous while Manoah and his wife were watching. 20 When the flame went up from the altar to the sky, the angel of the Lord went up in its flame. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell facedown on the ground. —Judges 13:16-20 CSB

  • Main Point: As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame.
    • Key Takeaway: a burnt offering would be a sign of their wholehearted devotion to God.

The angel of the Lord did not appear again to Manoah and his wife. Then Manoah realized that it was the angel of the Lord. 22 “We’re certainly going to die,” he said to his wife, “because we have seen God!” 23 But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had intended to kill us, he wouldn’t have accepted the burnt offering and the grain offering from us, and he would not have shown us all these things or spoken to us like this.” 24 So the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the Lord blessed him. —Judges 13:21-24 CSB

We will not know what God had intended for a obedient Samson. God gives us free will. We can choose to follow Him into the plans that he has for us or choose our own direction like Samson.

V. It’s A Boy

So the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the Lord blessed him. 25 Then the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in the Camp of Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol. —Judges 13:24-25 CSB

  • Main Point: Samson is born and blessed by God, with the Spirit of God stirring in him as a young man.
    • Key Takeaway: God’s Spirit can stir in us early, but we must be receptive and obedient to His leading.
    • Application: Be attentive to the stirrings of God’s Spirit in your life, especially in times of preparation.

VI. The Man Who Had It All

  • Main Point: Samson had every advantage—divine calling, godly parents, and the blessing of God—but still failed.
    • Key Takeaway: Having a strong start doesn’t guarantee success without continual obedience to God.
    • Application: Don’t take God’s blessings for granted. Stay vigilant in your faith and commitment to His plan.

VII. It’s Not How You Begin

  • Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11-14 CSB; Luke 16:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17 CSB
  • Main Point: Samson’s story is a warning that even with a great beginning, we can still fall. What matters most is how we finish.
    • Key Takeaway: It’s never too late to turn back to God and finish well.
    • Application: If you’ve strayed from God’s path, now is the time to repent, realign with His plan, and seek a fresh start in Christ.

VIII. A Call to Action

  • Scripture: Philippians 2:14 NLT; Ephesians 1:7-8 CSB
  • Main Point: God offers forgiveness, renewal, and strength through Christ and the Holy Spirit. He calls you to respond today.
    • Key Takeaway: You are not finished yet. There is still time to fulfill God’s purpose for your life.
    • Application: Take the first step—repent and recommit to God’s plan. Establish regular habits of prayer, reading Scripture, and serving others.

Reflection Questions:
1. How have you seen God at work in your life even during difficult times?
2. In what ways can you better align with God’s calling and purpose for your life?
3. What steps will you take today to ensure that you finish strong in your faith?