Chapter 54—Samson, the Strongest Yet Weakest Man
This chapter is based on
Judges 13
to 16.
Amid widespread apostasy, the faithful worshipers of God contin-
ued to plead with Him for the deliverance of Israel. Though there was
apparently no response, in the early years of the Philistine oppression
a child was born through whom God designed to humble the power of
these mighty foes.
To the childless wife of Manoah, “the Angel of Jehovah” appeared
with the message that she should have a son through whom God would
begin to deliver Israel. The Angel gave instruction concerning her own
habits, and also for the treatment of her child: “Drink not wine nor
strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing.” The same prohibition was
to be imposed upon the child, with the addition that his hair should
not be cut, for he was to be consecrated to God as a Nazarite from his
birth.
Importance of Prenatal Training
Fearful that they should make some mistake, the husband prayed,
“Let the Man of God which Thou didst send come again unto us, and
teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.”
When the Angel again appeared, Manoah’s inquiry was, “How
shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?” The previous
instruction was repeated—“Of all that I said unto the woman let her
beware... . All that I commanded her let her observe.”
To secure for the promised child the qualifications necessary for
his important work, the habits of both mother and child were to be
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carefully regulated. The child will be affected for good or evil by the
habits of the mother. She must be controlled by principle and practice
temperance and self-denial, if she would seek the welfare of her child.
Unwise advisers will urge upon the mother the necessity of gratifying
every wish and impulse; but the mother is by command of God placed
under solemn obligation to exercise self-control.
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