Judg 13:4-7 | KingComments | STEP | Before discussing the conditions that the son must meet in order to be a Nazirite, the mother is told what she has to take care of. From this, we can learn that everything that can hinder the formation of a Nazirite must be removed. It is important that parents take these instructions to heart. Parents must ensure that they do not allow influences that may spiritually disfigure their children. Parents who have the interests of God and His people close to their heart, will, in their desire for children, pray for children who will be of use to the church. They want them to become true servants of God. They will not be satisfied with less. It’s about God’s church. The family is not the only area where the formative influence is determined. The local church is also an atmosphere where children are formed. All those who are part of a local church should take into account the fact that their behavior affects the spiritual development of the children attending the meetings. This also applies if the children go with the parents into the houses of the fellow believers. The upbringing of our children is aimed at making them live separated for the Lord. This requires from the parents to set an example. This attitude should be present with the parents even before the children are born. Wine or strong drink represent the pleasant things of life which in themselves do not have to be wrong. We have seen before that wine rejoices the heart of God and men. Wine is a picture of earthly, lawful joy. But if the desire is present to live entirely for God as a Nazirite, the danger that lies in earthly joy must be recognized. The things of the earth can have an intoxicating effect. Earthly things can cloud the view on the true calling to live completely for God. They can be given such a large place that they take up the heart and time of someone who is called to live for God. The interests are gradually shifting from a focus on God and the things of heaven, to a focus on oneself and the things of the earth. It is more and more about our well-being than about what God is concerned with in view of His people. It is also much more pleasant to enjoy to the fullest the good things of this life than to distance oneself from them and instead suffer hardship, slander and loneliness because of the unfaithfulness of God’s people. We must indeed have a good eye for what we live for, or better, for Whom we live. Besides these things that are not wrong in themselves, Samson’s mother should not eat anything unclean. What is unclean is connected to sin. She must not allow anything sinful in her life. Thus she can remain in connection with God, Who cannot be connected to anything unclean. Parents can’t desire anything from their children in which they themselves are lacking. If parents read bad literature themselves, they cannot expect their children to stay away from it. Spiritual life will then not blossom, but die. If impurity is not given a chance, the power of spiritual life will be able to develop. It will be clear that giving up harmful business does not in itself guarantee healthy growth. For this to happen, good food must be eaten. Yet in this history, the Holy Spirit especially emphasizes how necessary it is to renounce any hindrance that stands in the way of a proper fulfillment of being a Nazirite. How important are these instructions for parents who want to raise their children to useful instruments in the hand of the Lord. A Nazirite is someone who shuns what stimulates nature (no wine or strong drink), who takes the woman’s place in weakness (let his hair grow) and who only wants the power of life to work (do not come into contact with death). These are the necessary conditions for the formation of that Nazirite with whom God can carry out His plan. This plan is to set aside the religion of the flesh – of which the Philistines are a picture – in order to prepare the way to introduce the man after His own heart, the Lord Jesus.

‏ Judges 13:4-7

Instructions for the Wife

Before discussing the conditions that the son must meet in order to be a Nazirite, the mother is told what she has to take care of. From this, we can learn that everything that can hinder the formation of a Nazirite must be removed. It is important that parents take these instructions to heart.

Parents must ensure that they do not allow influences that may spiritually disfigure their children. Parents who have the interests of God and His people close to their heart, will, in their desire for children, pray for children who will be of use to the church. They want them to become true servants of God. They will not be satisfied with less. It’s about God’s church.

The family is not the only area where the formative influence is determined. The local church is also an atmosphere where children are formed. All those who are part of a local church should take into account the fact that their behavior affects the spiritual development of the children attending the meetings. This also applies if the children go with the parents into the houses of the fellow believers.

The upbringing of our children is aimed at making them live separated for the Lord. This requires from the parents to set an example. This attitude should be present with the parents even before the children are born. Wine or strong drink represent the pleasant things of life which in themselves do not have to be wrong. We have seen before that wine rejoices the heart of God and men. Wine is a picture of earthly, lawful joy. But if the desire is present to live entirely for God as a Nazirite, the danger that lies in earthly joy must be recognized.

The things of the earth can have an intoxicating effect. Earthly things can cloud the view on the true calling to live completely for God. They can be given such a large place that they take up the heart and time of someone who is called to live for God. The interests are gradually shifting from a focus on God and the things of heaven, to a focus on oneself and the things of the earth. It is more and more about our well-being than about what God is concerned with in view of His people.

It is also much more pleasant to enjoy to the fullest the good things of this life than to distance oneself from them and instead suffer hardship, slander and loneliness because of the unfaithfulness of God’s people. We must indeed have a good eye for what we live for, or better, for Whom we live.

Besides these things that are not wrong in themselves, Samson’s mother should not eat anything unclean. What is unclean is connected to sin. She must not allow anything sinful in her life. Thus she can remain in connection with God, Who cannot be connected to anything unclean. Parents can’t desire anything from their children in which they themselves are lacking. If parents read bad literature themselves, they cannot expect their children to stay away from it. Spiritual life will then not blossom, but die. If impurity is not given a chance, the power of spiritual life will be able to develop.

It will be clear that giving up harmful business does not in itself guarantee healthy growth. For this to happen, good food must be eaten. Yet in this history, the Holy Spirit especially emphasizes how necessary it is to renounce any hindrance that stands in the way of a proper fulfillment of being a Nazirite. How important are these instructions for parents who want to raise their children to useful instruments in the hand of the Lord.

A Nazirite is someone who shuns what stimulates nature (no wine or strong drink), who takes the woman’s place in weakness (let his hair grow) and who only wants the power of life to work (do not come into contact with death). These are the necessary conditions for the formation of that Nazirite with whom God can carry out His plan. This plan is to set aside the religion of the flesh – of which the Philistines are a picture – in order to prepare the way to introduce the man after His own heart, the Lord Jesus.

The Nazirite

The word Nazirite means ‘separated’ or ‘consecrated’. Both meanings are important to get to know God’s purpose with the Nazirite and hopefully to put it into practice. His purpose is to live a life that is separate from sin and dedicated to God. God wants these things to affect our heart and our conscience and to be worked out in our life.

More Nazirites are mentioned in the Bible. It says of Joseph that he is “the one distinguished [that is a Nazirite] among his brother” (Gen 49:26). Samuel and John the baptist are also Nazirites (1Sam 1:11; Lk 1:15). The Lord Jesus is the Nazirite par excellence. He has drunk wine and touched unclean people and even dead people. Nowhere is there any indication He had long hair. Yet He is the true Nazirite, because He has fully complied with the spiritual meaning of the precepts that apply to the Nazirite. We too are faced with the spiritual significance of these precepts and are called upon to follow the Lord in them.

As said, Samson’s being a Nazirite is not a voluntary matter, but a calling from God. It will be his exercise to respond to that calling. It is remarkable that the regulations that the Nazirite must comply with in Numbers 6 are divided here between Samson’s mother and Samson himself. The mother is not allowed to drink wine or strong drink, although this of course also applies to Samson, whereas of Samson is only told here that he is not allowed to cut his hair. The long hair is an external feature, visible to others, while the other feature marks are not visible to others. The characteristics that are not visible are more related to the mind of the heart. His long hair, which is visible, is more in connection with showing that mind.

In the discussion of Judges 5:1 something has already been said about the general meaning long hair has in Scripture. With regard to Samson, the following can be added. The woman has long hair, this is normal. It is her honor (1Cor 11:15). It is a constant symbol of her dependence and it is also her glory. If a man has long hair, “it is a dishonor to him” (1Cor 11:14). God imposes this shame on the Nazirite. The Nazirite thus shows that he is giving up his place as a man, as the head of creation, and that he is taking a place of dependence, that of a woman. By this he indicates that he wants to be weak, so that the power of Christ may dwell upon him (2Cor 12:9b).

A negative example of what long hair represents can be found in Revelation 9. There the monsters are seemingly strong, but in reality they derive their strength from someone else, namely the demonic Apollyon, which is depicted by their “hair like the hair of women” (Rev 9:7-8). They do not follow their own will, but are dependent on this angel from the abyss that has power over them and governs them. For the Nazirite, his long hair means that his whole strength lies in his dependence on God.

About Samson is still written in our verse: “He shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” It expresses that he will not bring about a final deliverance.

The Woman’s Report

When Manoah’s wife has heard the prophecy, she goes to her husband. She first tells him about the appearance of the Angel of the LORD before she tells what He has told her. The Person Who brought the message has made a greater impression on her than what she has heard from Him. She calls Him “a man of God” with “the appearance of the angel of God”. In the Old Testament prophets are sometimes called ‘man of God’. By calling Him so, she acknowledges the Divine source of the message.

He also looked like an “angel of God”. It seems that she feels that this Person is more than a human being. She cannot say exactly Who He is. But His appearance makes her afraid. When Gideon discovers that he is dealing with the LORD Himself, he is also afraid (Jdg 6:22). Isaiah expresses the same feelings (Isa 6:5), as does Moses (Exo 3:6).

Because of this terrifying sight, Manoah’s wife did not dare to ask for His Name. The Visitor has also not made know to her His Name. He did tell her some things. He promised her that she shall conceive and give birth to a son. He also told her what she should not drink and eat. Finally, He told her that God wants this child to be a Nazirite to God. But she says nothing about their child’s mission, that he would fight against the Philistines.