Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 God’s intervention that paves the way for salvation 

Judges 13:2-14

Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. Now drink no wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death. (Judges 13:7)
 
The Biblical epoch of Judges covers a period of 350-400 years, following Joshua’s conquest of Canaan—the LORD God’s Promised Land to Abram’s descendants (Genesis 12:7)—till the time of Eli and Samuel, preceding the founding of Israels’ Monarchy. During the post-Joshua era, Israel was essentially a union of twelve independent tribes, who lived through a series of sin cycles—disobedience, judgment, pleadings to God, and deliverance. They neglected Moses’ command regarding the primacy of Israel’s continuous remembrance and celebration of their redemption and liberation from Egyptian bondage, God’s miraculous provision during their 40-year wilderness wanderings, and the integrity of His covenant promises (Deuteronomy 6:7-9); they also failed to train their children (Proverbs 22:6). Consequently, the knowledge and understanding of God’s faithfulness and lovingkindness faded from Israel’s collective conscience, culminating in generations that did not know the LORD and His tender care for Israel (Judges 3:10). However, God raised fourteen “Judges”, civil or local military leaders, for saving Israel from the oppression of their enemies, keeping His unconditional promises to Abraham in spite of the people’s failures.
The Devotional passage (Judges 13:2-24) provides the dramatic account of the miraculous birth of Samson, the last of the twelve Judges discussed in the Book of Judges; the record of Eli and Samuel, the final two Judges, are detailed in 1 Samuel. The Angel of the LORD—regarded as the manifestation of the pre-incarnate Christ in the Old Testament—appeared to Samson’s parents, announcing that his barren mother would conceive and bear a child. The Angel also declared that the child would be a Nazarite to God (Numbers 6:1-8) and deliver Israel from the 40-year rule of the Philistines. Though he ended up violating all the Nazarite vows, Samson was the greatest champion of Israel during his 20 years of judging; he is also included among the heroes of faith (Hebrews 11:32).
Samson, as well as the other Judges, offer good examples of God’s interventions paving the way for salvation; they also foreshadow Israel’s Monarchy. In all instances, God’s purposes were never thwarted, despite the failures of His people. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—God in human flesh—marks God’s ultimate intervention that paves the way for sinful humanity’s salvation.
 

Prayer
: Merciful and mighty Lord, we confess our sins before your throne of grace. Forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Help us O Lord, to make you the Lord and Savior of our lives.

Thought for the Day
: God’s sovereign will works providentially, notwithstanding human sin.
Dr. Cherian Samuel
Immanuel Mar Thoma Church, Virginia.

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