Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Judges
Book: Judges
Chapter: 13
Overview:
The
Philistines,
Samson announced.
(1-7) The
Angel appears to
Manoah.
(8-14) Manoah's
Sacrifice.
(15-23) Birth of
Samson.
(24,25)
1-7 Israel did evil: then
God delivered them again into the
hands of the
Philistines. When
Israel was in this distress,
Samson was born. His parents had been long childless. Many
eminent persons were born of such mothers. Mercies long waited
for, often prove signal mercies; and
By them others may be
encouraged to continue their
Hope in
God's
Mercy. The
Angel
notices her affliction.
God often sends comfort to his people
very seasonably, when they feel their troubles most. This
deliverer of
Israel must be devoted to
God.
Manoah's
Wife was
satisfied that the
Messenger was of
God. She gave her
Husband a
particular account, both of the promise and of the precept.
Husbands and wives should tell each other their experiences of
Communion with
God, and their improvements in acquaintance with
him, that they may help each other in the way that is holy.
8-14 Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet, as
Manoah,
have believed. Good men are more careful and desirous to know
the duty to be done
By them, than to know the events concerning
them: duty is ours, events are
God's.
God will guide those
By
his counsel, who desire to know their duty, and apply to him to
teach them. Pious parents, especially, will
Beg Divine
assistance. The
Angel repeats the directions he had before
given. There is need of much care for the right ordering both of
ourselves and our children, that we may be duly separate from
the world, and living sacrifices to the
Lord.
15-23 What
Manoah asked for instruction in his duty, he was
readily told; but what he asked to gratify his curiosity, was
denied.
God has in his
Word given full directions concerning our
duty, but never designed to answer other questionings. There are
secret things which belong not to us, of which we must be quite
contented to be ignorant, while in this world. The name of our
Lord is wonderful and secret; but
By his wonderful
Works he
makes himself known as far as is needful for us.
Prayer is the
ascent of the soul to
God. But without
Christ in the
Heart By
Faith, our services are offensive smoke; in him, acceptable
flame. We may apply this to
Christ's
Sacrifice of himself for
us; he ascended in the flame of his own
Offering, for
By his own
Blood he entered in once into the
Holy place, Heb 9:12. In
Manoah's reflections there is great fear; We shall surely die.
In his
Wife's reflection there is great
Faith. As a help meet
for him, she encouraged him. Let believers who have had
Communion with
God in the
Word and
Prayer, to whom he has
graciously manifested himself, and who have had reason to think
God has accepted their
Works, take encouragement from thence in
a cloudy and dark
Day.
God would not have done what he has done
for my soul, if he had designed to forsake me, and leave me to
perish at last; for his work is perfect. Learn to reason as
Manoah's
Wife; If
God designed me to perish under his wrath, he
would not give me tokens of his favour.
24,25 The
Spirit of the
Lord began to move
Samson when a youth.
This was evidence that the
Lord blessed him. Where
God gives his
blessing, he gives his
Spirit to qualify for the blessing. Those
are blessed indeed in whom the
Spirit of
Grace begins to work in
the days of their childhood.
Samson drank
No Wine or strong
Drink, yet excelled in strength and courage, for he had the
Spirit of
God moving him; therefore be not
Drunk with
Wine, but
be filled with the
Spirit.