WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.080 The opening statement here of this new and actually final cycle of Israel's book of deliverers, 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:11.660 it begins with a familiar pattern. 00:00:12.580 --> 00:00:16.420 Israel's idolatry, they have again done what was evil in the sight of the Lord, 00:00:16.580 --> 00:00:19.359 and that was followed by God's discipline. 00:00:20.300 --> 00:00:25.219 Now, nothing distinct is said about Israel's evil deeds. 00:00:25.219 --> 00:00:31.039 If we're following the context of the book, it has something to do with idolatry, no doubt. 00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:32.859 Everything else always did. 00:00:33.460 --> 00:00:36.179 It's not explicitly stated, but that's probably what's happening. 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:40.960 But God does identify the instrument of his judgment, 00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:45.679 and it was the nation of Philistia, or the Philistines. 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:53.519 And the length of time which they ruled over Israel, at least in terms of this story, was 40 years. 00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:57.400 Now, if you've studied much at all of King David's life, 00:00:57.500 --> 00:01:00.660 you'll understand and immediately recognize the Philistines, 00:01:00.760 --> 00:01:04.719 and the fact that they continued to be a thorn in Israel's side, 00:01:04.960 --> 00:01:09.240 far beyond Samson's life, far beyond the book of Judges. 00:01:09.800 --> 00:01:16.379 Decades later, they are still afflicting Israel until God uses David to subdue them. 00:01:17.100 --> 00:01:20.800 But it doesn't tell us so much about that now. 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:25.539 Now, this narrative doesn't take us to the end of Philistine oppression. 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:35.060 It just records simply God's first stage in his plan of defeating them and delivering his people from them. 00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:37.959 So that's the familiar pattern right from the very beginning. 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:39.459 Israel is idolatrous. 00:01:39.579 --> 00:01:41.859 They've sinned against the Lord, and God has disciplined. 00:01:42.019 --> 00:01:47.379 And this time, he's disciplining them with the Philistines over the course of 40 years. 00:01:47.379 --> 00:01:52.640 But that familiar pattern that we've come to expect is broken at that point. 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:59.759 Notably missing is any mention of Israel crying out to the Lord for help. 00:01:59.760 --> 00:02:05.160 Every other time we get to these judge cycles in the book of Judges, 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:07.859 God judges his people. 00:02:08.020 --> 00:02:10.520 He disciplines them with one enemy or another. 00:02:10.680 --> 00:02:13.060 And at some point, they come and they cry out to God. 00:02:13.240 --> 00:02:15.280 It was never really a cry of repentance. 00:02:15.560 --> 00:02:17.200 We've established that up to this point. 00:02:17.300 --> 00:02:19.040 But it was at least a cry for help. 00:02:19.300 --> 00:02:20.780 It was a, Lord, we're miserable. 00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:22.020 Lord, we need you. 00:02:22.280 --> 00:02:24.939 Lord, help us out of this mess that we're in. 00:02:24.939 --> 00:02:27.120 But now, suddenly, they don't do that anymore. 00:02:27.979 --> 00:02:32.319 We get to this final cycle, and they're not even asking for help any longer. 00:02:32.500 --> 00:02:35.699 And we need to take a moment and consider why they didn't. 00:02:36.020 --> 00:02:38.439 Why did they not seek the Lord's salvation? 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:41.400 And I think there's a couple of things at work here. 00:02:42.740 --> 00:02:46.759 First, we must reflect back on chapter 10. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:52.500 Remember that whole exchange between God and Israel at the start of the Jephthah cycle. 00:02:54.939 --> 00:03:03.699 And perhaps at this point, Israel had just accepted their fate as if God was determined not to deliver them. 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:08.280 Perhaps they thought, God's not going to save us. 00:03:09.139 --> 00:03:12.039 What's the point in even asking now? 00:03:12.460 --> 00:03:15.579 We might as well just get used to Philistine control. 00:03:17.539 --> 00:03:21.639 Which, it's not very uncommon for us to treat God with that kind of contempt. 00:03:22.620 --> 00:03:24.060 Things don't go our way. 00:03:24.060 --> 00:03:26.240 We don't like what he says. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:28.659 We don't like what he's doing in our lives. 00:03:28.759 --> 00:03:31.620 And eventually, we just kind of give up on the whole thing altogether. 00:03:32.180 --> 00:03:35.240 But there's some things we need to remember about that exchange. 00:03:35.780 --> 00:03:42.699 First, Israel's display of repentance in chapter 10 was not genuine repentance. 00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:45.300 They weren't turning to God. 00:03:45.539 --> 00:03:45.840 Remember? 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:52.240 They were just using religious rituals to try to manipulate God. 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:53.340 That's what they were doing. 00:03:54.060 --> 00:04:02.520 They had taken just this kind of formula of sacrifice and prayer and gathering together, 00:04:02.620 --> 00:04:07.340 hoping that that was enough to bring about God's deliverance. 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:08.719 It wasn't true repentance. 00:04:09.460 --> 00:04:10.759 God saw through the ruse. 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:12.840 And remember, God confronted them in that. 00:04:12.980 --> 00:04:17.860 But we need to at least remember from the very beginning that they weren't actually turning to God. 00:04:17.860 --> 00:04:23.500 They were trying to manipulate him as if religious works is what's enough for salvation. 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:24.220 But it's not. 00:04:24.340 --> 00:04:25.160 God made that clear. 00:04:26.040 --> 00:04:31.680 Second, we need to remember that God wasn't just being stubborn or unfair. 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:36.340 He'd actually been abundantly patient with them. 00:04:37.900 --> 00:04:43.360 But there eventually does come a time for God's discipline to be active. 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:51.920 God eventually does discipline his people, allowing the consequences of their sins to run their course. 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:55.240 And that's exactly what he was doing with Israel at that point in the story. 00:04:55.240 --> 00:04:59.980 But when God disciplines his people, remember, it's always for their good. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:02.040 It's never for their destruction. 00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:09.360 And God was going through that process with Israel, declaring that he would not completely deliver them again 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:17.020 in order that they might turn to him, not that they might hold him in contempt and turn away from him. 00:05:17.420 --> 00:05:18.820 That's what the discipline's about. 00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:20.960 Those of you who are parents understand that. 00:05:21.140 --> 00:05:25.120 The discipline that you give out to your kids, the discipline is not there to anger them. 00:05:25.320 --> 00:05:27.300 If it is, then you're not disciplining right. 00:05:27.740 --> 00:05:29.820 The discipline is there to help them. 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:31.200 It's to build them up. 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:32.680 It's to teach them what's right. 00:05:32.819 --> 00:05:35.079 It's to set them back on a right path. 00:05:35.339 --> 00:05:36.379 So is God's discipline. 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:38.159 That's what he was doing with Israel. 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:41.099 But they didn't respond the way that they should have responded. 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:46.719 The final thing that we have to remember with that, too, is that though he was silent, 00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:51.120 God was still working for the good of Israel. 00:05:52.719 --> 00:05:56.899 His love and his mercy back in that story still abounded. 00:05:56.899 --> 00:06:02.859 He still saved them from the Ammonites, who were the enemies they were dealing with at that point. 00:06:02.859 --> 00:06:04.479 The lesson was this. 00:06:05.259 --> 00:06:14.459 God saves not because of who we are, not because we follow the proper religious procedures, 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:18.819 but because he himself is merciful. 00:06:18.819 --> 00:06:21.719 That's the lesson in that whole story. 00:06:21.719 --> 00:06:31.579 And had Israel paid attention to it, they would have seen God's mercy as an essential part of his nature. 00:06:32.019 --> 00:06:35.779 And when we see God's mercy as an essential part of his nature, 00:06:36.039 --> 00:06:42.839 that becomes the true motivation for and the true hope that we have in salvation. 00:06:43.339 --> 00:06:44.100 Does it not? 00:06:44.100 --> 00:06:47.680 Israel gets this backwards, and we often do, too. 00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:52.060 We often think that our salvation is all about us living up to a particular standard 00:06:52.060 --> 00:06:55.900 or doing all the things the right way, going to all the church services, 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:59.100 checking off the list, just making sure, ticking the box, 00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:03.280 make sure we do the stuff we're supposed to do so God doesn't get angry at us. 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:06.600 And we think that somehow delivers us. 00:07:06.939 --> 00:07:08.980 No, that's not how it works. 00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:11.120 No, it's God's mercy. 00:07:11.220 --> 00:07:17.400 When we see that, we see his mercy, we see his grace as essential features of his character, 00:07:17.819 --> 00:07:20.180 then we're motivated to run to him. 00:07:20.840 --> 00:07:22.460 Because we'll always fail. 00:07:22.980 --> 00:07:26.600 And if we're trusting in our patterns, if we're trusting in our procedures, 00:07:27.020 --> 00:07:28.460 it's going to tank every time. 00:07:28.640 --> 00:07:31.840 But when we see that our salvation doesn't actually rest on us, 00:07:32.080 --> 00:07:36.259 it rests on him and who he is, we'll run to him every time, won't we? 00:07:36.259 --> 00:07:38.959 Because he is sure and he's steadfast. 00:07:39.099 --> 00:07:41.019 That was the lesson he was teaching Israel. 00:07:41.219 --> 00:07:42.439 They completely missed it. 00:07:43.339 --> 00:07:44.519 And now here we are. 00:07:45.339 --> 00:07:47.560 They've done what is evil in the sight of the Lord again. 00:07:47.860 --> 00:07:51.279 He's disciplining them again, this time with the Philistines, 00:07:51.459 --> 00:07:53.360 but now they don't turn to him at all. 00:07:53.620 --> 00:07:56.120 If they had just paid attention before, 00:07:56.599 --> 00:07:58.719 he would have been the first one they ran to. 00:07:59.319 --> 00:08:00.519 But they don't do it. 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:08.560 Beyond that, it appears that the people didn't cry out for God's help 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:13.639 because they might have been content with the way things were. 00:08:17.060 --> 00:08:20.939 Nothing is said about the nature of the Philistine rule, 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:25.939 but there's no statement of misery on the part of Israel either. 00:08:25.939 --> 00:08:31.160 Perhaps they've gotten to a point in their life 00:08:31.160 --> 00:08:36.100 where they've generally given up on dreams of being a, quote, 00:08:36.440 --> 00:08:39.620 kingdom of priests to God and a holy nation. 00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:43.740 Perhaps at this point they didn't care anymore about being a united nation 00:08:43.740 --> 00:08:48.480 that dwells in the land of the promise and has Yahweh as their God. 00:08:49.179 --> 00:08:51.080 They've just kind of given up on all of that. 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:53.100 They don't really care about that anymore. 00:08:53.100 --> 00:09:01.180 Maybe they rather liked the way of life that was presented by the Philistines. 00:09:02.540 --> 00:09:06.320 Maybe they're just not interested in doing things God's way anymore. 00:09:06.779 --> 00:09:08.420 They like where they're at. 00:09:08.680 --> 00:09:12.440 They're not really that opposed to Philistine rule. 00:09:13.740 --> 00:09:18.160 What if the promises given to the Joshua generation in the previous book 00:09:18.160 --> 00:09:21.420 just didn't matter to the Samson generation? 00:09:21.419 --> 00:09:23.699 I think that's the picture we get here. 00:09:24.439 --> 00:09:28.779 Not only have they missed the point of God's mercy and run away from him, 00:09:29.419 --> 00:09:32.500 but I think they just kind of like life the way that it is. 00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:35.459 They're content for things to remain the same. 00:09:36.599 --> 00:09:38.899 And it's not really any surprise that it would come to this. 00:09:39.860 --> 00:09:43.539 This whole book is about a downward spiral of apostasy. 00:09:43.539 --> 00:09:47.559 But that downward spiral, it has to end somewhere. 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:53.639 And the place where it ends is always utter abandonment of God, 00:09:54.500 --> 00:09:55.899 abandonment of his law, 00:09:56.579 --> 00:09:58.599 even abandonment of his promises, 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:01.199 and hope for his blessings. 00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:07.240 Israel was clearly at this point tiptoeing that line. 00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:09.840 And maybe you are too. 00:10:12.899 --> 00:10:14.539 Maybe the way of this world 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:19.019 is far more attractive to you than the way of God at this point in your life. 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:24.060 Perhaps you're on your own spiritual spiral downward, 00:10:24.539 --> 00:10:26.019 and you're nearing the bottom, 00:10:27.159 --> 00:10:29.539 what many call deconstruction. 00:10:29.539 --> 00:10:34.000 You're on the verge of abandoning the faith altogether. 00:10:35.379 --> 00:10:38.819 You may not necessarily be on the verge of being vehemently opposed to it. 00:10:38.839 --> 00:10:39.699 You just don't care anymore. 00:10:40.379 --> 00:10:41.039 You don't care. 00:10:41.740 --> 00:10:43.179 Who cares about all this stuff? 00:10:43.819 --> 00:10:44.879 I don't even know if it's real. 00:10:45.599 --> 00:10:47.759 Who cares about God's promised blessings? 00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:50.360 I don't even know if that's any real anymore. 00:10:51.199 --> 00:10:53.360 I kind of like my life the way that it is. 00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:56.899 I kind of like the life that's represented by the world around me now. 00:10:56.899 --> 00:10:58.639 I think I'm just going to stick with it. 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:00.860 Why cry out to God for help? 00:11:01.379 --> 00:11:02.779 I kind of like what I have. 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:09.799 Samson was the Savior that nobody asked for. 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:12.059 That's the point. 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:14.819 He's the Savior nobody asked for. 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:16.419 And probably in some cases, 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:18.860 he's the Savior that nobody wanted anyways. 00:11:20.580 --> 00:11:23.159 And yet, here he is. 00:11:25.460 --> 00:11:27.399 Samson's existence and his usefulness, 00:11:27.399 --> 00:11:31.620 they have nothing to do with Israel's desire for help 00:11:31.620 --> 00:11:33.659 because they didn't ask for it. 00:11:35.459 --> 00:11:38.559 Neither do they have to do with Samson's determination 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:40.840 to be God's instrument of salvation. 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:45.620 As you will find as we journey through this story next Sunday in particular, 00:11:46.699 --> 00:11:49.159 Samson quite enjoyed the Philistine life. 00:11:49.159 --> 00:12:03.079 The entire Samson narrative is not about those things. 00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:09.059 It is about God's relentless grace and mercy. 00:12:09.059 --> 00:12:11.819 That's what this story is about. 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:16.979 Israel may not have been concerned about God's promises being fulfilled, 00:12:17.199 --> 00:12:20.319 but the Lord was determined to fulfill them. 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:26.519 Samson was utterly unworthy of use in God's plan. 00:12:27.339 --> 00:12:28.439 That much is clear. 00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:32.840 But the Lord was still determined to use him. 00:12:34.520 --> 00:12:35.120 Why? 00:12:36.900 --> 00:12:39.860 It doesn't mean that it's okay for us to be apathetic, 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:43.200 and it doesn't mean that it's okay for us to be unfaithful. 00:12:43.780 --> 00:12:47.200 But it does mean that neither our apathy, 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:53.440 neither our unfaithfulness can thwart God's saving purpose. 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:53.840 Nothing. 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:54.040 Nothing. 00:12:57.520 --> 00:12:59.900 In fact, as we'll see in these chapters, 00:13:01.060 --> 00:13:05.200 God is glorified even in our sinfulness 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:10.680 to use it to affect his saving purpose. 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:14.520 It's actually quite unbelievable. 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:20.340 Well, it all begins with Samson's birth story, 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:23.400 which is unique to the book of Judges. 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:26.159 No other judge has a narrative like this. 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:30.240 He's the only one who we're told about anything related to his birth. 00:13:31.579 --> 00:13:34.299 And the author's aim for that is simple. 00:13:35.459 --> 00:13:40.500 He's showing us that Samson was God's man 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:44.559 and God's plan from the very beginning. 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:50.879 Sometimes we get this idea that when these stories unfold in the Bible, 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:52.439 whether it's in Judges or in another place, 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:56.020 sometimes there is a theory that even looks at Jesus this way, 00:13:56.320 --> 00:14:01.380 that what happens when God works is kind of like divine crisis management, 00:14:01.380 --> 00:14:05.380 that the Lord kind of lets us off on a leash, 00:14:05.780 --> 00:14:07.660 and when things get really bad, 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:09.660 he just kind of has to reel us back in, 00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:12.300 and he has to come up with some kind of way in that moment 00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:14.500 to figure things out and help us. 00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:17.720 That is not at all the way that God works. 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:20.500 Samson proves it. 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:26.620 Before Samson ever had a moment to disobey the vow, 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:29.879 before he ever had a moment to sin against the Lord and prove his unfaithfulness, 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:31.659 God was determined to use him. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:32.860 He was God's man. 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:34.500 He was God's plan from the beginning. 00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:37.179 And I want you to think about that as we look ahead to Jesus. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:40.239 Like I said, there's this notion out there right now 00:14:40.239 --> 00:14:45.219 that Jesus was, he just kind of lost control there for a little bit. 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:46.239 That's why he was crucified. 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.339 That he just kind of lost control, 00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:50.759 and the Father had to come in 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:53.059 and kind of do a little crisis management 00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:54.519 and raise him from the dead. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:56.039 That's not at all what happened. 00:14:56.179 --> 00:14:59.239 Jesus was God's plan from the very beginning, 00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:01.359 before the foundations of the world. 00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:04.379 That was his plan to provide salvation for us. 00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:08.679 Samson shows us this pattern that God is in control. 00:15:10.539 --> 00:15:13.480 They are part of a biblical pattern of salvation. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:17.080 It uses weak, sinful instruments 00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:20.360 to display the glory of God's sovereignty, 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:23.899 the mystery of his providence, 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:26.539 and the wonder of his saving grace. 00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:30.659 So what are we to see in Judges chapter 13? 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:32.740 It's clear. 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:36.019 What we are to see here is God. 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:40.200 If you grew up in Sunday school classes like I did, 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:44.139 maybe you remember a lesson in your Sunday school class 00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:45.460 as a kid with the flannel graph 00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:47.659 where you had Samson carrying the massive gates 00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:48.720 from the one thing. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:49.940 And what you knew of Samson 00:15:49.940 --> 00:15:51.440 was these massive feats of strength. 00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:54.740 I always imagined him like my favorite WCW wrestler, 00:15:54.940 --> 00:15:56.919 like Hulk Hogan or whatever. 00:15:57.419 --> 00:15:58.879 That's how we think of Samson. 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:00.500 This story's not about Samson. 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.340 It's not what it's about. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:04.399 It's not about Manoah and his wife, 00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:05.700 as wonderful as they were. 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.720 It's not about them. 00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:08.740 This is all about God. 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:12.139 The attention constantly is meant to set our eyes 00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:14.060 and our focus on who God is 00:16:14.060 --> 00:16:16.000 and his grace at work in this story. 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:18.180 So I just want to work through it quickly, okay? 00:16:18.280 --> 00:16:19.120 I want to work through it quickly. 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:21.259 I want to point out four things in the narrative 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:23.620 that keep our eyes on God 00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:25.280 as the essential character here, okay? 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:26.459 The first thing is this. 00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:29.539 God announced Samson's birth. 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:33.799 God announced Samson's birth. 00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:35.939 We read that in verses two through seven. 00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:37.519 I'm not going to read them again right now, 00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:40.980 but just note there that this is verses two through seven 00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:41.819 where we see it. 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:45.899 Now, you remember the exchange between Manoah and his wife 00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:47.639 after the angel of the Lord appears to her 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:49.159 and gives her this message. 00:16:49.779 --> 00:16:51.799 This messenger from God comes and says, 00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:53.959 you're going to have a son. 00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:58.740 And she runs to Manoah to tell him the message that she heard. 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:01.000 Have you ever been so excited 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:03.819 about a particular piece of news 00:17:03.819 --> 00:17:08.119 that you didn't think to ask for any clarifying questions 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:09.599 from the person who told you? 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:11.440 He just immediately got excited 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.879 and started spreading the news. 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:13.480 You ever done that? 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:17.240 I can just imagine how this conversation took place 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:18.480 between Manoah and his wife. 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.880 The angel of the Lord appears to her, 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:21.940 gives her this awesome news. 00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:22.740 She has no questions. 00:17:22.840 --> 00:17:23.900 She just runs to Manoah. 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:25.980 He says, you're not going to believe this. 00:17:28.100 --> 00:17:29.540 This man appeared to me 00:17:29.540 --> 00:17:31.440 and he said that I'm going to have a son. 00:17:31.540 --> 00:17:34.120 And Manoah may be a bit confused by that news. 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:36.080 She'd been barren her whole life. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:40.660 Confused and he says, well, who was he? 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:43.420 Well, I didn't ask. 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:44.460 I didn't ask. 00:17:44.600 --> 00:17:45.360 What was his name? 00:17:46.060 --> 00:17:47.320 I didn't ask what his name was. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:49.220 Well, where was he from? 00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:51.099 Was he from the tabernacle in Shiloh? 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:53.220 Was this like a priest or a prophet from God? 00:17:53.639 --> 00:17:54.799 Where was he from? 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.819 Well, I didn't think to ask that either. 00:17:58.099 --> 00:17:59.980 But you should have seen the way he looked. 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:01.839 I mean, he's like four. 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:02.919 He looked amazing. 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:06.599 He was awesome. 00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:07.599 He looked like an angel. 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:10.139 How could I not trust somebody like that? 00:18:10.139 --> 00:18:13.079 Like you can just see the way that this conversation goes. 00:18:13.399 --> 00:18:15.339 She's excited about what she's experienced. 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:18.179 She's confident in the messenger and in the message. 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:21.699 And she's excitedly running to her husband to share the news. 00:18:21.879 --> 00:18:23.179 And he's asking all these questions. 00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:24.240 She's like, I don't know. 00:18:24.399 --> 00:18:25.399 I just know what he said. 00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:26.259 And it's amazing. 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:29.319 God did that. 00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:37.179 We aren't told how Manoah's wife knew that the message came from a servant of God. 00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:43.420 But the author lets us know that it came directly from the angel of the Lord, whom we've encountered 00:18:43.420 --> 00:18:44.820 several times in the book. 00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:49.140 Manoah and his wife don't quite realize that yet. 00:18:49.580 --> 00:18:52.500 But the author makes us privy to it. 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:57.340 And the reason he makes us privy to it at this point is so that we might clearly understand 00:18:57.340 --> 00:18:58.200 what's happening here. 00:18:58.500 --> 00:19:01.460 This message is not just from Job Lowe walking down the road. 00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:03.380 This message comes from God. 00:19:03.380 --> 00:19:06.960 God is announcing the birth of Samson at this point. 00:19:07.620 --> 00:19:08.920 And the message was straightforward. 00:19:09.260 --> 00:19:10.880 It had two primary components. 00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:17.120 First, God announced to the woman that he would open her womb to conceive a son. 00:19:18.040 --> 00:19:23.280 And significant to that was the fact that she'd been unable to have children to that point 00:19:23.280 --> 00:19:23.800 in her life. 00:19:25.080 --> 00:19:28.460 Which, for some people today, isn't that big of a deal. 00:19:28.540 --> 00:19:30.840 A lot of people elect not to have children now. 00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:32.920 That wouldn't have been the case in their day. 00:19:34.380 --> 00:19:37.820 Children were not only a blessing from the Lord, they were a blessing to the family. 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:41.700 That was the way that the family not only perpetuated its name, but it's the way that 00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:44.420 they had workers that could help put food on the table. 00:19:45.120 --> 00:19:46.060 Life was very different. 00:19:47.760 --> 00:19:51.840 Manoah's wife would have wanted children, but she's been able to have them. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:20:00.539 I wonder how many tears she cried through the years, praying for God to bless her with a child. 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:03.179 Lord, would you just give me a son? 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:08.019 Lord, just a son that we could raise and love. 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:18.039 What a comfort it must have been to this woman who seems to have been a faithful follower of God. 00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:26.720 What a comfort it must have been that even her childlessness had a distinct purpose in God's plan. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:30.880 Is that not helpful for us to recognize here? 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:35.500 Her barrenness was a struggle. 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:37.480 Wouldn't have been an easy thing. 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:43.799 And yet now in this moment, she can see that there was a purpose to it. 00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:53.759 Because had she not been barren, we wouldn't have been able to see quite so clearly that this child was from God. 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:59.339 Of course, God is involved in every creation of life. 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:02.200 But there's a uniqueness to this, isn't it? 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:08.200 There's a way that God has ordered her life in order that he might be glorified most. 00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:12.460 And maybe this is a sidetrack for just a moment. 00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:17.859 But perhaps you're at a point in your life where you've got something, maybe it's not childlessness, but it's something. 00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:23.859 And you just, you don't understand why God hasn't given you what he seems to give everybody else. 00:21:25.179 --> 00:21:28.339 Why has he not blessed me with the kids? 00:21:28.439 --> 00:21:31.119 Why has he not given me the marriage? 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:33.539 Why has he not given me the job? 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:38.559 Why has he not given me the friendships or whatever it is that you'll long to have good things? 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:45.399 Does it come as any comfort to you to see that in his sovereign, providential care, 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:50.560 God has a distinct purpose, even in the things that are hard for us to bear. 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:56.140 But it was necessary for her to glorify the Lord. 00:21:56.860 --> 00:21:59.220 That's the first component of the message. 00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:00.320 She would bear a child. 00:22:00.320 --> 00:22:06.880 The second component of the message was that the child would be a Nazarite from birth until death. 00:22:08.040 --> 00:22:12.019 Now, a Nazarite was a particular vowel that someone would take. 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:16.980 The details of it are recorded in Numbers chapter 6, if you want to read about them later. 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:18.359 Numbers chapter 6. 00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:22.039 Let me just explain the major features here. 00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:22.779 There were three of them. 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:29.400 For the duration of a vow, a Nazarite could have nothing from a vine. 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:32.480 They couldn't drink wine or strong drink. 00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:33.920 They couldn't eat grapes. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:35.220 They couldn't have vinegar. 00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:38.860 Anything that was related to a vine they couldn't have. 00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:43.560 They couldn't come in contact with anything dead. 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:50.220 Even if suddenly, in the midst of their vow, suddenly someone they loved very much died, 00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:54.600 it was inappropriate for them to come into contact with the corpse. 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:58.240 And the third thing is that they could not cut their hair. 00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:06.680 Now, God considered it a sin to violate any of those demands during the time of the vow. 00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:14.599 And if someone did, there was a specific cleansing ritual, a sacrifice of atonement that had to be made, 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:17.680 even if it was accidentally broken. 00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:20.359 And all of that is spelled out for us in Numbers chapter 6. 00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:24.920 Now, Nazarite vows lasted a limited amount of time. 00:23:25.380 --> 00:23:26.539 These weren't lifelong vows. 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:29.139 They were very short periods of time. 00:23:29.899 --> 00:23:39.200 And their purpose was for a person to show a particular consecration to God in a particular season of their life. 00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:40.579 That's what they were for. 00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:43.180 That's why someone would have taken one on. 00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:49.879 Now, the facet of this announcement is crucial to Samson's story. 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:56.480 What we see unfolding in the following chapters, really at the heart of it, is this vow. 00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:59.200 But his is a little different. 00:24:00.320 --> 00:24:02.300 His was not a temporary vow. 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:04.760 It was for his whole life. 00:24:06.080 --> 00:24:08.040 His was not a voluntary vow. 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:09.000 He didn't choose it. 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:14.220 God gave it to him through his mother at his conception. 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.519 It was a command from God. 00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:19.480 It was to last until the day of his death. 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:21.900 We see that in verse 7, 00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:41.040 Samson's life as a Nazarite was to identify him as the one God had chosen to begin the fight against the Philistines. 00:24:41.300 --> 00:24:44.680 He was to be a man devoted to God. 00:24:44.800 --> 00:24:45.880 That's what the vow was about. 00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:56.200 Now, before we move on, consider for a moment why God announced Samson's birth, but not any of the other judges. 00:24:56.600 --> 00:24:57.480 Why would he do this? 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:07.800 Everything about this announcement reveals that God was graciously working out his saving plan for the people of Israel, 00:25:08.120 --> 00:25:12.020 who neither asked nor seemed to care. 00:25:12.780 --> 00:25:13.380 That's why. 00:25:13.380 --> 00:25:17.760 From the very beginning, even when they weren't asking, even when they didn't want it, 00:25:18.040 --> 00:25:22.780 even when God was the firstest things from their mind, God was still working for their good. 00:25:23.320 --> 00:25:26.360 He was still working out his saving plan. 00:25:27.620 --> 00:25:33.380 And Samson himself is going to go on to willingly violate every feature of the Nazarite vow. 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:35.080 He's going to violate them all. 00:25:36.040 --> 00:25:37.800 And yet God will still use him. 00:25:39.060 --> 00:25:41.740 Because the story isn't about feats of strength. 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:45.880 It's about God's glory and salvation from beginning to end. 00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:48.720 That's why we have the announcement of Samson's birth. 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:49.059 All right. 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:52.740 Number two, God confirmed Samson's purpose. 00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:54.720 God confirmed Samson's purpose. 00:25:54.859 --> 00:25:55.819 Look with me at verse eight. 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:56.299 Let's read it. 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:58.359 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, 00:25:58.359 --> 00:26:04.939 Oh Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born. 00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:07.879 And God listened to the voice of Manoah. 00:26:08.479 --> 00:26:11.879 The angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:14.379 But Manoah, her husband, was not with her. 00:26:15.219 --> 00:26:17.139 So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:19.679 Behold, the man who came to me the other days appeared to me. 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:23.859 Manoah rose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, 00:26:23.919 --> 00:26:25.639 Are you the man who spoke to this woman? 00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:27.120 And he said, I am. 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:30.400 And Manoah said, Now when your words come true, 00:26:31.360 --> 00:26:34.120 What is to be the child's manner of life? 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.360 What is his mission? 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:38.420 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, 00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:41.300 Of all that I said to the woman, let her be careful. 00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:44.340 She may not eat of anything that comes from the vine, 00:26:44.840 --> 00:26:48.860 Neither let her drink wine or strong drink or eat any unclean thing. 00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:52.320 All that I commanded her, let her observe. 00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:57.879 Now, Manoah is undoubtedly excited at the news that his wife brought. 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:03.200 But like most of us men, he would have liked to hear it himself. 00:27:04.139 --> 00:27:05.819 He wanted some clarity, didn't he? 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.619 But it's interesting. 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:09.960 One of the amazing things about him and his wife 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:14.700 Is that there's never any hint of doubt in their minds about this. 00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:17.620 He even straightforwardly says, 00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:19.860 When your words come true. 00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:20.519 He does it twice. 00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:21.680 The first time is in verse 12. 00:27:22.100 --> 00:27:23.640 When your words come true. 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:27.740 He's assuming that this is a messenger from God. 00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:29.860 That this is indeed going to happen. 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:34.640 He didn't seek to hear from God because he doubted the announcement. 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:37.920 He sought to hear from God because he wanted clarity 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:42.240 How he could best serve the Lord as the father of the child. 00:27:42.620 --> 00:27:43.519 That's amazing. 00:27:43.860 --> 00:27:45.740 We haven't seen that anywhere in Judges. 00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:46.700 Think about that. 00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:49.200 We're getting close to the end. 00:27:49.320 --> 00:27:54.779 We're almost at King Saul now as far as the timeline of Israel's history is concerned. 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.200 And all through the book of Judges, 00:27:57.320 --> 00:28:02.080 We've seen nothing but doubt and sin and evil and frustration. 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:04.179 But now we finally find this couple. 00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:06.579 And they don't have to be persuaded at all. 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:09.220 They have really quite amazing faith. 00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:11.759 They were the perfect parents for Samson. 00:28:11.919 --> 00:28:15.839 Because it's going to require faith on Samson's part to do the things that he did. 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:21.619 Manoah doesn't ask for God to send the messenger back because he doubted it. 00:28:21.679 --> 00:28:24.179 He wanted to know how he could best serve the Lord. 00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:28.279 But the most encouraging thing here is not their faith. 00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:30.379 Though that is wonderfully encouraging. 00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:35.420 It's that God graciously heard and answered his prayer. 00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:39.240 That's the most amazing thing here. 00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:43.200 Can we just stop for a moment and think about that? 00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:48.480 Rejoice in the fact that God hears us. 00:28:50.320 --> 00:28:55.280 That he often sees fit to answer us when we call on him. 00:28:56.680 --> 00:28:58.480 He's not a distant force. 00:28:58.480 --> 00:29:01.099 He's a personal God. 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:05.640 He loves to hear and answer the prayers of his people. 00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:08.259 We get that from Manoah. 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:11.380 Well, God answered him. 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:14.339 And he sent his messenger again to confirm the original announcement. 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:20.700 But did you notice as we read it that the messenger didn't give any more information? 00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:23.920 He didn't elaborate at all. 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:25.900 That's what Manoah had asked him to do, right? 00:29:26.140 --> 00:29:29.440 Like, can you give me some clarity on what the child's mission will be? 00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:31.980 And how we must help him in that mission. 00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:35.559 But the messenger from God doesn't do that. 00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:37.620 He only confirms what he already said. 00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:46.359 God is gracious to reveal his will to us. 00:29:47.719 --> 00:29:49.599 He does that through his word. 00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:52.979 He does that through the work of his Holy Spirit. 00:29:54.399 --> 00:29:58.039 But he doesn't fill us in on everything we want to know in the process. 00:29:59.019 --> 00:29:59.719 Bummer, right? 00:29:59.720 --> 00:30:06.839 God deals in promises, not explanations. 00:30:08.839 --> 00:30:11.680 And our job is to trust him. 00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:20.000 Our goal is to obey him by faith in everything that he's planned, 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:23.319 even when we don't quite comprehend what that plan is. 00:30:23.880 --> 00:30:24.839 Now, let the hearer hear. 00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:30.240 God confirmed his message to Manoah. 00:30:30.879 --> 00:30:37.039 But it was necessary that Manoah just simply trust him and obey him in the process. 00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:38.899 Number three. 00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:44.099 God revealed his personal presence. 00:30:45.439 --> 00:30:47.159 God revealed his personal presence. 00:30:47.419 --> 00:30:47.919 Stay with me. 00:30:47.959 --> 00:30:48.839 We're almost there, okay? 00:30:51.119 --> 00:30:52.339 Look at verse 15. 00:30:52.339 --> 00:30:55.139 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, 00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:58.000 Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you. 00:30:58.839 --> 00:31:00.679 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, 00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:02.919 If you detain me, I will not eat of your food. 00:31:03.379 --> 00:31:06.019 But if you prepare it for an offering, then offer it to the Lord. 00:31:06.399 --> 00:31:07.039 You see what he's doing? 00:31:07.339 --> 00:31:13.119 He's intentionally turning the focus of Manoah and his wife away from himself and to worship. 00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:17.099 Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord. 00:31:17.179 --> 00:31:18.279 And Manoah said to the angel, 00:31:18.379 --> 00:31:19.159 What is your name? 00:31:19.160 --> 00:31:21.720 So that when your words come true, we may honor you. 00:31:21.820 --> 00:31:23.960 But he's not interested in honoring himself. 00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:26.279 He turns the attention back to God, right? 00:31:26.360 --> 00:31:26.800 In worship. 00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:28.660 And the angel of the Lord said to him, 00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:30.200 Why do you ask my name? 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.900 Seeing it's too wonderful. 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:35.860 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering. 00:31:36.320 --> 00:31:38.320 And he offered it on the rock to the Lord. 00:31:39.320 --> 00:31:42.980 And this statement here, this is not Manoah saying this. 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:45.960 This is inserted here by the author, which is so helpful. 00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:52.579 Manoah offers it on the rock to the Lord, to the one who works wonders. 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.660 To the one who works wonders. 00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:59.440 Who blesses barren women with children. 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:06.140 And who's about to perform another wonderful work in the presence of his people in the midst of their worship. 00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:08.680 And Manoah and his wife were watching. 00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:14.120 And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the Lord went up in the flame of the altar. 00:32:14.600 --> 00:32:15.920 Now I don't know what this would have been like. 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:18.460 I don't know how to construct this in my mind. 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:21.059 But it must have been an awesome sight. 00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:24.339 Because now Manoah and his wife were watching. 00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:27.720 And they immediately fell on their faces to the ground when it happened. 00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:33.379 The angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. 00:32:34.159 --> 00:32:36.000 Manoah knew that it was the angel of the Lord. 00:32:36.119 --> 00:32:36.960 That's when he realized. 00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:38.539 And Manoah said to his wife, 00:32:38.619 --> 00:32:39.759 We shall surely die. 00:32:40.639 --> 00:32:42.059 For we've seen God. 00:32:43.419 --> 00:32:44.679 But his wife said to him, 00:32:44.679 --> 00:32:46.059 If the Lord had meant to kill us, 00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:50.200 He would not have offered a burnt sacrifice and a grain offering at our hands. 00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:52.299 Or shown us all these things. 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:55.660 And announced to us such things as thee. 00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:59.500 This section is very much like what happened with Gideon. 00:32:59.580 --> 00:33:00.960 If you can remember back that far. 00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:02.259 Back in chapter 6. 00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:04.380 Out of respect, 00:33:05.360 --> 00:33:08.920 They offer to prepare the messenger of God a meal. 00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:12.900 But he instructs them to prepare an offering to the Lord instead. 00:33:13.059 --> 00:33:14.559 It's exactly what happens with Gideon. 00:33:14.880 --> 00:33:16.480 And upon preparing that offering, 00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:19.000 The angel of the Lord performed a miracle. 00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:22.539 Revealing the nature of his relationship with God. 00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:25.019 Same thing happens with Gideon in chapter 6. 00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:27.099 Now remember, at this point, 00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:28.839 The author reminds us, 00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:29.619 Because it's important. 00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:30.259 Remember, 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:33.599 Manoah and his wife believe he's a prophet from God. 00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:38.160 They don't yet realize that he's a heavenly visitor. 00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:41.759 Representing the very presence of God. 00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:43.900 They don't realize that yet. 00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:49.780 But all of that changed when the messenger ascended to God in the flame. 00:33:50.440 --> 00:33:51.740 At that moment, 00:33:52.060 --> 00:33:55.120 They realized they'd been in the unique presence of God. 00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:57.360 And it produced in them 00:33:57.360 --> 00:34:00.840 The most genuine moment of worship of their life. 00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:04.759 Both of them fell on their faces to the ground, 00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:07.419 Trembling at what they had just witnessed. 00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:11.880 God had revealed himself to them in their sacrifice. 00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:18.119 Just another confirmation that he was actively working through them 00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:21.559 To bring about Israel's salvation. 00:34:22.699 --> 00:34:26.659 Now there's something to be said here about their reactions. 00:34:26.659 --> 00:34:30.059 Because they had two different ones. 00:34:31.759 --> 00:34:32.839 Like Gideon, 00:34:33.259 --> 00:34:34.799 Manoah feared for his life. 00:34:36.259 --> 00:34:37.519 He looks at his wife, 00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:38.079 He says, 00:34:38.659 --> 00:34:39.259 Sweetheart, 00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:42.019 We're gonna die. 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:45.719 He'd been in the unique presence of God. 00:34:45.819 --> 00:34:49.199 He had experienced something that he had never experienced before in his life. 00:34:49.279 --> 00:34:51.000 And the only thing he could think is, 00:34:51.539 --> 00:34:52.420 God is holy? 00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:56.119 And I just experienced his presence? 00:34:56.819 --> 00:35:00.799 Surely all that can mean for me is judgment in death. 00:35:00.799 --> 00:35:04.179 He realizes in that moment his own sinfulness, 00:35:04.420 --> 00:35:05.279 His unworthiness, 00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:08.079 His unfaithfulness compared to God's holiness. 00:35:13.759 --> 00:35:16.099 To understand God's holiness 00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:19.940 And then to sense his personal presence 00:35:19.940 --> 00:35:25.039 Should lead to a display of proper fear. 00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:35.099 A casual approach to God indicates that one has not truly come to recognize the truth of God. 00:35:35.099 --> 00:35:40.039 Now Manoah may have been wrong in his inference. 00:35:40.039 --> 00:35:42.839 And his wife helpfully corrects that. 00:35:43.519 --> 00:35:46.299 But he was right in his instinct. 00:35:46.300 --> 00:35:53.180 Spurning the idea that the presence of God is not dangerous. 00:35:54.720 --> 00:35:55.840 It is. 00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:56.840 He is holy. 00:35:56.840 --> 00:35:58.840 He is holy. 00:35:58.840 --> 00:35:59.840 He is awesome. 00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:00.840 And he is awesome. 00:36:00.840 --> 00:36:06.840 And that demands our fear and reverence and respect. 00:36:06.840 --> 00:36:11.980 You know, I need to think about this in terms of our weekly worship 00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:13.860 Or even your personal private worship. 00:36:15.180 --> 00:36:17.280 Do you realize that when we come together, 00:36:17.380 --> 00:36:19.260 The believers that have gathered here today, 00:36:19.680 --> 00:36:21.880 When we come together Sunday by Sunday, 00:36:22.460 --> 00:36:24.920 We are here to meet with God. 00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:28.659 We are not here to hear from me. 00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:34.659 We are here to sing our praises to the God who alone is worthy of worship. 00:36:36.659 --> 00:36:41.760 We are here to offer our prayers to the only one to which we should pray. 00:36:42.280 --> 00:36:44.980 Whether it's a prayer of praise at the beginning of our worship, 00:36:45.220 --> 00:36:46.920 Or a prayer of confession thereafter, 00:36:47.240 --> 00:36:51.119 Or a prayer of petition like we had over Carson and over Chelsea, 00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:52.920 Or if it's a prayer of blessing at the end, 00:36:53.159 --> 00:36:54.119 They're prayers to God. 00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:56.239 It is corporate worship. 00:36:56.619 --> 00:36:58.759 All of the attention focused on God. 00:36:59.039 --> 00:37:00.480 And when we hear from the word, 00:37:00.699 --> 00:37:02.359 You're not here to hear from me. 00:37:02.559 --> 00:37:05.400 You are here to hear from God's word. 00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:06.719 I'm just an instrument. 00:37:08.099 --> 00:37:10.159 We are here to meet with God. 00:37:10.420 --> 00:37:12.559 And the fact that we are here to meet with God 00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:17.480 Should bring along with it the context of fear and reverence. 00:37:17.480 --> 00:37:23.719 We should recognize what we are doing as we sing. 00:37:25.960 --> 00:37:30.699 Never, never should we get to the end of a song or a prayer 00:37:30.699 --> 00:37:33.139 With that feeling of, 00:37:33.300 --> 00:37:34.079 What did I just say? 00:37:34.840 --> 00:37:36.059 Or what did I just do? 00:37:37.900 --> 00:37:39.920 We ought not approach God casually. 00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:43.300 One man wrote, 00:37:43.300 --> 00:37:46.980 If during worship we feel no need to laud God as holy 00:37:46.980 --> 00:37:49.620 And lament our condition as rebellious, 00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:52.700 We do well to ask if we've really met with God at all. 00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:55.740 So we see in Manoah's response here, 00:37:56.440 --> 00:37:58.500 The wrong inference, for sure. 00:37:59.420 --> 00:38:00.420 The right instinct. 00:38:01.900 --> 00:38:02.980 He's met with God. 00:38:03.880 --> 00:38:04.780 And he's overwhelmed. 00:38:05.280 --> 00:38:06.600 Like Isaiah, who said, 00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:07.480 Woe is me, 00:38:08.579 --> 00:38:09.819 For I am a man undone. 00:38:09.920 --> 00:38:11.219 I am a man of unclean lips. 00:38:11.259 --> 00:38:13.860 And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. 00:38:14.659 --> 00:38:15.860 On the other hand, 00:38:16.319 --> 00:38:17.579 We have Manoah's wife 00:38:17.579 --> 00:38:21.519 With the equally proper reaction 00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:25.719 That recognized God's grace in the whole ordeal. 00:38:26.980 --> 00:38:29.259 Yes, she fell on her face before the Lord too. 00:38:29.980 --> 00:38:31.199 Who wouldn't in that moment? 00:38:31.199 --> 00:38:33.239 But she also realized 00:38:33.239 --> 00:38:35.219 That their experience of God's presence 00:38:35.219 --> 00:38:36.980 Was a sign of his mercy, 00:38:37.239 --> 00:38:38.379 Not his judgment. 00:38:39.419 --> 00:38:41.439 He wasn't there to condemn them. 00:38:41.659 --> 00:38:44.679 He was there to give them grace and mercy. 00:38:45.019 --> 00:38:46.379 And she realized that. 00:38:47.139 --> 00:38:49.219 Dale Ralph Davis wrote about it this way, 00:38:49.599 --> 00:38:50.739 Some can shudder, 00:38:51.099 --> 00:38:53.019 But never smile before God. 00:38:53.659 --> 00:38:55.460 Some of us have reverence 00:38:55.460 --> 00:38:57.199 Without assurance. 00:38:57.199 --> 00:39:01.139 Others can so focus on God's nearness 00:39:01.139 --> 00:39:04.099 That they risk turning warm intimacy 00:39:04.099 --> 00:39:06.480 Into cheap familiarity. 00:39:07.460 --> 00:39:09.319 But the Bible keeps us in bounds. 00:39:09.839 --> 00:39:10.759 Psalm 211, 00:39:11.139 --> 00:39:13.619 Rejoice with trembling. 00:39:14.599 --> 00:39:16.439 That's so wonderfully helpful, isn't it? 00:39:16.699 --> 00:39:19.519 True worship must involve a sense of fear 00:39:19.519 --> 00:39:23.099 That displays humility and contrition before God. 00:39:23.480 --> 00:39:25.960 But our brokenness in that moment 00:39:25.960 --> 00:39:27.940 Must be countered 00:39:27.940 --> 00:39:30.360 By the joy of having recognized 00:39:30.360 --> 00:39:31.740 The grace of God 00:39:31.740 --> 00:39:33.260 In the gospel of Jesus. 00:39:33.800 --> 00:39:35.280 When we see his holiness 00:39:35.280 --> 00:39:37.960 And our sinfulness is exposed, 00:39:38.519 --> 00:39:40.099 We look to the cross 00:39:40.099 --> 00:39:42.780 Where Jesus has taken our place. 00:39:42.980 --> 00:39:45.760 Where he has redeemed us from our sins. 00:39:45.980 --> 00:39:48.240 So now when we look to God with reverence, 00:39:48.440 --> 00:39:49.800 We look with joy. 00:39:50.099 --> 00:39:52.400 Not being afraid that we will be cast 00:39:52.400 --> 00:39:53.460 Into eternal hell. 00:39:53.460 --> 00:39:55.480 But knowing that in Christ 00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:57.139 We have eternal life. 00:39:57.559 --> 00:39:59.740 She recognizes his grace here. 00:40:00.179 --> 00:40:02.460 So when we come Sunday by Sunday 00:40:02.460 --> 00:40:03.740 Or day by day 00:40:03.740 --> 00:40:05.280 As you spend your time with the Lord. 00:40:05.380 --> 00:40:07.300 Yes, humble contrition. 00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:09.679 Yes, prayers of confession. 00:40:10.240 --> 00:40:11.659 Yes, fear. 00:40:12.119 --> 00:40:12.519 Awe. 00:40:12.880 --> 00:40:13.240 Wonder. 00:40:13.579 --> 00:40:15.679 Yes, but also joy. 00:40:16.639 --> 00:40:17.199 Celebration. 00:40:17.960 --> 00:40:18.559 Excitement. 00:40:18.559 --> 00:40:20.799 Because Jesus has done for us 00:40:20.799 --> 00:40:22.179 What no one else could do. 00:40:23.179 --> 00:40:25.559 And the experience of contrition 00:40:26.239 --> 00:40:27.099 Is lifted 00:40:27.099 --> 00:40:29.880 By the knowledge and belief 00:40:29.880 --> 00:40:31.299 In the gospel. 00:40:32.360 --> 00:40:33.599 Finally, number four. 00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:36.579 God fulfilled his promises. 00:40:37.099 --> 00:40:38.299 Now remember what we're doing here. 00:40:39.259 --> 00:40:40.699 Maybe I've gotten off track. 00:40:41.239 --> 00:40:42.659 But we're looking at God 00:40:42.659 --> 00:40:44.320 As the central character of this chapter. 00:40:44.320 --> 00:40:46.960 It's God who announces the birth. 00:40:47.460 --> 00:40:49.539 It's God who confirms the purpose. 00:40:50.240 --> 00:40:52.320 It's God who reveals his personal presence. 00:40:53.400 --> 00:40:54.480 And then it's God 00:40:54.480 --> 00:40:57.039 Who actually fulfills the promises. 00:40:57.580 --> 00:40:58.500 Look at verse 24. 00:40:59.340 --> 00:41:00.700 The woman bore a son 00:41:00.700 --> 00:41:02.780 And called his name Samson. 00:41:03.780 --> 00:41:05.400 And the young man grew 00:41:05.400 --> 00:41:06.840 And the Lord blessed him. 00:41:06.840 --> 00:41:09.039 And the spirit of the Lord 00:41:09.039 --> 00:41:10.440 Began to stir him 00:41:10.440 --> 00:41:11.980 In Mahanedan 00:41:11.980 --> 00:41:14.180 Between Zorah and Eshterah. 00:41:14.940 --> 00:41:16.700 The last point's very simple. 00:41:18.360 --> 00:41:20.180 We know that Samson was God's man 00:41:20.180 --> 00:41:21.120 From the very beginning 00:41:21.120 --> 00:41:23.480 Because God did everything 00:41:23.480 --> 00:41:24.940 He told Manoah and his wife 00:41:24.940 --> 00:41:26.120 He was going to do. 00:41:27.980 --> 00:41:29.519 She did conceive a son. 00:41:30.720 --> 00:41:32.000 She called his name Samson. 00:41:32.900 --> 00:41:34.079 God blessed him. 00:41:34.820 --> 00:41:35.420 And he grew. 00:41:35.420 --> 00:41:37.480 And he became a young man. 00:41:38.039 --> 00:41:38.940 And as we've seen 00:41:38.940 --> 00:41:40.619 So many other times in Judges 00:41:40.619 --> 00:41:42.200 The spirit of God 00:41:42.200 --> 00:41:43.619 Began to prepare him 00:41:43.619 --> 00:41:45.579 For the task at hand. 00:41:46.940 --> 00:41:47.860 And Lord willing 00:41:47.860 --> 00:41:48.460 Next Sunday 00:41:48.460 --> 00:41:49.280 We're going to get into 00:41:49.280 --> 00:41:50.720 How all that worked out. 00:41:51.340 --> 00:41:51.960 But for now 00:41:51.960 --> 00:41:54.159 We must simply acknowledge 00:41:54.159 --> 00:41:56.260 That God was doing his work 00:41:56.260 --> 00:41:56.960 In Samson 00:41:56.960 --> 00:41:58.940 Even when no one 00:41:58.940 --> 00:42:00.500 Was asking for him to do it. 00:42:02.019 --> 00:42:03.460 What does that tell us? 00:42:03.460 --> 00:42:06.260 He had a plan all along. 00:42:07.539 --> 00:42:09.460 And neither Israel's apathy 00:42:09.460 --> 00:42:11.280 Nor Samson's sin 00:42:11.280 --> 00:42:13.220 Would thwart that purpose. 00:42:14.039 --> 00:42:16.099 And when all of it is said and done 00:42:16.099 --> 00:42:19.240 Because of how things unfolded 00:42:19.240 --> 00:42:20.280 In chapter 13 00:42:20.280 --> 00:42:22.820 There would be no question 00:42:22.820 --> 00:42:25.059 That this was all God's doing. 00:42:25.059 --> 00:42:28.320 It's all God's doing. 00:42:31.420 --> 00:42:33.940 It's a part of this tapestry of grace 00:42:33.940 --> 00:42:34.840 That we find 00:42:34.840 --> 00:42:37.920 Woven throughout the pages of the Bible. 00:42:39.059 --> 00:42:39.980 This story 00:42:39.980 --> 00:42:41.259 Is just another example 00:42:41.259 --> 00:42:42.579 Of the pattern of grace 00:42:42.579 --> 00:42:43.739 That culminates 00:42:43.739 --> 00:42:45.340 In the crucifixion 00:42:45.340 --> 00:42:46.820 And resurrection of Jesus. 00:42:48.559 --> 00:42:49.779 Samson was the savior 00:42:49.779 --> 00:42:50.739 Nobody asked for. 00:42:51.380 --> 00:42:52.400 So was Jesus. 00:42:52.400 --> 00:42:55.360 But God's relentless 00:42:55.360 --> 00:42:56.980 Grace and mercy 00:42:56.980 --> 00:42:58.800 Still raised them up 00:42:58.800 --> 00:43:00.660 To bring salvation 00:43:00.660 --> 00:43:01.440 For his people. 00:43:02.559 --> 00:43:04.340 It was always God's plan 00:43:04.340 --> 00:43:05.300 To use Samson 00:43:05.300 --> 00:43:06.780 To help defeat the Philistines. 00:43:07.000 --> 00:43:08.720 And it was always God's plan 00:43:08.720 --> 00:43:10.860 To use his only begotten son 00:43:10.860 --> 00:43:12.400 To defeat sin 00:43:12.400 --> 00:43:13.539 And Satan 00:43:13.539 --> 00:43:14.599 And death. 00:43:15.559 --> 00:43:17.460 It was his eternal plan. 00:43:18.400 --> 00:43:19.579 Peter makes it clear 00:43:19.579 --> 00:43:20.200 In the sermon 00:43:20.199 --> 00:43:22.059 On the day of Pentecost 00:43:22.059 --> 00:43:23.000 In Acts chapter 2 00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:24.699 He says men of Israel 00:43:24.699 --> 00:43:26.059 Hear these words 00:43:26.059 --> 00:43:28.139 Jesus of Nazareth 00:43:28.139 --> 00:43:29.460 A man attested to you 00:43:29.460 --> 00:43:29.960 By God 00:43:29.960 --> 00:43:30.759 With mighty works 00:43:30.759 --> 00:43:31.980 And wonders and signs 00:43:31.980 --> 00:43:33.359 That God did through him 00:43:33.359 --> 00:43:34.059 In your midst. 00:43:35.139 --> 00:43:35.859 This Jesus 00:43:35.859 --> 00:43:37.679 Was delivered up 00:43:37.679 --> 00:43:40.279 According to the definite plan 00:43:40.279 --> 00:43:43.259 And foreknowledge of God. 00:43:43.819 --> 00:43:44.319 In other words 00:43:44.319 --> 00:43:45.019 Peter is saying 00:43:45.019 --> 00:43:46.859 This was God's plan 00:43:46.859 --> 00:43:47.639 From the beginning. 00:43:47.639 --> 00:43:51.059 But he used your sin 00:43:51.059 --> 00:43:52.279 To do it. 00:43:52.980 --> 00:43:53.779 You crucified 00:43:53.779 --> 00:43:55.179 And killed 00:43:55.179 --> 00:43:55.799 By the hands 00:43:55.799 --> 00:43:56.639 Of lawless men. 00:43:56.719 --> 00:43:57.219 Now we're going to see 00:43:57.219 --> 00:43:58.199 That with Samson too. 00:43:59.299 --> 00:44:00.539 It was always God's plan 00:44:00.539 --> 00:44:01.279 To use Samson. 00:44:01.920 --> 00:44:03.019 God even uses 00:44:03.019 --> 00:44:04.059 Samson's sin 00:44:04.059 --> 00:44:05.659 To do it. 00:44:07.039 --> 00:44:08.219 God raised him up 00:44:08.219 --> 00:44:08.940 Peter says 00:44:08.940 --> 00:44:11.480 Loosing the pangs of death 00:44:11.480 --> 00:44:13.699 Because it was not possible 00:44:13.699 --> 00:44:14.879 For him to be held by it. 00:44:14.880 --> 00:44:16.160 The difference between 00:44:16.160 --> 00:44:18.660 Samson and Jesus 00:44:18.660 --> 00:44:19.599 One of the differences 00:44:19.599 --> 00:44:21.380 Is that Jesus had no sin. 00:44:22.340 --> 00:44:23.640 He's the eternal son of God. 00:44:24.160 --> 00:44:25.119 Death could not hold him. 00:44:25.440 --> 00:44:26.640 It had no claim on him. 00:44:26.760 --> 00:44:27.740 Which meant his death 00:44:27.740 --> 00:44:29.140 Was not for his own sin. 00:44:29.400 --> 00:44:30.760 It was for the sins of others. 00:44:31.599 --> 00:44:32.980 The sins of those who believe. 00:44:34.119 --> 00:44:35.320 It's all eventually 00:44:35.320 --> 00:44:36.500 Getting us to the cross. 00:44:38.140 --> 00:44:38.740 And I'm convinced 00:44:38.740 --> 00:44:40.780 That God includes stories 00:44:40.780 --> 00:44:42.280 Like Samson's in the Bible. 00:44:42.280 --> 00:44:44.480 So that when we finally get 00:44:44.480 --> 00:44:46.540 To the glorious gospel of Jesus 00:44:46.540 --> 00:44:48.560 It will not come 00:44:48.560 --> 00:44:50.060 As a surprise to us. 00:44:50.460 --> 00:44:51.920 Because this is how God 00:44:51.920 --> 00:44:53.060 Always works. 00:44:55.120 --> 00:44:57.120 We always see his grace 00:44:57.120 --> 00:44:57.800 Towards sinners. 00:44:59.160 --> 00:45:00.260 And when we think 00:45:00.260 --> 00:45:01.380 That the gospel message 00:45:01.380 --> 00:45:02.580 Is too good to be true 00:45:02.580 --> 00:45:03.400 Which could be 00:45:03.400 --> 00:45:04.680 Your predicament now. 00:45:05.560 --> 00:45:06.760 We only need to read 00:45:06.760 --> 00:45:08.160 The scriptures to find that 00:45:08.160 --> 00:45:10.160 Abundant grace and mercy 00:45:10.160 --> 00:45:11.680 Is always how God acts. 00:45:12.280 --> 00:45:15.300 Yes there is judgment 00:45:15.300 --> 00:45:16.280 For unbelievers. 00:45:17.140 --> 00:45:18.080 But it should come 00:45:18.080 --> 00:45:19.400 As no surprise to us 00:45:19.400 --> 00:45:21.160 That there is wonderful 00:45:21.160 --> 00:45:22.080 Mercy 00:45:22.080 --> 00:45:23.300 And grace 00:45:23.300 --> 00:45:24.300 For all who will come 00:45:24.300 --> 00:45:25.019 To him in faith. 00:45:27.860 --> 00:45:29.060 And the salvation 00:45:29.060 --> 00:45:30.400 He's provided in Jesus 00:45:30.400 --> 00:45:31.019 Is yours. 00:45:32.180 --> 00:45:32.620 If 00:45:32.620 --> 00:45:35.200 You will just turn and believe. 00:45:38.400 --> 00:45:39.620 The primary takeaway 00:45:39.620 --> 00:45:40.220 Of this passage 00:45:40.220 --> 00:45:41.140 Sometimes what's hard 00:45:41.139 --> 00:45:41.900 About these narratives 00:45:41.900 --> 00:45:43.900 Is we want so badly 00:45:43.900 --> 00:45:45.019 To get to the end of him 00:45:45.019 --> 00:45:45.839 And we want to have 00:45:45.839 --> 00:45:46.900 Like some kind of 00:45:46.900 --> 00:45:47.679 Practical thing 00:45:47.679 --> 00:45:48.679 That we can take 00:45:48.679 --> 00:45:49.900 And say 00:45:49.900 --> 00:45:51.000 Well Manoah did this 00:45:51.000 --> 00:45:51.839 So I should do this 00:45:51.839 --> 00:45:52.579 And we can discern 00:45:52.579 --> 00:45:53.059 Some of those 00:45:53.059 --> 00:45:54.299 Practical instructions here. 00:45:54.619 --> 00:45:55.659 Hopefully we've done that. 00:45:56.879 --> 00:45:58.179 But the primary takeaway 00:45:58.179 --> 00:45:59.379 Here in this passage 00:45:59.379 --> 00:46:00.679 Is not something 00:46:00.679 --> 00:46:01.460 For you to do. 00:46:03.139 --> 00:46:04.379 The primary takeaway 00:46:04.379 --> 00:46:05.599 For you in this passage 00:46:05.599 --> 00:46:07.619 Is something for you 00:46:07.619 --> 00:46:08.579 To believe. 00:46:10.279 --> 00:46:11.400 And the demands 00:46:11.400 --> 00:46:12.179 We believe 00:46:12.179 --> 00:46:13.360 That 00:46:13.360 --> 00:46:16.339 God is a gracious God 00:46:16.339 --> 00:46:18.159 Who has provided 00:46:18.159 --> 00:46:19.259 True and eternal 00:46:19.259 --> 00:46:20.039 Salvation 00:46:20.039 --> 00:46:21.500 In Jesus alone. 00:46:22.219 --> 00:46:23.179 That his work 00:46:23.179 --> 00:46:23.940 Is finished. 00:46:26.940 --> 00:46:27.619 That's what 00:46:27.619 --> 00:46:28.779 Chelsea and Carson 00:46:28.779 --> 00:46:30.159 Are saying to us today 00:46:30.159 --> 00:46:31.000 And to the world 00:46:31.000 --> 00:46:31.719 Whoever may be 00:46:31.719 --> 00:46:32.360 Gathered around 00:46:32.360 --> 00:46:33.200 Gathered around 00:46:33.200 --> 00:46:33.720 At the house 00:46:33.720 --> 00:46:34.680 In just a few minutes 00:46:34.680 --> 00:46:35.380 That's what 00:46:35.380 --> 00:46:36.460 They're declaring to us 00:46:36.460 --> 00:46:36.960 That they have 00:46:36.960 --> 00:46:37.720 Come to believe 00:46:37.720 --> 00:46:39.960 That salvation 00:46:39.960 --> 00:46:40.920 Can only be found 00:46:40.920 --> 00:46:41.500 In Christ 00:46:41.500 --> 00:46:44.620 And that they are 00:46:44.620 --> 00:46:45.320 Trusting in him 00:46:45.320 --> 00:46:46.240 Alone for it 00:46:46.240 --> 00:46:48.400 And following him 00:46:48.400 --> 00:46:48.900 As Lord 00:46:48.900 --> 00:46:51.059 Won't you do that 00:46:51.059 --> 00:46:51.519 As well? 00:46:53.280 --> 00:46:54.180 Can you come up 00:46:54.180 --> 00:46:54.860 With a good reason 00:46:54.860 --> 00:46:55.660 Why you wouldn't? 00:46:58.160 --> 00:46:58.980 Why would you 00:46:58.980 --> 00:46:59.599 Turn away 00:46:59.599 --> 00:47:00.620 From such wonderful 00:47:00.620 --> 00:47:01.720 Love and grace? 00:47:02.360 --> 00:47:02.740 Why? 00:47:04.340 --> 00:47:05.340 There's no hope 00:47:05.340 --> 00:47:06.400 For you if you don't 00:47:06.400 --> 00:47:08.720 There's only death 00:47:08.720 --> 00:47:10.220 And judgment 00:47:10.220 --> 00:47:12.260 And condemnation 00:47:12.260 --> 00:47:14.340 And it's totally 00:47:14.340 --> 00:47:15.500 Unnecessary 00:47:15.500 --> 00:47:17.400 Because Jesus 00:47:17.400 --> 00:47:18.120 Has done 00:47:18.120 --> 00:47:20.000 What Samson 00:47:20.000 --> 00:47:20.820 And no other person 00:47:20.820 --> 00:47:21.280 Could do 00:47:21.280 --> 00:47:22.860 He's paid the price 00:47:22.860 --> 00:47:24.320 Just come and 00:47:24.320 --> 00:47:25.120 Receive it 00:47:25.120 --> 00:47:26.300 Believe 00:47:26.300 --> 00:47:27.420 And turn 00:47:27.420 --> 00:47:29.360 And he will save you 00:47:29.360 --> 00:47:31.360 Well 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.360 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:45.340 ! 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340 00:47:45.340 --> 00:47:45.340