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Samson: God’s Great Under-Achiever
Judges 12:8-13:25
Pastor Marv, Grace Bible Church
7-5-20

Today we begin a study of the 12th and final judge in the book of Judges…a man named Samson. Few men or women in history have been prepared and equipped by God for service than this man. Raised by godly parents, set aside as a Nazirite from the womb, and a magnificent physical specimen…the Hercules of the Bible. But his life unfortunately was characterized by rebellion and missed opportunities and a tragic death…without every realizing his great potential. He was a great under-achiever. Let’s begin our study of him today by looking first at...

Some Background (12:7-13:1)

• The Judges “cycle”…one last time…


• After Israel’s victory over the Ammonites (12:32-33), Israel entered into a period of divine blessing under four judges…


• But as we have seen at other times in Judges, the period of blessing was accompanied by spiritual decay and disobedience…13:1…

Samson’s Birth (13:2-23)

• Meet the parents (verse 2)…

• Manoah’s wife meets “the Angel of the LORD” (verses 3-5)…

His appearance (verse 6)…

His identity.God Himself (more specifically, Jesus). Proof: see verse 22.

His message to her (verses 4-5)…

• Manoah meets “the Angel of the LORD” (verses 6-23)

His wife tells him of her encounter (verses 6-7)…


He prays…and God listens (verses 8-11a)…


Manoah’s questions…and “the Angel’s” answers (verses 11b-14, 17)…


Some good, old-fashioned Middle-Eastern hospitality…turned into a teaching moment by “the Angel” (verses 15-20)…


Manoah’s fear…and his wife’s reassurance (verses 21-23)…


Samson’s Good Beginning (13:24-25)

9 months later…and beyond…

Some Take-Aways for Us

#1 – Bad times are times for building faith, not yielding to fear.

#2 – Serving God effectively demands separation to God completely.

#3 – Godly children are almost always the result of godly parents.