Created & Called on Purpose | Sunday, September 8, 2024

Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, "...you shall conceive and bear a son. Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean... and no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." (Judges 13:1–5)

Before you were ever conceived, God had a purpose for your life—and He calls you to fulfill it.

Returning to Judges: A New Series on Samson

Now that summer is almost over, we return to the Book of Judges, where we left off in chapter 12 back in May before our detour through Hosea. This last section launches a new series I'm calling Strong Man, Weak Character, and the figure who comes to mind is Samson.

Along with Gideon, Samson is the most well-known judge. Even people who aren't church-going Bible readers have a basic understanding of his story—the long-haired brute with a divine call and supernatural strength. Yet though he had this supernatural strength and divine calling, he never seemed to fully arrive at what God had for him. He was a man with a weakness, and an unfortunately familiar one—a weakness for women, a "Kryptonite problem"—that leads to his eventual downfall, primarily at the hands of a damsel named Delilah.

Samson came with a purpose from God from before his conception, a supernatural empowering, and an objective prophesied by a heavenly being before his arrival. He was supposed to be consecrated to this task from birth. But he erred through the lust of the flesh, frequently giving in to the temptation for the things of this world. In spite of his flaws, God still used him—an awesome testimony to grace—though not to the extent Samson could have been used had he been wholly dedicated. His weaknesses got the best of him and rendered him weak and blind, grinding toward a bitter end.

A Mirror for Our Own Inconsistencies

This is a basic, well-known story, and the Hebrew is simple historic narrative. When I studied it in seminary for Hebrew exegesis, the text just reported the facts and left it to the reader to evaluate Samson, warts and all. James says the Scriptures are like a mirror—we look in and see areas of inconsistency, like Samson, because all of us have them.

Israel during the time of the judges was a nation in turmoil because of their flesh. The children of Israel did what was right in their own eyes, and with no governing principle for morality, they inevitably did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. This triggered a well-known cycle that begins with compromise, spirals down to chaos, and ends in catastrophe. You can see it in the text of Judges, in the world around you, and sometimes in your own life. Because God is gracious, He raises up a deliverer.

A Failure Listed in the Hall of Faith

The first thing to note is that Samson can seem like an utter failure. He does some really dumb things—face-palm moments where you say, "Come on, Samson, why are you doing this?" My Hebrew professor, Dr. Watson, used to say, "The problem with Samson is he's kind of just a pervert." He had real issues, a carnal character—a strong man with a weak character.

And yet Samson is listed in Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faith. How is that even the case? It reminds us of something we'll see in 1 Samuel: God does not see as man sees. We look at the outward; God looks at the heart. There was something about Samson, despite his carnality and stupidity, that marked him as a man of faith.

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong... others had trials of mockings and scourgings... of whom the world was not worthy. (Hebrews 11:32–38)

These are inspired words of Scripture. They don't hide the problems of these individuals. If this were merely patriotic, nationalistic writing, it might have glossed over their failures. But it doesn't. And so when we see the dumb things they did and are still told they were men and women of faith of whom the world was not worthy, it is a great encouragement—because there is no one here who does not do dumb things, even after becoming a Christian.

Point One: All on Account of God's Grace

This is not to make excuses for our failures, but to highlight something vital: if there is any good, great, or praiseworthy thing in my life, it is all on account of God's grace. Paul, who had failed greatly as Saul of Tarsus, said in 1 Corinthians 15, "I am what I am by the grace of God."

We must keep this in mind because there's a real danger for regular churchgoers—those committed to reading the Bible and praying—to fall into self-righteousness. Samsons in the world become a kind of lightning rod or deflector shield: "Well, at least I'm not as bad as that guy."

This was hammered home this week. I met for nearly two hours with a man who is not yet a Christian, going through crises, using a certain four-letter word more times than I could count, laying out everything falling apart in his life. Here's what's amazing: over the years it's often the not-yet-Christians who are open and honest about their failures, while sometimes Christians justify and make excuses—"I'm not that bad." That reveals a temptation I could easily succumb to as well. I am what I am by the grace of God, and I need to remind myself of it.

Point Two: Created for a Purpose and Called to Fulfill It

Samson had a divine call and purpose from before he was even conceived. This is not unique to him. God told Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you as a prophet to the nations." Paul said in Galatians 1 that God "separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace." And Isaiah 49 records the Messiah saying, "The Lord has called Me from the womb; from the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name."

It's not a stretch to say this is true for you and me as well. Before you were born, before your mother had ever thought you up, God knew who you would be and had a plan and purpose He calls you to. This is vital for our young people in junior high and high school to grab hold of—but it's just as true whether you're 15, 55, or 85. God created you for a purpose and calls you to fulfill it.

This is crucial at this cultural moment, because the dominant worldview given to our kids is that you are the chance product of random mutation over billions of years, with no ultimate purpose. I can think of no more soul-crushing story. Naturalists say your only ultimate purpose is to further your genetic material. That sad story leads to nihilism and the meaning crisis we see today—people feeling purposeless. The Bible has the remedy: God created you for a purpose, calls you forward into it, and empowers you by His Spirit to fulfill it.

The Challenges of Walking in God's Purpose

There are challenges here. Sometimes it requires work, time, and effort to discover precisely what God's purpose is for us. Sometimes we are tempted to run from it like Jonah. And sometimes, like Samson, we can torpedo or subvert God's purpose—though it doesn't mean His purpose will be completely destroyed. He will accomplish it, just perhaps not to the extent it could have been. That's one of the devastating things about Samson's story: I wonder if God could have done far greater things through him had he been holy and wholly committed.

You often begin to discover your purpose simply by stepping out—serving on the security team, moving a video camera, the day of small things. My first step into ministry was as a teenager, invited by my youth pastor to help out—sometimes cleaning toilets, picking up trash, folding bulletins. Through that I discovered God had a greater call on my life, and even now, after 25 years of pastoral ministry, I believe there are greater things yet to do.

My friend Pastor Tony sensed a call to ministry in his twenties and ran from it; God finally got His way in Tony's late thirties, but there were years of "I wish I wouldn't have done that." I remember sitting in my 1981 Toyota Starlet with my friend Charles from Bible college, saying I didn't want to be a person who, twenty or thirty years later, said, "I wish I would have." Many of us have regrets of "I wish I hadn't," but an even greater regret is "I wish I would have gone through that open door."

Manoah and His Barren Wife

So we come to Judges 13:1—for the seventh and final time in Judges, "the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord," beginning the spiral from compromise to chaos to catastrophe. The Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. Some of you can testify: for forty years you were in bondage to the enemy.

Then there was a certain man from Zorah, of the tribe of Dan in the northernmost part of Israel, named Manoah, whose wife was barren. The Angel of the Lord appeared to the unnamed but crucial woman and told her she would conceive and bear a son who would begin to deliver Israel. This word of deliverance comes to a desperate, barren woman—for at that time and place, barrenness was the worst possible blight upon a woman. God comes and speaks to her: you will have a special child, and to be special, this child must be set apart. But not only the child—she also must be set apart.

That's important to consider as a parent. There is a consecration and dedication required of you as you lead your children, and it doesn't change even when they fly the coop. One byline in the story is that Samson's parents were dedicated—actually more dedicated than Samson would be. They were good Israelites going against the flow when most were not.

Point Three: God's Purpose Requires Dedicated Consecration

The angel gave explicit instructions: the mother must not drink strong drink or eat anything unclean. This leads to a third observation: the ultimate fulfillment of God's purpose requires dedicated consecration. Samson was to be a Nazirite from birth.

You can read about the Nazirite vow in Numbers 6. A Nazirite lived under an avowed commitment to God, typically temporary. But Samson was unique—a Nazirite dedicated to God from conception—and it required his mother's dedication too. For God's great purpose of delivering His people to be fulfilled, this consecration was essential. Samson never fully committed to it, and even so God graciously used him in powerful ways—but not to the extent he could have. The point for moms and dads, and potential parents: God is not only calling your children to fulfill His purpose, He's calling you to a dedicated commitment to see that purpose fulfilled.

Point Four: Dedicated Consecration Requires Fervent Prayer

The woman told her husband that a man of God whose countenance was like an angel's had come to her. Then Manoah prayed: "O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born." I love this prayer—and it leads to point four: dedicated consecration requires fervent prayer.

I'm often convicted here, because I realize I'm too frequently half-hearted in prayer. James 5 says, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." When we object that we aren't very righteous, God reminds us we are clothed in His righteousness. James points to Elijah, "a man with a nature like ours," who prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain for three and a half years; then he prayed again and it rained. Same weaknesses, same temptations to discouragement—yet God heard him.

Moms and dads, this is a prayer worth memorizing. When I became pastor of this church in April 2008, my wife was about twelve weeks pregnant with our first child, Ethan, and I was far more concerned about becoming a dad than about becoming pastor. You become a parent with no training—they hand you a baby, ask if you have a car seat, and send you home. This is a really good prayer, and you keep praying it: sixteen years later I'm teaching my oldest son to drive, praying, "Lord, please teach me what I shall do for the child driving the car." You never cease being Mom and Dad. Casual prayer indicates casual commitment; fervent prayer shows serious devotion.

The Angel Whose Name Is Wonderful

In accordance with Manoah's prayer, the Angel of the Lord returned. "And the Lord listened to the voice of Manoah"—a reminder that God hears your prayers. The angel came again to the woman in the field, and she ran to fetch her husband. Manoah asked, "Now let Your words come to pass! What will be the boy's rule of life, and his work?"

Notice the angel doesn't answer that. Instead He turns to Manoah: "Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful." In effect: "I'm not telling you about him; I'm telling you about you." God wants to do a work in the parents to prepare the child for the future. Then Manoah offered to prepare a young goat, but the angel said to offer a burnt offering to the Lord instead—for Manoah did not yet know He was the Angel of the Lord.

When Manoah asked His name, the angel said, "Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?" There is only one in Scripture whose name is Wonderful. Isaiah 9:6 prophesies, "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given... and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." This is a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus. Some would disagree—and they have a right to be wrong. The pre-incarnate Christ appears to bless Manoah and his barren wife with a child and to call them to a consecrated purpose.

Point Five: Consecration Invites God's Presence and Worship

Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered it on the rock to the Lord, and as the flame went up toward heaven, the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame. Jesus ascended in the flame of the altar—which makes Acts 1 "Ascension 2.0"; this is "Ascension 1.0." When Manoah and his wife saw it, they fell on their faces to the ground in worship—the right response to an encounter with God.

That leads to point five: dedicated consecration invites God's presence and impels our worship. If you sense some distance between you and God today, first, it's probably not true—God is there, perhaps waiting for you to turn to Him in dedicated consecration. But if there was ever a time of greater nearness to God than now, my encouragement is to recommit and rekindle your dedication, because that invites His presence. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. As you draw near, it impels your praise, for God inhabits the praises of His people. You don't need a worship team to praise Him—you can do it Monday morning in traffic on the 15.

God created you for a purpose and calls you to fulfill it. By committing yourself wholeheartedly through prayer, dedication, and worship, God will draw near and work in profound ways beyond anything you can think or imagine. Just as Israel 3,400 years ago, when everyone did what was evil and there was no moral governing principle, went down the path of compromise to chaos to catastrophe, we find ourselves in the same predicament today. The eyes of the Lord still look to and fro throughout the land for someone whose heart is committed, like Manoah and his unnamed wife, so that He might move. Would to God He'd do it again.

Closing Prayer

O Lord, we pray as we prepare our hearts for communion that You would move powerfully in our lives. Draw us first into a deeper commitment—maybe getting up a half hour earlier, spending five more minutes in the Bible, setting aside time tomorrow to pray, even setting aside our own desires for food and fasting. In some way, as we draw near to You, You will draw near to us and do great and mighty things, exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. We desperately need that.

Millions will tune in this week hoping that one of these individuals is our deliverer. Lord, only You are our hope. We need Your power, by Your Spirit, to move through Your church—not just this congregation, but all the churches in this area and nation. Move powerfully, we pray, in Jesus' name.

Lord, we thank You for Your goodness displayed in the grace You give to broken vessels like Samson and like each of us. Your body was broken for us and Your blood shed for us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11: "The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'" Let's remember the Lord by partaking together.

In the same manner He took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." We like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to our own way, and the Lord laid on Him our iniquity. Jesus, Your blood was shed that we could be made whole. We praise You and thank You.

God, as we prepare to go into the mission field You've called us to, help us to be committed and dedicated to You, trusting in You for Your empowering and grace, because without You we can do nothing, but we can do all things through You who gives us strength. Strengthen Your people. The Lord bless you and keep you; may He make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may He lift up His countenance upon you and give you His peace. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of His Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.