Prospective Hope

Scripture(s): Judges 13:21-23
Now the angel of the LORD did not appear to Manoah or his wife again. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the LORD. So Manoah said to his wife, "We will surely die, for we have seen God." But his wife said to him, "If the LORD had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have let us hear things like this at this time." 

Commentary:
At this chapter begins the story of Samson, the last of the judges of Israel whose story is recorded in this book, and next before Eli. The passages related concerning him are, from first to last, very surprising and uncommon. The figure he makes in this history is really great, and yet vastly different from that of his predecessors. We never find him at the head either of a court or of an army, never upon the throne of judgment nor in the field of battle, yet, in his own proper person, a great patriot of his country, and a terrible scourge and check to its enemies and oppressors; he was an eminent believer (Heb. 11:32) and a glorious type of him who with his own arm wrought salvation. The history of the rest of the judges commences from their advancement to that station, but Samson’s begins with his birth, nay, with his conception, no less than an angel from heaven ushers him into the world, as a pattern of what should be afterwards done to John Baptist and to Christ. This is related in this chapter. I. The occasion of raising up this deliverer was the oppression of Israel by the Philistines (v. 1). II. His birth is foretold by an angel to his mother (v. 2-5). III. She relates the prediction to his father (v. 6, 7). IV. They both together have it again from the angel (v. 8–14), whom they treat with respect (v. 15–18), and who, to their great amazement, discovers his dignity at parting (v. 19–23). V. Samson is born (v. 24, 25).

v. 21. It was plain it was not the body of a man they saw, since it was not chained to the earth, nor prejudiced by fire; but ascended, and ascended in flame, and therefore with good reason they conclude it was an angel; for he maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. [2.] But he did not any more appear to them; it was for a particular occasion, now over, that he was sent, not to settle a constant correspondence, as with prophets. They must remember and observe what the angel had said and not expect to hear more (Henry, 1996).

II. We have an account of the impressions which this vision made upon Manoah and his wife. While the angel did wondrously, they looked on, and said nothing (so it becomes us carefully to observe the wondrous works of God, and to be silent before him); but when he had gone, having finished his work, they had time to make their reflections. 1. In Manoah’s reflection upon it there is great fear, v. 22. He had spoken with great assurance of the son they should shortly be the joyful parents of (v. 8, 12), and yet is now put into such a confusion by that very thing which should have strengthened and encouraged his faith that he counts upon nothing but their being both cut off immediately: We shall surely die. It was a vulgar opinion generally received among the ancient Jews that it was present death to see God or an angel; and this notion quite overcome his faith for the present, as it did Gideon’s, ch. 6:22 (Henry, 1996).

2. In his wife’s reflection upon it there is great faith, v. 23. Here the weaker vessel was the stronger believer, which perhaps was the reason why the angel chose once and again to appear to her. Manoah’s heart began to fail him, but his wife, as a help meet for him, encouraged him. Two are better than one, for, if one fall into dejections and despondencies, the other will help to raise him up. Yoke-fellows should piously assist each other’s faith and joy as there is occasion. None could argue better than Manoah’s wife does here: We shall surely die, said her husband; "Nay,’’ said she, "we need not fear that; let us never turn that against us which is really for us. We shall not die unless God be pleased to kill us: our death must come from his hand and his pleasure. Now the tokens of his favour which we have received forbid us to think that he designs our destruction. Had he thought fit to kill us, (Henry, 1996).

(1.) He would not have accepted our sacrifice, and signified to us his acceptance of it by turning it to ashes, Ps. 20:3, margin. The sacrifice was the ransom of our lives, and the fire fastening upon that was a plain indication of the turning away of his wrath from us. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, but you see ours is not so. (2.) He would not have shown us all these things, these strange sights, now at a time when there is little or no open vision (1 Sa. 3:1), nor would he have given these exceedingly great and precious promises of a son that shall be a Nazarite and a deliverer of Israel—he would not have told us such things as these if he had been pleased to kill us. We need not fear the withering of those roots out of which such a branch is yet to spring.’’ Note, Hereby it appears that God designs not the death of sinners that he has accepted the great sacrifice which Christ offered up for their salvation, has put them in a way of obtaining his favour, and has assured them of it upon their repentance (Henry, 1996).

Had he been pleased to kill them, he would not have done so. And let those good Christians 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 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, nor will he mock his people with his favours.’’ Learn to reason as Manoah’s wife did, "If God had designed me to perish under his wrath, he would not have given me such distinguishing tokens of his favour.’’ O woman! great is thy faith (Henry, 1996).

Reflection:
Our flesh would have us to think, that because the promises that God has spoken over our lives seem to be at such a great distance from us; that they are not going to manifest. If God was not going to bring the promises that he has spoken over our lives into existence; He would not have spoken them in the first place. He would not keep bringing us his word, which is full of promises to us. He would not keep bringing us prophecies, that confirm his promises to us. He would not keep bringing us witnesses, that reconfirm the promises that he has continuously spoken, over and over again. We must remember to hold onto the promises of God; just like: Manoha's wife, father Abraham, Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist, and Mary the mother of Jesus. Our hope is not in the promises of one that does not fulfill his, or her word. Our prospective hope is in the one, and only, true and living God; to fulfill every word that He has spoken to us. God would not play a game on us, or foolishly jester to make us hope for something that will never be. What He said, He will do.

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Book of Judges 13 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 1 Apr 2010.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jdg&c=13&t=NASB

Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on Judges 13." . Blue Letter Bible. 1 Mar 1996. 2010. 1 Apr 2010.

http:// www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?
AuthorID=4&contentID=857&commInfo=5&topic=Judges&ar=Jdg_13_21

Higgins, S. (2010). Prospective Hope. Devotions for Thought. Higgins Publishing. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, Http://www.higginspublishing.com