Devotions
Rev Gav
Connection
Judges 13.2–7, 24–end
There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren, having borne no children. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, ‘Although you are barren, having borne no children, you shall conceive and bear a son. Now be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, or to eat anything unclean, for you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor is to come on his head, for the boy shall be a nazirite to God from birth. It is he who shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.’ Then the woman came and told her husband, ‘A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like that of an angel of God, most awe-inspiring; I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name; but he said to me, “You shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the boy shall be a nazirite to God from birth to the day of his death.” ’
The woman bore a son, and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the Lord blessed him. The spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Reflect
Does this passage from the Old Testament book of Judges sound familiar? It should because it bears quite a resemblance to the nativity story!
- Manoah’s wife was barren and Mary was a virgin.
- Both women were both forewarned by an angel that they would conceive a son.
- In tradition, Manoah’s wife (called Hazzelelponi) was of the line of Judah, and Mary was also of the line of Judah.
- Samson was called to be a Nazarite (someone consecrated to God), and as Mary was from Nazareth and Jesus grew up there, was known as Jesus of Nazareth. Both the words Nazarite and Nazareth come from the same root word meaning ‘to be set apart’.
- Samson was called to deliver Israel (from the hand of the Philistines), and Jesus was called to deliver Israel and all humanity from sin and death.
And if we go on in the story:
- Samson was stirred by the spirit of the Lord, and Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit.
- Samson died in an act of self-sacrifice and Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross.
Coincidence?
The New Testament is full of strands connecting Jesus to Old Testament stories, heroes, and prophesies, and without a doubt, the writers of the gospel narratives wanted their Jewish readers to draw parallels between Jesus and Samson. In other words, the thrust of the nativity story is to remind us that Jesus, portended and anointed by God, was to be a great saviour of Israel, and be one who would deliver the people through an act of self-sacrifice.
I hope today’s short reflection helps remind us that the stories we read this Christmas are full of connections that go way beyond a simple, literal reading. They are loaded narratives, filled with meaning, all for the purpose of drawing us to Jesus Christ.
Photo by Clint Adair on Unsplash
Pray
Holy God
Open my eyes to how the
gospel narratives are
full of connections and
filled with meaning.
Help me be ready to
meet the Christ child,
Jesus of Nazareth,
this Christmas.
and then