09-25-05

(Judg 13:15,16)  And Manoah [the man of sin, who “knew not that he (to whom he spoke) was an angel of the LORD”] said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee [whoever you are], until we shall have made ready a kid [a young goat] for thee. And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread [the produce of a natural man – Cain’s offering]: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering [Able’s offering], thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD.

1.     detain thee = Heb: to inclose; by anal. to hold back; also to maintain, rule, assemble: X be able, close up, detain, fast, keep (self close, still), prevail, recover, refrain, X reign, restrain, retain, shut (up), slack, stay, stop, withhold (self). [an exercise of power over the angel -  through prayer]

2.     (Judg 6:16-18)  And the LORD said unto him [Gideon], Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. And he said unto him [the Angel, the LORD], If now I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign that thou talkest with me. Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

3.     (Gen 32:26-28)  And he [the angel] said [to Jacob], Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he [Jacob] said, I will not let thee go [an exercise of power over the angel - through prayer], except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob [heel-catcher, supplanter], but Israel [he will rule as God, prince with God]: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

4.     (Hosea 12:3,4)  He [Jacob] took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength [(in the sense of effort): might] he had power with God:  Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept [(earnestness)], and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel [house of God, where Jacob prayed to God], and there he spake with us [God: 'Elohiym];

5.     supplicate = Dict: to pray humbly; make humble and earnest entreaty or petition.

(Judg 13:17,18)  And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name [a natural man’s demand for power], that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour [or when thy sayings don’t come to pass, we may dishonor thee for the liar that you are]? And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret [wonderful]?

1.     (Gen 32:29)  And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there [yes, but the angel never told Jacob his name].

2.     There is power in a name. By knowing a person’s name, one has the ability to exert power over that person. How? In the very least circumstance, by immediately gaining their attention. If you were an angel of God, would you want an impure man of sin (any human being) to possess any power at all that could effect or influence you in any way?

3.     (John 10:1-5)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd [pastor] of the sheep. To him the porter [gate-warden (the Holy Spirit)] openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

4.     (Rev 2:17)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna [hidden revelations of God], and will give him a white stone [a pebble (as worn smooth by handling)], and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

5.     overcometh = Gk: subdues: conquers, overcomes, prevails, gets the victory [gets the victory over who?? Gets the victory over your own self which is an enemy or enmity against God.]

6.     (Rom 8:7)  Because the carnal mind [fleshly (natural)] is enmity [hostility: hatred] against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be [nor indeed does it at all desire to be].

7.     secret = Heb: remarkable: wonderful /// to separate, i.e. distinguish; (make) great, wonderful: hidden, things too high, marvelous (-ly, -els, things, work), miracles, perform, separate, make singular, (be, great, make) wonderful, wondrous (things, works, -ly).

8.     (Isa 9:6)  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

(Judg 13:19-21)  So Manoah took a kid [a young goat] with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD [i.e. thereby manifesting OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD, contrary to Cain]: and the angel did wonderously [in response to Manoah’s obedient sacrifice]; and Manoah and his wife looked on. For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar [to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)], that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground. But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew [comprehended, discerned, perceived, understood] that he was an angel of the LORD [i.e. Manoah’s spiritual eyes were opened; he was saved, born again, imputed for righteousness – but now an infant in the Lord].

1.     (Judg 6:19-21)  And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it. And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

FEAR “TRANSFORMED” (Rom 12:2) INTO FAITH BIRTHED THE SON OF MAN

(Judg 13:22,23)  And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God [FEAR]. But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have showed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these [FAITH].

1.     (Judg 6:22,23)  And when Gideon perceived [knew] that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face [FEAR]. And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not [HAVE FAITH]: thou shalt not die [(but your old man will die, little by little)].

2.     Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible: It was an ancient belief that if one saw God or even an angel it was a sign of death, but many times God proved this to be pure superstition. Of the 44 appearances of God, p. 63, not one caused the death of anyone.

3.     Manoah’s fearful whining in contrast to his wife’s faithful confidence illustrates the reversal of their previous roles of dominance and submission. Manoah has now finally emerged as a new born babe in the faith, whereas his wife (the church) is the more mature mother. Both are now saved, and thus fitting parents for Samson. However, the childlike character of Manoah will be his legacy to Samson. 

(Judg 13:24,25)  And the woman [the church] bare a son, and called his name Samson [sunlight]: and the child grew [increased in stature], and the LORD blessed him. And the spirit of the LORD began to move him [increased in power within him] at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

1.     Seven great men of miraculous birth: Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Samson, Samuel, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ. Of the seven only two were named before their birth and those two by angels: John the Baptist was named “John” by the angel Gabriel, and Jesus Christ was named “Jesus” by the angel of the Lord.

2.     Who called his name Samson? Samson is definitely a child of this world. Therefore he is “the son of man,” reflecting our worldiness and imperfections, becoming “the son of God.” Jesus Christ was both “the son of man” and “the son of God” perfect in both persons become One.

3.     (Luke 1:80)  And the child [John the Baptist] grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.

4.     (Luke 2:52)  And Jesus [12 years old] increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Amen