<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

Advent HOPE Sabbath School

Richard Walton

Shadows of Greatness: Failure, Triumph, and Faith

Thank you for that beautiful message and song.

Our message for today is shadows of greatness, failure, triumph, and faith.

I'd like to begin with a reading from the book of 1 Samuel 2 9.

He will keep the feet of his saints and the wicked shall be silent in darkness for by strength shall no man prevail.

I have chosen this morning to share with you the story of 3 lives.

The first 2 just looked like rising stars.

Perhaps as 1 of his disciples suggested, He was a bit on the mousy side.

But all 3 undoubtedly entered the world on tracks that seemed headed straight for the stars.

But of the 3, only 1 could look through that experience, could look through the final storm we'll all face at some point and see a crown.

Story number 1, The first life that we will discuss today is the story of Samson, a miracle child.

Have you noticed how a lot of the miracle babies are to be found throughout the Bible?

Isaac, Samuel, John the Baptist, Jesus himself.

He shouldn't have even been born and wouldn't have but for God's gift to a childless couple.

Let's open the word, Judges chapter 13, verses 2 and 3.

And there was a certain man of Zorah of the family of the Danites whose name was Manoah and his wife was barren and bore not.

And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her behold now thou art barren and bear us not but you will conceive and bear a son." Now get the picture.

For 40 long, miserable years, Israel has been under the boot of the Philistines.

Crops stolen, animals taken, slaves taken, villages, cities destroyed.

A people in slavery for 40 dreadful years, actually longer than the nation had wandered in the wilderness.

It was time for a new generation, a generation of young people to come in to change the status quo and to deliver the country from the mess it had sunken into.

It's pretty much what happened with the pioneers of the Adventist message.

Most of them young people, most of them under 20 years of old, came together at a magic moment in history to bring us the Adventist message.

A dream that Israel can overcome its captivity.

A dream that would be carried by a powerful young man, born into a godly home with every spiritual advantage, even prenatally.

Now therefore beware, I pray you, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing.

Before the child is even to be born, the angel of the Lord gives Manoah and his wife prenatal instructions for the care and raising of this special child.

I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with today's prenatal research that has shown third trimester babies in utero reacting to the outside world.

When their parents argue, they move closer and listen.

And it shapes who they will become as an adult.

Of course, heaven knew this long before we did.

And so an angel comes to Samson's parents and says, be very, very careful how you raise this child.

Even from Before he is born, he's paying attention, he knows what's happening, he is affected by the choices that you will make.

After the soon-to-be mother of Samson runs home and tells Manoah this news as to how the child is to be raised, Manoah himself prays for direction as to how to raise his son.

Verse 8, Manoah entreats the Lord and says, oh my Lord, let the man of God which you did sin come again to us and teach us what we will do to the child that you are giving us, to the child that will be born.

So not only has the mother received prenatal care instructions, now Manoah himself prays to God in a touching act of innocence, asking for how to raise his son.

How do I raise this child in the way you would have him to go?

And so 2 humble peasants through a simple prayer find themselves on route to a meeting with a mighty extraterrestrial who will give them the guidance they are seeking.

Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, Are you the man that spoke to my wife?

And Manoah said, now let thy words come to pass.

How shall we order the child and what shall we do to him?

By the way, that answering from the extraterrestrial visitor, Where else have you heard that answer given to a challenge?

From a very powerful Jewish priest, A high priest?

I adjure thee in the name of the living God that thou tell us who you are.

So here are these 2 humble peasants before the creator of the universe.

And the angel of the Lord says to Manoah, of all that I said to the woman, let her beware.

Once again, prenatal, postnatal care instructions for the child.

Diet, temperance, godly atmosphere, and most importantly, do not cut his hair.

Verse 14, she may not eat of anything that comes of the vine, neither drink wine nor strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing.

All that I commanded her, let her observe.

Why was it important that Samson never have his haircut, that no razor ever touch his head, Why?

The good Lord wanted him to be fashionable and long hair was in back then.

What is so special to the Hebrew mind about the cutting of hair?

Some of you will remember the story of Queen Esther.

It's a story that is still celebrated in the Jewish faith today with a festival called Purim, where you have these little triangulish cookies that, or pastries that are supposed to represent Haman's ears.

In fact, it's the 1 time in the entire year when devout practicing Jews are allowed to get totally smashed drunk.

Because it's a celebration of the deliverance of Israel.

And every time Haman comes on the stage in the play that they put on, you have these little noisemakers and you crank the things around, you hiss and boo, and it's quite a fun festival.

But before you get to the happy part of hissing and booing Haman and getting drunk to celebrate the victory of Israel, what did Mordecai do when he found out about the death decree?

Tore his clothes, cut his hair, and wore sackcloth and ashes.

You see, to the Jewish mind, the tearing of hair, the cutting of hair, is designed to show great grief, the loss of a loved 1, the extermination of the Jewish state.

Why is it important that Samson not cut his hair?

Because not cutting his hair is a sign that the war is over, the oppression is ended, victory is at hand, it is time to celebrate.

Divine power is about to be seen as never before in history.

While Israel is going to be freed by a divinely empowered man, it is time to begin celebrating.

Overwhelmed, Manoah wants to do something to celebrate this good news.

When God visited Abraham, Abraham slayed a fatted calf.

All poor Manoah can afford is 1 of his goats.

And as he's sitting there preparing the sacrifice, he asks a question that has been gnawing at his mind.

And back comes the answer, wonderful beyond comprehension.

Back to Menu

Shadows of Greatness: Failure, Triumph, and Faith

Transcript

Sponsor

Recorded

Sound Doctrine