Judges 13-15
Wow – I love Manoah’s response to God’s word here! (And funny, his wife remains nameless…) Manoah never questioned or doubted the word from God (and he didn’t even realize that it had been delivered by the Angel of the LORD!) Instead, he immediately went to God in prayer and asked for further direction. When the Angel of the LORD returned to them, his words were, “when your words come true”. Solid belief!! And I somehow believe that Manoah helped his wife stick to all the requirements of the Nazarite vow so that the clump of cells inside her – oops, why would any of this matter if that wasn’t actually a life insider her? – would remain pure.
As for Samson – God clearly had a plan for him from before his birth, but he was no Godly man! God uses whom He chooses…but I wonder what became of Samson? God provided salvation for His people at that time through him, but did He provide salvation to him? Perhaps after Samson was humbled at the end, he turned his heart fully to God.
Luke 15:1-10
Jesus tells these two parables to the Pharisees and scribes, saying that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Funny thing is, there are none who “need no repentance.” The religious leaders were righteous in their own eyes and so could not see their own need.