HELP FOR HOME LIFE - 6Samson's ParentsThe story of Samson's parents in Judges 13 is both interesting and instructive in that it helps to fill out the Bible view family life in quite a touching way. The confiding transparency of their relationship as husband and wife is delightful, and is an attitude that should be treasured and guarded by husbands and wives today. Previously their home had been quiet with the emptiness and heartache of childlessness. But the Lord had seen this, for when the heavenly visitor speaks to the woman, it is the first thing he mentions to her. Then follows the joyous foretelling of the conception and birth of a son, coupled with a most remarkable plea for caution in her diet during the waiting period, forbidding her to drink wine or strong drink, or to eat any food that was unclean. The reason given for this, was that God intended the child to be a Nazarite from the womb, in view of the special work that lay before him as he came to manhood. The nature and implications of the Nazarite vow are set out in detail in Numbers 6. There are two matters for consideration in the angelic announcement that are particularly relevant in our day. 1. The effect of a mother's diet and habits on her unborn child. The fact that it is becoming more common for infants to suffer the trauma of withdrawal from inherited drug dependence in society around us today, confirms the validity of this caution. No doubt the angel's plea has the power to reach the heart, and influence the appetites and conduct of every godly mother during that special waiting time, even today. 2. The status of the unborn child in the sight of God. Normally the Nazarite vow was voluntarily taken by a man or a woman for a specified time, at the end of which, such a person would return to their usual manner of life. However, it was the Lord's intention that Samson be separated unto Him in this special way for the whole of his life. The placing of this prohibition on his mother at that particular time ensured that Samson's Nazariteship would commence from conception. For a further consideration of this matter, see the words of the Lord in Jeremiah 1:5, and the response attributed to Elizabeth's unborn child in Luke 1:44. The woman was still awed by the appearance of the angel when she came to tell her husband of e incident, and no doubt she was deeply moved by the message he brought, but her guileless openness comes out as she says, "But I asked him not to whence he was, neither told he me his name". When Manoah heard her story he believed her implicitly, and he prayed that the visitor would return and instruct them further. From the form of his prayer, it is evident that he was soberly aware of their joint responsibility to bring up the child in a manner worthy of such a calling. The Lord answered his prayer and the angel came again to the woman, but Manoah was not with her. She did not enter into any conversation with him herself, but immediately ran to tell her husband. They returned together and Manoah asked the angel for further understanding how they should train the child for his life's work, but the angel simply reaffirmed his earlier word. "Of all that I said to the woman, let her beware. All that I commanded her let her observe". From this we learn the prime importance of present duty. While it is prudent to carefully consider where the course of our life is leading us, and to wisely prepare for anticipated future responsibilities, we must remember that the grace and guidance of the Lord is given to deal with the matters of today, and He expects us to leave the concerns of the future in His hands, see Matt 6:31-34. Help and wisdom for the training of the child would be given once he was in their care. Manoah did not know that their visitor was the angel of the Lord, for he had appeared in the form of a man, so he freely offered their hospitality and expressed their gratitude in warm sincerity. But as they became aware of the mystery and wonder of His Name, at his bidding they offered sacrifice to the Lord on the altar. Then when they saw him ascend to heaven in the flame of the altar, they fell on their faces in reverence. Realizing that they had been in the Divine presence, Manoah was overwhelmed with a fear that they would surely die. Had not the Lord said to Moses in Exodus 33:20, "There shall no man see Me and live?". Had not Jacob alluded to this in Genesis 32:30? But here Manoah's wife shows herself to be a true helper suited to him. She was able to stand back and logically consider the position. First, God could not be intending to kill them, for He had accepted their offerings. Then there were the promises they involved her, far more intimately than they did Manoah, and she knew that they could not be fulfilled if their lives were taken just at that time. This is the logic of faith that carefully considers the promises of God and clings to them in the face of fear and discouragement. Christian parents can still use it to help one another in family life today. In reflecting over the story, we can recognize a happy example of what Paul taught in Eph 5:22-33 . "Wives submit ourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is head of the church ... Husbands love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church". Then he sums up, "Let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband". Manoah fittingly took his place as head and spokesman, always speaking on behalf of them both, but not in a superior manner that would deprive his wife of her liberty to express herself, or that would despise her help. Because of the nature of the communication that the angel brought, Manoah's wife was more able to cope with it than he was. This reminds us that there are areas of domestic life that are better understood by women than by men. Therefore we are not surprised to find in Titus 2:3-5 that older women are exhorted to take an interest in younger women, teaching them good things: that is, out of their own experience, supporting them with advice and encouragement as they face the demands and perplexities of family life. - R.M. Goatley COUNSEL TO YOUNG CHRISTIANSCleave to the Lord with purpose of heart. Depend on Him. There is power in Christ. There is sufficiency in Christ for all He would have you do or be. Some are allowed a long season of joy on first believing. But God knows our hearts, and how soon we begin to depend on our joy, and not on Christ. He is our object - not the joy. Sin no longer remains on you, but the flesh is in you to the end: the old stock will put forth its buds, which must be nipped off as they appear. No fruit can come of it. It is the new nature that bears fruit unto God. But though the flesh is in you, do not be thinking of this, but think of Christ. Cleave to Christ with purpose of heart. A distracted heart is the bane of Christians. When we have something that is not Christ, we are away from the source of strength. When my soul is filled with Christ, I have no heart or eye for the trash of this world. If Christ is dwelling in your heart by faith, it will not be a question with you, "What harm is there in this or that?" But rather, "Am I doing this for Christ?" "Can Christ go along with me in this?". Do not let the world come in and distract your thoughts. I speak especially to you young ones. Those who are older have had more experience in it, and know more what it is worth; but it all lies shining before you, endeavoring to attract you. Its smiles are deceitful; still it smiles. It makes promises which it cannot keep; still it makes them. Your hearts are too big for the world; it cannot fill them. They are too little for Christ; He fills Heaven, He will fill you to overflowing. "Cleave to the Lord with purpose of heart". He knows how treacherous the heart is and how soon it would put anything in His place. You will indeed have to learn what your own heart is. Abide with God and you will learn it with Him, and with His grace. if you do not, you will have to learn it with the devil, through his successful temptation, with bitter sorrow. But God is faithful. if you have been getting away from Him, and other things have come in, and formed a crust, as it were, over your hearts, you will not at once get back the joy. God will have you deal with the crust, and get rid of it. Remember Christ bought you with His own blood, that you should be His, not the World's. Do not let Satan get between you and God's grace. However careless you may have been, however far you may have gone away from Him, count on His love. It is His joy to see you back again. Look at sin with horror but never wrong Him by distrusting His love. Do not mistrust His work, do not distrust His love. He has loved you, and will love you to the end. Talk much with Jesus. Never be content without being able to walk and talk with Christ as with a dear friend. Do not be satisfied with anything short of close intercourse of soul with Him who has loved you and washed you from your sins in His own blood. - J.N.D Lord Jesus make Thyself to me - Anon. THE GAIN OF GODLINESSFrom I Timothy 6:5 we learn that there were people in Paul's day who took up a form of godliness because they thought it to be a paying concern. And Bunyan tells us in his "Pilgrim's Progress" of those in his time who "walked with religion when religion walked in her silver slippers". Today, when an agnostic materialism is the real, though unspoken creed of multitudes, people have little use for what cannot be measured in terms of money. But when a man accepts Christ, life can never be the same again. He alters his view of the value of things. With a spirit quickened from it's sleep of death, and gifted with a new power of perception, he now perceives that the things that are of supreme moment are the things that are not seen but are spiritual and eternal. He can now appreciate Paul's words, Godliness ... is great again". It is unnecessary to attempt any definition of godliness; every regenerate person knows what it is, and desires more of it. It is such an acknowledgment of the Lord in all our ways as to be the spring of an habitually God-pleasing life. Godliness may or not be accompanied by material prosperity. In Old Testament times, the righteous man looked for material prosperity, and was painfully perplexed if he did not obtain it. For example, see the complaints of job, and the writer of Psalm 73. Even in the Christian dispensation godliness "has promise of the life that now is". God is the Saviour or Preserver of all men, and especially of His children. But quite apart from His sheltered providence, a godly life, in the ordinary sequence of cause and effect, makes for such things as health, restfulness, respectability, and a trustworthy character. On the other hand, godliness may not be accompanied by material prosperity, for "all that will live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution", especially in lands where true Christianity has little influence. In some countries Christians have had to make the very grave choice between the claims of the Christ and the claims of the State, and they have often suffered persecution. In less serious ways believers may suffer loss in business through honesty and loyalty to Christ. Their health may suffer through devotion to the Lord's service and interests. A high standard of living is not necessarily "the outward and visible sign of inward and spiritual grace!". Our truest wealth is inalienable; that is, it cannot be transferred or lost. It is bound up with our inner life, and we shall take it with us into the unseen and eternal world. it never impoverishes anyone else. it never weakens, but always strengthens the soul. It consists in such things as peace with God, capacity to know and enjoy Him, and real inward character that pleases Him. To win Christ is the greatest gain. Godliness produces true contentment. Of course, there can be a false contentment, such as a self-complacent satisfaction in our perfect standing in Christ, in a Scriptural church position, and in regular attendance at the assembly meetings. We may also, through a wrong idea of submission, accept conditions that are evil and that we should try to remedy. But it was godliness that enabled Paul to say, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content". He was not content with the state, but he was so taken up with the surpassing wealth that was his in Christ that he was but little concerned about outward circumstances. In this way he was kept from the idea of envying those whose material standards of life were higher than his own. Many hymns express this sentiment. They were doubtless composed when the authors were enjoying exalted spiritual thoughts, and we can hardly claim in sincerity that they always express our own feelings at ordinary times. Still, they present an ideal which we do well to try and reach in our day, when so many believers are tempted to look with a measure of contempt upon godliness that is unaccompanied by the outward signs of prosperity. - Edwin Adams THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORDThe coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ is spoken of in Scripture as one event, but with varying aspects according to the connections in which it is presented. The Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His saints is very distinct in its aspect from His coming to the world. The grand distinction, however, which Scripture teaches us to make is between the coming of the Lord, and the day of the Lord. The day of the Lord, whether spoken of in the Old or New Testament, is always n connection with judgment. In Malachi 4:5 it is called "the great and dreadful day of the Lord," and in the New Testament, Peter says "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away ... the earth also and the works that are in it shall be burned up" (2 Peter 3: 1 0). The first letter to the Church at Thessalonica sets forth the second coming of Christ as the coming for His people. The second letter to the same church sets forth Christ coming with His saints. It leads to great perplexity and confusion in the minds of believers if they do not clearly discriminate between the Lord coming for His people, and the Lord coming with His people. If we are to come with the Lord and the tens of thousands of His saints, we must first be gathered to Him. Prophecies connected with coming judgment, and marked by varying signs which are to precede and usher in that period of judgment, refer to the coming of the Lord with His people. As far as one can see from Scripture, there are no events foretold which must take place between our conversion and the coming of the Lord for us. The Second Coming of Christ for His people is not the subject of Old Testament prophecy, but a distinct revelation given by the Lord and His apostles. The Church's great expectation is that she shall be taken up to meet the Lord in the air at His coming, and then accompany Him to this earth to reign with Him over this world. Some good, learned and sincere students of prophecy have fixed dates for the Lord's return, and this has resulted in much disappointment on the part of those who confidently expected the Lord to come on the date fixed. Sad to say, this has brought upon the subject much ridicule from modernists and the secular press. The trouble has been caused because some have spoken as prophets, instead of endeavoring to interpret prophecy. Carried away by the supposed infallibility of their particular theory, they became too dogmatic in their statements, and joined the list of false prophets. if we carefully and prayerfully examine the Scriptures, we shall find that we have no authority to warrant any assertion as to the time or date that the Lord will come. Therefore we repudiate such calculations and date fixing, but at the same time we believe that it is our duty and privilege to stand on our watch tower and look for Him to come, "Perhaps Today". The primary aspect of the Coming of Christ to the Christian is that of a simple, unconditional, pre-millennial hope. Because of the many fantastic interpretations circulating these days, it is important that we should ascertain for ourselves from Scripture, apart from theories about it, whether it is a living, animating, immediate hope. -J.F. Spink THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH
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