Samson was a Nazarite (JUDGES 13:5), and Samuel was a Nazarite. (SAMUEL 1:11). After suffering infertility their parents made vows not to cut their sons' hair, a symbol of their perpetual repentance and prayer, their consecration to the LORD. (NUMBERS 6:2-7).
Isaac was the son of the beloved wife Sarah (GENESIS 18:10, 21:1-13), previously infertile. Samuel was the son of the beloved wife, Hannah, previously infertile. Both of these wives were loved by their husbands, Abraham and Elkanah, both preferred over the child-bearing wives Hagar and Peninnah. Through their beloved wives, a heritage was sought and hoped for.
The long-suffering righteous parents of Israel, of God's nation, were tested with infertility and ultimately blessed with righteous children. Upon the parents' willingness to offer their children to God, or in the case of Isaac, upon the acceptance of God's vow, God not only granted these people children, but made them great in His eyes. Isaac, Samson and Samuel are precursors in their holiness, in their strength, in their prophetic gifts to New Testament Saints: namely John the Baptist and the Holy Virgin Mother Mary. Both were consecrated to the Lord from birth; both were children born to elderly, previously infertile mothers, Elizabeth and Anna (LUKE 1:5-20; Gospel according to James).
Saint John and the Mother of God Mary open the door to an even deeper understanding of the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, whose conception and miraculous birth supersede all previous histories, who was prophesied to be a Nazarene, which means literally a branch, and also Holy, and He was born in Nazareth. (MATTHEW 2:23; JUDGES 13:5; ISAIAH 11:1).
The Messiah, the Son of David and the Son of God, in His human and divine natures, Jesus Christ, is, of course, the Holy Branch which extends to all of mankind through the Sons and daughters of Israel and from the Eternal Father.
All of us, suffering problems with the birth and non-birth of children, should take examples from Abraham and Sarah, from Manoah and his wife, from Hannah and Elkanah, from Zacharias and Elizabeth, and from Joachim and Anna. We should promise to raise our children in the fear of God and consecrate them to the LORD. When we are fully confirmed in doing this, He will grant us holy children.
Isaac was the son of the beloved wife Sarah (GENESIS 18:10, 21:1-13), previously infertile. Samuel was the son of the beloved wife, Hannah, previously infertile. Both of these wives were loved by their husbands, Abraham and Elkanah, both preferred over the child-bearing wives Hagar and Peninnah. Through their beloved wives, a heritage was sought and hoped for.
The long-suffering righteous parents of Israel, of God's nation, were tested with infertility and ultimately blessed with righteous children. Upon the parents' willingness to offer their children to God, or in the case of Isaac, upon the acceptance of God's vow, God not only granted these people children, but made them great in His eyes. Isaac, Samson and Samuel are precursors in their holiness, in their strength, in their prophetic gifts to New Testament Saints: namely John the Baptist and the Holy Virgin Mother Mary. Both were consecrated to the Lord from birth; both were children born to elderly, previously infertile mothers, Elizabeth and Anna (LUKE 1:5-20; Gospel according to James).
Saint John and the Mother of God Mary open the door to an even deeper understanding of the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, whose conception and miraculous birth supersede all previous histories, who was prophesied to be a Nazarene, which means literally a branch, and also Holy, and He was born in Nazareth. (MATTHEW 2:23; JUDGES 13:5; ISAIAH 11:1).
The Messiah, the Son of David and the Son of God, in His human and divine natures, Jesus Christ, is, of course, the Holy Branch which extends to all of mankind through the Sons and daughters of Israel and from the Eternal Father.
All of us, suffering problems with the birth and non-birth of children, should take examples from Abraham and Sarah, from Manoah and his wife, from Hannah and Elkanah, from Zacharias and Elizabeth, and from Joachim and Anna. We should promise to raise our children in the fear of God and consecrate them to the LORD. When we are fully confirmed in doing this, He will grant us holy children.
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