WHO ARE THEY? #2 Mariah - Teacher
A study of 4 women and mothers who were all used by God to impact the lives of many people. Their stories convey powerful lessons to us today.
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Grace Church holds a Meet & Greet for those who are newer to Grace Church on the 4th Sunday of each month. Our next Meet & Greet is May 26th following the service in CJ's coffee shop. It is a great opportunity to meet the staff and leadership of Grace Church and learn a little more about the church. It also gives us an opportunity to learn a little about you! Contact Leslie Booher if you have any questions ([email protected]).
Save the Date!
Girls Night Out-doors is coming up on June 14th 6:00-9:00 pm at Grace Church. Ladies, you've heard of Man Camp...well here's your chance!
More details coming soon.
Girls Night Out-doors is coming up on June 14th 6:00-9:00 pm at Grace Church. Ladies, you've heard of Man Camp...well here's your chance!
More details coming soon.
Grace Church provides an opportunity for everyone to come together during the month of May to help prepare the church grounds for the summer months. We hope you'll pick a Saturday to help out!
Church work days will take place on Saturday mornings 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on:
May 18th - spread mulch (need wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, work gloves)
May 25th - plant annuals (need garden spade and work gloves)
If you have questions or want to let us know when you can be there, reach out to Ryan Hickey ([email protected]).
Church work days will take place on Saturday mornings 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on:
May 18th - spread mulch (need wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, work gloves)
May 25th - plant annuals (need garden spade and work gloves)
If you have questions or want to let us know when you can be there, reach out to Ryan Hickey ([email protected]).
Saturday, May 11th - McKenzie Lawless, Jay & Monique Scott
Sunday, May 12th - Vaughn & Diana Reid
Tuesday, May 14th - Jacki Van De Moortel, Travis Mater
Friday, May 17th - Harlynn Kauffman, Jeff & Evelyn Fisher
Sunday, May 12th - Vaughn & Diana Reid
Tuesday, May 14th - Jacki Van De Moortel, Travis Mater
Friday, May 17th - Harlynn Kauffman, Jeff & Evelyn Fisher
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This month our series is entitled: Who Are They?
We are looking at the lives of 4 women who were all mothers. The stories of these women and of all the Bible characters are given to us as examples so we can learn valuable lessons from their lives about God and humanity. All of these lessons can then be applied to our own lives.
We are looking at the lives of 4 women who were all mothers. The stories of these women and of all the Bible characters are given to us as examples so we can learn valuable lessons from their lives about God and humanity. All of these lessons can then be applied to our own lives.
How many of you have a scar from a physical injury?
How many of you have an emotional scar from some action or event?
In today's message, we're looking at people who would have suffered this type of scarring. A mother and father who served God and tried to guide their son toward the Lord, but whose child didn't have that desire and so often lived differently.
How many of you have an emotional scar from some action or event?
In today's message, we're looking at people who would have suffered this type of scarring. A mother and father who served God and tried to guide their son toward the Lord, but whose child didn't have that desire and so often lived differently.
We'll look at a little background before we get into the message.
Judges 2
The children of Israel had come to the Promised Land after many years.
The Lord gave the people a warning in Judges 2:6-7, 10-19.
Judges 2
The children of Israel had come to the Promised Land after many years.
The Lord gave the people a warning in Judges 2:6-7, 10-19.
Judges 2:6-7, Judges 2:10-19
BSB
6 After Joshua had dismissed the people, the Israelites went out to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance.
7 And the people served the LORD throughout the days of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him, who had seen all the great works that the LORD had done for Israel.
10 After that whole generation had also been gathered to their fathers, another generation rose up who did not know the LORD or the works that He had done for Israel.
11 And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.
12 Thus they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed after various gods of the peoples around them. They bowed down to them and provoked the LORD to anger,
13 for they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.
14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of those who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.
15 Wherever Israel marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them to bring calamity, just as He had sworn to them. So they were greatly distressed.
16 Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them.
17 Israel, however, did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted themselves with other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’s commandments; they did not do as their fathers had done.
18 Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for the Israelites, He was with that judge and saved them from the hands of their enemies while the judge was still alive; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning under those who oppressed them and afflicted them.
19 But when the judge died, the Israelites became even more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods to serve them and bow down to them. They would not give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
7 And the people served the LORD throughout the days of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him, who had seen all the great works that the LORD had done for Israel.
10 After that whole generation had also been gathered to their fathers, another generation rose up who did not know the LORD or the works that He had done for Israel.
11 And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.
12 Thus they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed after various gods of the peoples around them. They bowed down to them and provoked the LORD to anger,
13 for they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.
14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of those who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.
15 Wherever Israel marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them to bring calamity, just as He had sworn to them. So they were greatly distressed.
16 Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them.
17 Israel, however, did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted themselves with other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’s commandments; they did not do as their fathers had done.
18 Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for the Israelites, He was with that judge and saved them from the hands of their enemies while the judge was still alive; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning under those who oppressed them and afflicted them.
19 But when the judge died, the Israelites became even more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods to serve them and bow down to them. They would not give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
BSB
The book of Judges describes Israel's downward spiral throughout about 400 years. The characters we're looking at today lived near the end of that time period.
Several times this era is described in plain language.
Judges 17:6 and 21:25
Several times this era is described in plain language.
Judges 17:6 and 21:25
Judges 17:6
BSB
6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
BSB
Judges 21:25
BSB
25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
BSB
In Judges 13:1-5, 24 we are introduced to our main characters.
The woman's name is not given but based on what we know about her, we could give her the Hebrew name of "Mariah" meaning, "the Lord is my teacher."
The name of her husband is Manoah and their child is Samson.
The woman's name is not given but based on what we know about her, we could give her the Hebrew name of "Mariah" meaning, "the Lord is my teacher."
The name of her husband is Manoah and their child is Samson.
Judges 13:1-5, Judges 13:24
BSB
1 Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD, so He delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
2 Now there was a man from Zorah named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, whose wife was barren and had no children.
3 The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “It is true that you are barren and have no children; but you will conceive and give birth to a son.
4 Now please be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and not to eat anything unclean.
5 For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall come over his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”
24 So the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the LORD blessed him.
2 Now there was a man from Zorah named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, whose wife was barren and had no children.
3 The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “It is true that you are barren and have no children; but you will conceive and give birth to a son.
4 Now please be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and not to eat anything unclean.
5 For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall come over his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”
24 So the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the LORD blessed him.
BSB
As we read this chapter we can make a number of observations about this family:
- Israel has sinned and been under the rule of the Philistines for 40 years (the number associated with testing).
- Over hundreds of years Israel has been conditioned to sin and worship idols of their culture and not the one true God.
- God intervened on behalf of His people and sent The Angel of the Lord.
- We learn of a person called a Nazarite. This could be a priest, Levite, a man, or a woman. A person who made a vow to live totally committed to God for a specific period of time so as to accomplish some task to honor God. They would realign their normal pleasures, earthly pursuits, natural passions, and spiritual priorities.
- The Lord told Mariah that she was to be a Nazarite throughout her pregnancy and the boy was to be a Nazarite for life. This implied an incredible purpose for his life span.
- Manoah pursued God's will for clarity and to know what his role should be. It's wonderful when a husband and wife have the same spiritual passion, sense of commitment, and work in the same direction to raise their kids for the Lord. Psalm 127:3
- Israel has sinned and been under the rule of the Philistines for 40 years (the number associated with testing).
- Over hundreds of years Israel has been conditioned to sin and worship idols of their culture and not the one true God.
- God intervened on behalf of His people and sent The Angel of the Lord.
- We learn of a person called a Nazarite. This could be a priest, Levite, a man, or a woman. A person who made a vow to live totally committed to God for a specific period of time so as to accomplish some task to honor God. They would realign their normal pleasures, earthly pursuits, natural passions, and spiritual priorities.
- The Lord told Mariah that she was to be a Nazarite throughout her pregnancy and the boy was to be a Nazarite for life. This implied an incredible purpose for his life span.
- Manoah pursued God's will for clarity and to know what his role should be. It's wonderful when a husband and wife have the same spiritual passion, sense of commitment, and work in the same direction to raise their kids for the Lord. Psalm 127:3
Psalms 127:3
BSB
3 Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
BSB
Together Mariah and Manoah commit themselves to teaching Samson the things of God, about life in general, and how he is expected to serve the Lord.
But as you go on with this family's story in Judges 13-16, you see there is a problem. God had a plan and purpose for the life of Samson. His parents were committed to working with God to accomplish this purpose. But Samson had to make a choice to obey. He was stubborn, thick-headed, driven by his emotions, resistant to authority, prideful, arrogant, and angry.
What it must have been like to have a child say "No" to those who have their best interests at heart.
The parents obeyed God and did what they did for Samson's benefit even though he would suffer the consequences for his actions.
But as you go on with this family's story in Judges 13-16, you see there is a problem. God had a plan and purpose for the life of Samson. His parents were committed to working with God to accomplish this purpose. But Samson had to make a choice to obey. He was stubborn, thick-headed, driven by his emotions, resistant to authority, prideful, arrogant, and angry.
What it must have been like to have a child say "No" to those who have their best interests at heart.
The parents obeyed God and did what they did for Samson's benefit even though he would suffer the consequences for his actions.
It's not very likely that you will go through life without having your heart scarred by others.
- It began in the Garden of Eden as God's kids turned away from Him.
- It continued at Mt. Siani when God's people turned away to false idols.
- Throughout the Judges and the Kingdoms people showed how selfish and fickle they are; demanding their own way.
- In the New Testament it continued as Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem and kissed the cheek of those who rejected Him.
- And it continues today, hard-hearted and self-willed people in our families, churches, and culture who reject those in authority who represent Him.
- It began in the Garden of Eden as God's kids turned away from Him.
- It continued at Mt. Siani when God's people turned away to false idols.
- Throughout the Judges and the Kingdoms people showed how selfish and fickle they are; demanding their own way.
- In the New Testament it continued as Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem and kissed the cheek of those who rejected Him.
- And it continues today, hard-hearted and self-willed people in our families, churches, and culture who reject those in authority who represent Him.
The parents (just like the Lord) could not force their son to think right, do right, or be right...but they kept doing the right thing.
- They obeyed God's will for their life.
- They lived a lifestyle that demonstrated love for God, each other, and their son.
- They taught their son the truth, even though he was stubborn and rebellious.
- They believed in him and the destiny for which God had created him.
- They persevered, they would have prayed, prepared him, and they pointed their son toward the true God and not the gods of the culture.
- They understood that their son, their child, those they sought to influence, would have to give an account to God for their choices, attitudes, behaviors, and response to the God-given authorities in their life.
In spite of the scars inflicted upon them, they remained faithful.
- They obeyed God's will for their life.
- They lived a lifestyle that demonstrated love for God, each other, and their son.
- They taught their son the truth, even though he was stubborn and rebellious.
- They believed in him and the destiny for which God had created him.
- They persevered, they would have prayed, prepared him, and they pointed their son toward the true God and not the gods of the culture.
- They understood that their son, their child, those they sought to influence, would have to give an account to God for their choices, attitudes, behaviors, and response to the God-given authorities in their life.
In spite of the scars inflicted upon them, they remained faithful.
