Dedicated to God from Birth
The birth of a child is such a glorious blessing. It is a miracle of God as see how He forms the child in the womb of his mother. It is one of the greatest gifts that anyone can ever receive. It is love at first sight and receiving back the love from our child is so satisfying. We are so tempted to try to keep that child for ourselves. However, the best thing we can do when we have a child, and even before the child's birth, is to dedicate him or her to the Lord.
Samson was a judge that God sent to deliver His people from the Philistines. God came to his mother to let her know what to do. (Judges 13:5) God told her that she would become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut because he would be dedicated to the Lord as a Nazarite from birth. After his birth he would begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines. Samson had a special calling from God, but really every child has a unique calling from God.
The Nazarite vow or dedication was usually taken by a person for a short period of time to show their commitment from God. It did not start at birth and last for the entire life of the child. That was just God's command for how Samson was to be raised. However, it gives us a special picture that we can use to make sure our children are all dedicated to God for His use and His glory. After all, they belong to Him once they get saved.
Therefore, once any couple knows that are going to have a baby, they need to start praying for that child. They need to pray for him or her to be healthy, but the first thing to pray is that their child will come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Then, as they pray for salvation, they should dedicate that child's life to God and his service, just like Hannah did with her son, Samuel. Then, once the child is saved and comes to know what God would have them to do in life, we need to continue to pray for them and to give them all of our support in accomplishing God's will.
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Tomorrow, I intend to read Judges 14-16..