Scripture: Judges 16
Learning Objectives:
- Students will review the story of how God used Samson’s strength to end the Philistines.
- Students will learn how God uses all circumstances including people’s bad choices to fulfill his ultimate will.
- Students will learn the rules that the Nazarites had to follow.
Guiding Question: How can students learn the importance of Nazarite laws?
Materials: Bibles, pencils, crayons or markers, paper
Procedure: Teach the story of Samson and Delilah focusing on the rules Samson had to follow. Discuss how Samson became weaker because his hair was cut and he had a covenant with God. Have the students create an illustrated “guide to being a Nazarite” including the rules, other Nazarites in the Bible, etc. in the Bible.
Samson’s mother was told by an angel that Samson should be a Nazarite. Rules are found in Numbers 6:1-21. Jewish men could take a Nazarite vow – normally for a period of 30 days, but they could choose any length, Some Nazarites kept the vow for their entire life like Samson (except when he broke the vow). Nazarites usually had three basic rules 1. They couldn’t eat or drink anything made from a grape including wine, grape juice, grapes and raisins 2. They could not cut their hair or shave 3. They could not touch the dead bodies of people or animals. Other people in the Bible who took a Nazarite oath or had a parent take one for them were Samuel, John the Baptist and some think the Apostle Paul made a short one because of Acts 18:18. For those who took a short Nazirite vow period at the end of it they had to make several sacrifices, immerse in a mikveh (special pool of water) and shave their heads with their hair being burned with one of the animal sacrifices.
Additional Questions: How can students create a guide to following God’s rules for us in the Bible?
Supplemental Activity: Have the students create a video about following the rules God gives us for a younger student. The rules should come from research in the Bible on the rules that God gives us to follow.