The foreshadowing of Jesus is first seen in the manner of Samson’s birth. He would not have been born at all apart from the direct intervention of God for his mother was barren, and Jesus’ mother was a virgin. Likewise, Samson’s mother was told beforehand that her son would be devoted to the LORD all his life, from the womb to the day of his death, and so also was Mary concerning Jesus. This news was delivered by an angel, as it was in the case of Jesus.
The foreshadowing of Jesus continues as Samson would be a Nazarite, one who willingly dedicated himself to the LORD Numbers 6:2.Waiting for response for Numbers 6:2 A person could vow to do this for a specified period of time but Samson, like Jesus, would do this all his life. During this period the Nazarite would be holy to the LORD and, among other things, would not drink strong drink (representative of imbibing false doctrine) or cut his hair, a feature which became highly significant in Samson’s life.
Further foreshadowing Jesus, God’s power Samson would begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines but Jesus went forth to deliver men from sin and death.
It is notable that Manoah referred to the angel as “God”. This word in the Hebrew means “mighty one” and is applied to the LORD himself, to Jesus, to the angels, and to the rulers of Israel. This causes confusion in some minds leading them, for example, to think that Jesus is God himself. However we can readily understand that the Father is the source of all power and he gives this power to agents who may rightly be termed “gods” (see Jesus’ explanation - John 10:35).Waiting for response for John 10:35
The name Samson means “sunshine” and is appropriate to a man who was to be strong and was to represent Jesus, for Jesus was a strong man by God’s power and also like the sun Psalm 19:4-5.Waiting for response for Psalm 19:4-5 And again: Psalm 80:17-19Waiting for response for Psalm 80:17-19
Like Jesus as a child, Samson grew in favour with God. Luke 2:52Waiting for response for Luke 2:52
Further foreshadowing Jesus, the Spirit of the LORD came upon him.
Verse 1
Waiting for response for Judges 13:1Israel again fell into wickedness and idolatry so that they were afflicted, this time by the Philistines for forty years, and again God raised up a deliverer to save them and to judge Israel. This saviour was Samson who is a remarkable type of the Lord Jesus Christ, the great saviour and judge of Israel.