Playlist: Nazirites (topic)
Samson and the Christian (Part 2)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Nazirite calling stands at the center of Samson's story, introduced when the Angel of the Lord announces to Manoah's wife that her promised son shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, with no razor ever touching his head. This designation, from the Hebrew Nazir meaning consecrated or separated, marks Samson as a holy …
Samson and the Christian (Part 6)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe origin and nature of the Nazarite vow surfaces as a key theme in understanding Samson's downfall and recovery. Numbers 6 establishes that if a Nazarite vow was broken, it had to be restarted entirely, with all prior time counted as nothing. This principle underlies the assumption that during his imprisonment—blinded, …
Samson and the Christian (Part 5)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughSamson's identity as a Nazirite forms the theological center of his story, revealing both the height of his calling and the depth of his failure. Consecrated from his mother's womb, Samson was set apart by God with a specific vow that included never cutting his hair, never touching dead things, and staying away from the fruit of …
Hair Care?
Sermonette by Ronny H. GrahamExperimentation with hair has always been associated with rebellion. Absalom's rebellion seemed to be inextricably tied to his vanity over his long hair.
Samson and the Christian (Part 3)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAs Judges 14 opens, God motivates a spoiled, lustful, impetuous troublemaker to begin delivering Israel from the Philistines. Samson walked by sight.
Samson and the Christian (Part 1)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughSamson's identity as a Nazirite stands as one of the central threads running through the account of his life and its broader lessons about faithfulness and squandered potential. From before his conception, Samson was set apart by God for a specific purpose, and this consecration was formalized through his Nazirite status—a …
Manoah, Father of Samson
Sermonette by Mike FordMany Biblical scholars teach that Manoah was dimwitted, lazy, jealous, and faithless. But a close reading of the Scriptures proves just the opposite.
Do We See What We Are Looking At?
Sermonette by Ronny H. GrahamSeeing versus truly perceiving frames a powerful exploration of biblical examples in which people failed or succeeded in spiritual discernment.
Knowing God: Formality and Customs (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughNazirites are introduced as a specific and clarifying example within a broader discussion of hair length as a divinely significant external symbol reflecting one's internal spiritual state and submission to God's governmental order. Having established through I Corinthians 11 that long hair on a man signifies disrespect toward …
Acts (Part Nineteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughPaul encountered persecution but also saw his work bear fruit. He was driven from the synagogue, but paradoxically won over its leader, Crispus.
Lamentations (Part Seven)
Sermon byThe people suffering under the Babylonians had basked in the privilege of being God's chosen people while also trashing the terms of the Covenant.
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Eight)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Wisdom does not give us complete understanding into the ultimate purposes of God, but when accompanied with faith in God, it will brighten our countenance.
Liberals and the Election
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The next four years will require sacrifices from our citizenry, just like Americans were required during the Second World War.
Lamentations (Part Eight; 1989)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughLamentations 4 contains a series of contrasts, showing the indignities suffered by a once proud people reduced to humiliating servitude because of idolatry.
Lamentations (Part Seven; 1989)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughLamentations 3 and 4 show the stark contrast of a once proud people (secure in their wealth, technology, and cleverness) suffering bitter humiliation.
Amos (Part Five)
Sermon/Bible Study byModern Israel cannot see the connection between its own faithlessness to the covenant and the violence of society that mirrors her spiritual condition.
Amos (Part Four)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughAmos, like a circling hawk, makes dire pronouncements on all of Israel's enemies but reserves the harshest judgment for Israel, who should have known better.