Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1915 — THE TRAGEDY OF SAMSON THE STRONG [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE TRAGEDY OF SAMSON THE STRONG

Judges 13:8-16, 24, 25—Jan. 31. Samson Born a Nararite—His Birth Foretold—H»s Mission Foretold—The Value of a Mission—How He Judged Israel Samson’s Weakness His Loyalty to God—Victory In Death. "Beware, 1 pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink.” —dudges 13 aI.L Israelites who took a' certain vow were styled Nazarites Xaene should confound these people with the residents of Nazareth Jesus was a resident of Nazareth, but not a Nazarite. The Nazarite vow was that spiritous liquor in everj’ form should be avoided, and that the hair should not be cut. Samson from birth was under this vow, which, by the direction of the angel of the Lord, was adopted for him by his parents. In some sense the vow seems to have signified complete consecration toGo l rtnd His servict?, Twice before Samson’s birth, the angel of the Lord Communicated with his

parents to the intent that the mother’s mind, especially, should be impressed with the importance, of abstemiousness; and that her child should be born under a favorable endowment. Undoubtedly his parents realized to what extent parents may give mental and physi-

cal strength to their children, and W ul <l be on the alert to endow their offspring favorably. According to Divine promise, Samson was to be one of Israel’s Judges— Deliverers. The need of deliverance is evident from the context The Philistines resided to the southwest of Palestine. They were a warlike people, and very intelligent as respects manufactures. Their cunning is shown in that they not only disarmed the Israelites, but prohibited their making any iron implements or doing any kind of blacksmithing work. In this manner they held the Israelites in a species of peonage, exacting tribute of them. Samson’s work for his people must not be measured by mergjy the amount of damage which he did to the Philistines as a warrior and as a strategistsetting tire to their wheat-fields by ingeniously using foxes for *he purpose, etc. Doubtless his chief Work was one of reviving the spirit of his people, who lyid become .thoroughly hopeless under the oppression of their enemies. The lesson of what one could do when he devoted his life to delivering his people from their enemies must have been a great stimulus tcf patriotism and an encouragement to return to the Lord. Points to Be Remembered. We must not forget that the Jews were not Christians, and that the rules laid down by Jesus and the Apostles for Christians were not applicable to the Jews. According to the Scriptures Moses and the nation of Israel were a House of Servants (Hebrews 3:5, 6). They were promised Divine blessings in proportionals they served faithfully the Divine Law, which did not call upon them to be saints in the Christian sense of that word. Another difference between the Jew and the Christian is that the former was promised temporal blessings as a reward for faithfulness, while the latter is promised spiritual blessings with temporal adversities and trials of faith, patience, love and loyalty. Unless this distinction between the two Ages and the two Laws be borne in mind, we shall continually be in difficulty. According to the Law, Samson was rated as a very faithful servant of God. His faithfulness consisted in his loyalty to the Divine requirements and to Israel, God’s covenanted people. His faith was continually manifested in all he did; and his life was used in serving his people. He is rated as an Ancient Worthy.—Heb. 11:32, 39, 40. Samson was neither a Christian nor an example to Christians. In many respects he lived after the flesh, notwithstanding his noble self-sacrifice in

the Lord’s service. We should remember, however. that be was never begotten of the Holy Spirit. Only since Pentecost have any been begotten of the Spirit as ■‘New’ Creatures in Christ.’’ True, we read that the Spirit of the Lord w’as upon Samson;

but we are to bear in mind the wide distinction between spirit-begetting and the Spirit’s mechanical operation upon the Prophets and other Ancient Worthies to move them to accomplish the Divine purposes. But Christians are to receive the Spirit of Adoption. A woman was Samson’s undoing. He confided in her. and she betrayed him. While he slept, bis deceitful friend cut off his hair, and then delivered him to his enemies. They gloated over him, put bis eyes out. and kept him as a slave, grinding at the mills. But at a great feast, they brought him forth as a trophy. He stood between two immense pillars, which supported the roof of the great building: and with a prayer td God, he grasped these and pulled down the entire structure, doing more damage to the Philistines in the killing of their great men. and more therefore for the deliverance of his people, in that qne act than in al) the other experiences! of his life.

The Boy Samson.

The Angel Disappearing in the flame.