patriarchs and prophets-第107章

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dead　upon　the　field。

Had　the　Israelites　been　ready　to　unite　with　Samson　and　follow　up　the
victory；　they　might　at　this　time　have　freed　themselves　from　the　power　of
their　oppressors。　But　they　had　become　dispirited　and　cowardly。　They　had
neglected　the　work　which　God　commanded　them　to　perform；　in　dispossessing　the
heathen；　and　had　united　with　them　in　their　degrading　practices；　tolerating
their　cruelty；　and；　so　long　as　it　was　not　directed　against　themselves；　even
countenancing　their　injustice。　When　themselves　brought　under　the　power　of
the　oppressor；　they　tamely　submitted　to　the　degradation　which　they　might
have　escaped；　had　they　only　obeyed　God。　Even　when　the　Lord　raised　up　a
deliverer　for　them；　they　would；　not　infrequently；　desert　him　and　unite　with
their　enemies。

After　his　victory　the　Israelites　made　Samson　judge；　and　he　ruled　Israel　for
twenty　years。　But　one　wrong　step　prepares　the

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way　for　another。　Samson　had　transgressed　the　command　of　God　by　taking　a　wife
from　the　Philistines；　and　again　he　ventured　among　themnow　his　deadly
enemiesin　the　indulgence　of　unlawful　passion。　Trusting　to　his　great
strength；　which　had　inspired　the　Philistines　with　such　terror；　he　went
boldly　to　Gaza；　to　visit　a　harlot　of　that　place。　The　inhabitants　of　the　city
learned　of　his　presence；　and　they　were　eager　for　revenge。　Their　enemy　was
shut　safely　within　the　walls　of　the　most　strongly　fortified　of　all　their
cities；　they　felt　sure　of　their　prey；　and　only　waited　till　the　morning　to
complete　their　triumph。　At　midnight　Samson　was　aroused。　The　accusing　voice
of　conscience　filled　him　with　remorse；　as　he　remembered　that　he　had　broken
his　vow　as　a　Nazarite。　But　notwithstanding　his　sin；　God's　mercy　had　not
forsaken　him。　His　prodigious　strength　again　served　to　deliver　him。　Going　to
the　city　gate；　he　wrenched　it　from　its　place　and　carried　it；　with　its　posts
and　bars；　to　the　top　of　a　hill　on　the　way　to　Hebron。

But　even　this　narrow　escape　did　not　stay　his　evil　course。　He　did　not　again
venture　among　the　Philistines；　but　he　continued　to　seek　those　sensuous
pleasures　that　were　luring　him　to　ruin。　〃He　loved　a　woman　in　the　valley　of
Sorek；〃　not　far　from　his　own　birthplace。　Her　name　was　Delilah；　〃the
consumer。〃　The　vale　of　Sorek　was　celebrated　for　its　vineyards；　these　also
had　a　temptation　for　the　wavering　Nazarite；　who　had　already　indulged　in　the
use　of　wine；　thus　breaking　another　tie　that　bound　him　to　purity　and　to　God。
The　Philistines　kept　a　vigilant　watch　over　the　movements　of　their　enemy；　and
when　he　degraded　himself　by　this　new　attachment；　they　determined；　through
Delilah；　to　accomplish　his　ruin。

A　deputation　consisting　of　one　leading　man　from　each　of　the　Philistine
provinces　was　sent　to　the　vale　of　Sorek。　They　dared　not　attempt　to　seize　him
while　in　possession　of　his　great　strength；　but　it　was　their　purpose　to
learn；　if　possible；　the　secret　of　his　power。　They　therefore　bribed　Delilah
to　discover　and　reveal　it。

As　the　betrayer　plied　Samson　with　her　questions；　he　deceived　her　by
declaring　that　the　weakness　of　other　men　would　come　upon　him　if　certain
processes　were　tried。　When　she　put　the　matter　to　the　test；　the　cheat　was
discovered。　Then　she　accused　him　of　falsehood；　saying；　〃How　canst　thou　say；
I　love　thee；　when　thine　heart　is　not　with　me？　Thou　hast　mocked　me　these

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three　times；　and　hast　not　told　me　wherein　thy　great　strength　lieth。〃　Three
times　Samson　had　the　clearest　evidence　that　the　Philistines　had　leagued　with
his　charmer　to　destroy　him；　but　when　her　purpose　failed；　she　treated　the
matter　as　a　jest；　and　he　blindly　banished　fear。

Day　by　day　Delilah　urged　him；　until　〃his　soul　was　vexed　unto　death；〃　yet　a
subtle　power　kept　him　by　her　side。　Overcome　at　last；　Samson　made　known　the
secret：　〃There　hath　not　come　a　razor　upon　mine　head；　for　I　have　been　a
Nazarite　unto　God　from　my　mother's　womb：　if　I　be　shaven；　then　my　strength
will　go　from　me；　and　I　shall　become　weak；　and　be　like　any　other　man。〃　A
messenger　was　immediately　dispatched　to　the　lords　of　the　Philistines；　urging
them　to　come　to　her　without　delay。　While　the　warrior　slept；　the　heavy　masses
of　his　hair　were　severed　from　his　head。　Then；　as　she　had　done　three　times
before；　she　called；　〃The　Philistines　be　upon　thee；　Samson！〃　Suddenly
awaking；　he　thought　to　exert　his　strength　as　before　and　destroy　them；　but
his　powerless　arms　refused　to　do　his　bidding；　and　he　knew　that　〃Jehovah　was
departed　from　him。〃　When　he　had　been　shaven；　Delilah　began　to　annoy　him　and
cause　him　pain；　thus　making　a　trial　of　his　strength；　for　the　Philistines
dared　not　approach　him　till　fully　convinced　that　his　power　was　gone。　Then
they　seized　him　and；　having　put　out　both　his　eyes；　they　took　him　to　Gaza。
Here　he　was　bound　with　fetters　in　their　prison　house　and　confined　to　hard
labor。

What　a　change　to　him　who　had　been　the　judge　and　champion　of　Israel！now
weak；　blind；　imprisoned；　degraded　to　the　most　menial　service！　Little　by
little　he　had　violated　the　conditions　of　his　sacred　calling。　God　had　borne
long　with　him；　but　when　he　had　so　yielded　himself　to　the　power　of　sin　as　to
betray　his　secret；　the　Lord　departed　from　him。　There　was　no　virtue　in　his
long　hair　merely；　but　it　was　a　token　of　his　loyalty　to　God；　and　when　the
symbol　was　sacrificed　in　the　indulgence　of　passion；　the　blessings　of　which
it　was　a　token　were　also　forfeited。

In　suffering　and　humiliation；　a　sport　for　the　Philistines；　Samson　learned
more　of　his　own　weakness　than　he　had　ever　known　before；　and　his　afflictions
led　him　to　repentance。　As　his　hair　grew；　his　power　gradually　returned；　but
his　enemies；　regarding　him　as　a　fettered　and　helpless　prisoner；　felt　no
apprehensions。

The　Philistines　ascribed　their　victory　to　their　gods；　and；

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exulting；　they　defied　the　God　of　Israel。　A　feast　was　appointed　in　honor　of
Dagon；　the　fish　god；　〃the　protector　of　the　sea。〃　From　town　and　country
throughout　the　Philistine　plain　the　people　and　their　lords　assembled。
Throngs　of　worshipers　filled　the　vast　temple　and　crowded　the　galleries　about
the　roof。　It　was　a　scene　of　festivity　and　rejoicing。　There　was　the　pomp　of
the　sacrificial　service；　followed　by　music　and　feasting。　Then；　as　the
crowning　trophy　of　Dagon's　power；　Samson　was　brought　in。　Shouts　of
exultation　greeted　his　appearance。　People　and　rulers　mocked　his　misery　and
adored　the　god　who　had　overthrown　〃the　destroyer　of　their　country。〃　After　a
time；　as　if　weary；　Samson　asked　permission　to　rest　against　the　two　central
pillars　which　supported　the　temple　roof。　Then　he　silently　uttered　the
prayer；　〃O　Lord　God；　remember　me；　I　pray　Thee；　and　strengthen　me；　I　pray
Thee；　only　this　once；　O　God；　that　I　may　be　at　once　avenged　of　the
Philistines。〃　With　these　words　he　encircled　the　pillars　with　his　mighty
arms；　and　crying；　〃Let　me　die　with　the　Philistines！〃　he　bowed　himself；　and
the　roof　fell；　destroying　at　one　crash　all　that　vast　multitude。　〃So　the　dead
which　he　slew　at　his　death　were　more　than　they　which　he　slew　in　his　life。〃

The　idol　and　its　worshipers；　priest　and　peasant；　warrior　and　noble；　were
buried　together　beneath　the　ruins　of　Dagon's　temple。　And　among　them　was　the
giant　form　of　him　whom　God　had　chosen　to　be　the　deliverer　of　His　people。
Tidings　of　the　terrible　overthrow　were　carried　to　the　land　of　Israel；　and
Samson's　kinsmen　came　down　from　their　hills；　and；　unopposed；　rescued　the
body　of　the　fallen　hero。　And　they　〃brought　him　up；　and　buried　him　between
Zorah　and　Eshtaol；　in　the　burying　place　of　Manoah　his　father。〃

God's　promise　that　through　Samson　He　would　〃begin　to　deliver　Israel　out　of
the　hand　of　the　Philistines〃　was　fulfilled；　but　how　dark　and　terrible　the
record　of　that　life　which　might　have　been　a　praise　to　God　and　a　glory　to　the
nation！　Had　Samson　been　true　to　his　divine　calling；　the　purpose　of　God　could
have　been　accomplished　in　his　honor　and　exaltation。　But　he　yielded　to
temptation　and　proved　untrue　to　his　trust；　and　his　mission　was　fulfilled　in
defeat；　bondage；　and　death。

Physically；　Samson　was　the　strongest　man　upon　the　earth；　but　in
self…control；　integrity；　and　firmness；　he　was　one　of　the　weakest　of　men。
Many　mistake　strong　passions　for　a　strong　character；

568

but　the　truth　is　that　he　who　is　mastered　by　his　passions　is　a　weak　man。　The
real　greatness　of　the　man　is　measured　by　the　power　of　the　feelings　that　he
controls；　not　by　those　that　control　him。

God's　providential　care　had　been　over　Samson；　that　he　might　be　prepared　to
accomplish　the　work　which　he　was　called　to　do。　At　the　very　outset　of　life　he
was　surrounded　with　favorable　conditions　for　physical　strength；　intellectual
vigor；　and　moral　purity。　But　under　the　influence　of　wicked　associates　he　let
go　that　hold　upon　God　which　is　man's　only　safeguard；　and　he　was　swept　away
by　the　tide　of　evil。　Those　who　in　the　way　of　duty　are　brought　into　trial　may
be　sure　that　God　will　preserve　them；　but　if　men　willfully　place　themselves
under　the　power　of　temptation；　they　will　fall；　sooner　or　later。

The　very　ones　whom　God　purposes　to　use　as　His　instruments　for　a　special
work；　Satan　employs　his　utmost　power　to　lead　astray。　He　attacks　us　at　our
weak　points；　working　through　defects　in　the　character　to　gain　control　of　the
whole　man；　and　he　knows　that　if　these　defects　are　cherished；　he　will
succeed。　But　none　need　be　overcome。　Man　is　not　left　alone　to　conquer　the
power　of　evil　by　his　own　feeble　efforts。　Help　is　at　hand　and　will　be　given
to　every　soul　who　really　desires　it。　Angels　of　God；　that　ascend　and　descend
the　ladder　which　Jacob　saw　in　vision；　will　help　every　soul　who　will；　to
climb　even　to　the　highest　heaven。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　55

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Child　Samuel


Elkanah；　a　Levite　of　Mount　Ephraim；　was　a　man　of　wealth　and　influence；　and
one　who　loved　and　feared　the　Lord。　His　wife；　Hannah；　was　a　woman　of　fervent
piety。　Gentle　and　unassuming；　her　character　was　marked　with　deep　earnestness
and　a　lofty　faith。

The　blessing　so　earnestly　sought　by　every　Hebrew　was　denied　this　godly　pair；
their　home　was　not　gladdened　by　the　voice　of　childhood；　and　the　desire　to
perpetuate　his　name　led　the　husband　as　it　had　led　many　othersto　contract
a　second　marriage。　But　this　step；　prompted　by　a　lack　of　faith　in　God；　did
not　bring　happiness。　Sons　and　daughters　were　added　to　the　household；　but　the
joy　and　beauty　of　God's　sacred　institution　had　been　marred　and　the　peace　of
the　family　was　broken。　Peninnah；　the　new　wife；　was　jealous　and
narrow…minded；　and　she　bore　herself　with　pride　and　insolence。　To　Hannah；
hope　seemed　crushed　and　life　a　weary　burden；　yet　she　met　the　trial　with
uncomplaining　meekness。

Elkanah　faithfully　observed　the　ordinances　of　God。　The　worship　at　Shiloh　was
still　maintained；　but　on　account　of　irregularities　in　the　ministration　his
services　were　not　required　at　the　sanctuary；　to　which；　being　a　Levite；　he
was　to　give　attendance。　Yet　he　went　up　with　his　family　to　worship　and
sacrifice　at　the　appointed　gatherings。

Even　amid　the　sacred　festivities　connected　with　the　se