Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-08-22
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. j. o. SHERBJRN.
Sept. I'd: The Death of Samson-Judges lS:2l-3l.

Sept Cd The Death of Samson-Judges 1s:2l-3l.
Something over hgrsAto'' and twenty
years have passs.,ssS.sS'" . history of Israel
since Gideon 'ssHpe!!il1eader, and subdued
the Hiidian,tes under them. The years
have been filed with that which was
shameful and harmful to Gods people.
Once they were delivered from their enc
mics by the hand of Jephthah. only to
relapse again into sin and be given over
to their foes. Afterward came long
period of ,subjugation under the Philis.
tines; but when this had lasted forty
years, Samson appeared as their avenger;
and for several years the Philstines felt
the force OF his wonderful physical strength
and his personal prowess. They hated
and feared Samson, and used all their
craft to secure his person. knowing well
that they could easily hold sway over
Israel if only he was out of the way. At
length they prevailed over him by treach
cry, and their dreaded foe became their
abject slave. They put out his eyes, and
placed upon him strong fetters of brass,
and put him at the most menial task. in
their thought fit only for woman, thai of
grinding in the prison. Here in the sea.
coast town of GAIA, the farthest removed
from his own people, he worked weariy
and in darkness to crush the barley that
fed his fellow convicts. But in his solitude
he doubtless saw the folly of his former
course, and turned in contrition to God
against whom he had sinned In the days
of his strength he had always with him a
mark of his consecration to God. His
hair was suffered to grow uncut; but
through the treachery of his Phiistine
wife his head was shaven and then he
became powerless. In the prison his hair |
grew out again, and with this new growth |
came new conservation and returning |
strength. OF course, we are not to under |
stand that his marvellous strength was
ever the result of uncut hair, it was the
result Of special divine favor; but his |
unshorn hair was the sign of loyalty to
God, which loyalty secured that favor.
AT length day came when multitudes of
the PhiliStines came together for their
idolatrous worship. The day was probably
great annual feast which the people were
accustomed to observe. 1t may, however,
have been only special observance in
view OF the fact that their long dreaded
enemy was now in their power. 1t is
certain that a part Of their rejoicing on this
occasion grew out of his capture. When
their feasting had proceeded until wine
had indamed them, and they were mad in
revelry, they called for Samson to make
sport for them. He was brought out of
his prison and seated in the midst of what
was likely a circular building, the vast
audience ringed about the center, where,
it may be, was the image of their God. 1t
is not stated just what kind of diversion
Samson furnished his cruel masters. Some
have supposed that by various feats, possi-
bly, by some rude dance, he amused them.
But the simple fact that the people saw
him in his humiliation and blindness
would be sufficient to create great interest
and a kind of barbarous hiarity. There
were thousands in our land who declared
that they could with delight help to hang
b1tween earth and heavens the leaders of {
our great rebellion. How much stronger
must have been such vengeful feelings in
those rude times.
The ribadry and abuse which the
blinded slave was called to suffer in this
public manner was very calling to his
proud nature; but this abuse was not
against Sampson simply. The Phiilstines I
said "Our God hath delivered our enemy 6
into our hands, and in saying this they
virtually claimed that Dagon was stronger q
than Jehovah. Hence their pride and
Wanting was against God as we'll as
against his faulty servant.
When the merriment was at its height, !,
Sampson requested the lad that led him to ,
direct him to the central pillars upon t
which the roof of the structure mainly t
rested. When h hands felt these supports, !
He cried out to God in the vehemence of .
shame and despair, 80 Lord God, remem- a
Der me, pray thee, and strengthen me, t
pray thee, only this once" His life no
longer comfort TO him he was willing to :
give up if only he might be avenged upon G
his enemies. With this earnest cry to I
Cod he bowed himself with superhuman t
strength against the pillars upon which .
the building rested, and the whole struct- t
ure fell to the ground, crushing and killing t
more han thousan of those who were +
within and upon the temple. Thus after
twenty years wherein he had delivered
Israel Sampson met his tragic death in
the midst OF his naughty oppressors. Per- I
hips there is no single character in the
Old Testament history more difficult to =,
explain and understand than This Sampson, i
We hardly understand that he was ever t
devout or Cody man in any proper sense. !
His life was full of irregularities. and his
disposition was headstrong and unruly,
bat God wrought with him. II hardly
appears that he went to his work with any
determined principle to live for God and
his nation, but in certain emergencies he a
sought divine aid. 1t would appear, on /
the whole, that he was a passive agent in
dong the divine will, rather than an ;
active co-worker with God. His wayward t
ness was overruled, and his escapades so s
contrcled that he became an avenger of Q
the wrong that Israel endured. His vices +,
we're such as usually attend the develop a
ment of great physical powers, and his I
general character anything but admirable q
A word ought, perhaps,to be said concern. :
ing the idol, Dagon, mentioned here. He 3
was the fi5h-god 50 called, having the =
arms and head of man and the body and I
tail Of a fish. 1t is to be kept in mind
that recent explorers in Central America y