The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-12-06
DEATH or SAMSON.
international Sunday. School Lsssea q
December 10, 1855.

December 10, 1855.
Especially arranged from y. 3. Qunrterly.l
LESSON TExT--Judg. 18:21-81.
GOLDEN TExT--Great men are not always
wisc.-Job $3.50.
CENTRAL TRuTH--Lead us not into temp
tation, but deliver us from evil.
TINT Samson was Judge from b. G.
111610g6. His death was about 1906, 126
years after our last lesson.
PLAcE--Gaza, q large Philistino city fifty
miles southwest of Jerusalem, and three
miles from the sea-coast.
INTERVENING EvENTs--Rcst under Gid
con, 40 years; 3. G. 1222.i1s2. Rule Of
Abimelech, years; B. G. llS2-111o EAST
ISRAEL. = Oppression Of Ammonitcs, Is
years B. G. 1874; Jcphtha, years; 1bzan,
gears; Elon lin part), 0 ycars-40 years
d. G. 114-100t Rule Of Tolah, judge, %
years. B. G. 1119-ll56. Rule Of Jair judge,
90 years; Il. c. 1i5O-113i. WEST ISRAEL
Oppression of Philistines; during this
time ELI was judge. 1t includes twenty
years Of Samuel and the twenty years Of
Samson, forty years; B. G. 1l3410M.
SAMsoN-Born at Zorah; Of the tribe Of
Dan; his father was Manoah. He was
Nazarite, ie.. one consecrated to God, and
forbidden to drink wine or shave his hair.
He was raised up to defend his people from
the Philistines, whose country was on the
border of Dan.
INTRoDUcTIos-After many adventures
for almost twcnty years, In various contests
with the Philistnes, Samson fell before the
temptations Of Dclilah, Phlistine woman.
He revealed the secret Of his strength, his
hair was cut OF by her. and the Philistines
took him captive. See Judges, chs. 14-l6
HELPS OVER HARD PLAcEs-21. Phfiistfnes.
o warlike nation southwest Of Palestine,
and from whom Palestine receives its name
Grind: Turn hugo millstone placed upon
another for grinding grain. 1t was re-
garded rs disgraccful work, the work OF
slaves or Of beasts. %. Hair began 10 0row
again: implying that his strength also In.
creased. In his trouble he renewed his
Nazarite VOW g. Gathered together: at GAIA
". 2I where was one Of the chief temples
of Dagon. DdOon: an idol with the body Of
q fish, but head and arms OF q man. 20.
Feel the pillars: the two central pillars upon
which one side of tho rot rested. 2S. Re-
member me: IL was to avcnge Samson. 1t
| was also to deliver the Israclites, and to
honor Jehovah; for tho Philistines at
tributed 10 their god what was due TO Gods
| punishment Of Samsoii's sin.
| CoMMEvTs--Aftcr u Q events of the last
lesson one hundred an tvcnty-six years
passed away; years Of u tcrnate prosperity
and obedience, and of Gus ,b.dience and OPP
preston. 1t seemed as Tho Ugh Israel could
never long remain stca ifast to her cove
nant with God. She sinned and fell; cried
to God and was delivered; walked well for
awhile; then forgot and sinned and fell
again. Among those raised up from time
to time rs delivercrs wes Samson. By his
mighty physical strength he became tho
champion fighter Of those days. The stories
| Of ho rl hp r ipp-l lpo ta1 in onp at
with tho Saraccns, are the marvel Of
medieval history, and SO the stories Of Sam
sons singlc-handed victories over the Phil
lstines arc the marvel of ancient Jewish
history. Such victories are to-day impossi-
BILE, because, by reason Of the invention Of
gunpowder, q pistol in q child's hand 'is as
powerful rs in q mans grasp. But in times
when personal pluck and muscle were the
primo factors in contest, single men some
times accomplished the deeds of regiments.
Tho personal might Of Samson was an es-
pecial gift for especial service. When, how
ever, the giant misused his powers, he lost
them, just as Israel always lost her pre-
erniEe.ce when she misuscd her privileges.
This IS told In the story OF Delilah and her
intrigucs. Samson was shorn Of his
strength, for the spirit of God had departed
from him. Our lesson finds him wretched,
blind prisoner.
LESSON FAcTs-A\ grand assembly OF
Philistincs has been called for idolatrous
purposes. They were filled with joy, be-
cause man whom they feared more than
an army was in their power. They want to
see the chained giant, and make fun of him
now in his weakness. Thousands are
gathered ON the roof Of the spacious house
or temple. Poor Samson is led before them
and teased and tortured, SO rs to afford
amusement to tho cruel throng They claT
their hands and shout with merrimcnt as
they see their former antagonist as power
less as child. BY and by they have had
enough, and turn to other pursuits. Sam
son Is led away by the lad who has him In
charge. He then asks tho boy to lot him
lean on the main pillars that support the
roof Of the house. Innocently, permission
10 given. Samson grasps the main sup
ports, cries with mis- whole soul to God fol
power, bows himself nightly, and down
come the two pillars, overthrowing roof
walls and oil, and burylng Samson and the
three thousand Phiiistines under the ruins
-Rev. A. y. Schauoter.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
1. God uses even imperfect instruments
for accomplishing His ends.
Q. Christians, like Samson, are separat
cd from the world consecrated to God, te
overcome sin, the great enemy Of God and
man. - --'--
3. When he broke his Nazarite VOW he
lost his strength and was taken captive
This was TO teach the Israelites that oil
their strength lay In consecration to Jeho
yah, and that they had lost it by departing
J from their vows Of allegiance. It teaches
US the same lessM.
4. We learn the perils Of bad company
Whosoover goes willingly into bad company
is already more than half fallen.
8. Sin leads sooner or later to ruin.
6. The sins Ct Christians bring dishonol
upon God.