The Tupelo journal., 1907-11-29
THE DEATH OF
SAMSON
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. 1902
Specially Prepared for This Paper
Specially Prepared for This Paper

DRY verses $3.50.
GOLDEN TExT.-"Be strong in the
Lord, and the power of His might
Eph. 6.10
TIME.-B. c. 11l6-1os6 During the last
part of the period of the Judges. the
40 years of the Philistine oppression of
West Israel. 1134-1094, and contemporary
with the first 20 years of Samuel.
PLACE.-If we make Jerusalem and
Hebron centers from which to measure,
Zorah. the birthplace of Samson, will be
IA miles west of Jerusalem; the valley
OF Sorek, two miles farther west; Tim
nath. four miles south of Zorah; and
Ashdod, 20 miles further west near the
sea. Hebron is 20 miles south of Jeru-
salem, and GAIA SO miles directly west.
See colored map. The tribe Of Dan Dor
dered on the north of Judah and west OF
Benjamin, the line running through Je-
ruSalem east and west.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Samson Stories.-It seems
strange, at first sight, that three chap
tiers of the Bible should be given to
the story of such man as Samson
great, strong, jovial, good-natured,
ready to fight, equally ready to play
rough jokes and utter witty sayings,
with an animal nature overshadowing
the spiritual. 1t is still more strange
that in the roll-call of heroes of the
faith in the eleventh chapter of He
brews, Samson should be named with
Abraham. Gideon, and David, among
those who through faith subdued
kingdoms, wrought righteousness, OBJ
tanned promises, stopped the mouths
of lions"
Samson and His Characteristics
1. The name Samson is derived from
the Hebrew word for sun" and
means sunny" or "sun-hero." He was
born at ZOrah in the more southern
of the two settlements of the tribe Of
Dan, on the borders Of Judah, IA
miles west of Jerusalem. His fathers
name was Manoah.
2. Even before his birth his mis-
sion was announced. He was to be
one who should begin to save Israel
out of the hand of the Philistines."
to God Judges 49,. 1t is great
thing for any person to be so endowed
and so trained as to have a definite
mission in this world. Only partially
did Samson fulfill his ideal, but the
| presence of it influenced his whole
life.
3. The conservation of Samson was
through the Nazirite VOW, which re-
quired (Num. 6: 2-6) total abstinence
from grapes, wine, and all intoxicat-
ing liquors; that the hair should go
uncut; and that all contamination
with dead bodies be avoided. 1t was
usually a temporary vow, but Samson
and John the Baptist were perpetual
Nazirites. The meaning of the VOW
was probably "entire conservation to
God"
It is to be noted that, according to
the record Samson, with all his 9TH
err failings, yet kept sacred the con-
ditions of this vow. On the keeping
of the vow his strength and prowess
depended.
4. The first and most effective of
the endowments Of Samson for his
mission was his great strength,
which, in general, he used to deliver
his nation from the power of the OPP
pressor, although not always in the
wisest way.
5. A second special endowment of
Samson was his sense of humor, his
impulsive practical joking, puns, and
riddles. These were an advantage to
him even in his efforts to overcome
the Philistine oppressors.
g. He was a born fighter He
knew his strength and loved to use
it. Nothing stirred him like the JOY
of battle, unless, indeed, the sweet
rewards of victory, it's spoils and
pleasures. Such men commonly de-
generate into mercenary brutes, fight
ing here and there, on whichever side
inclination may be strongest or per-
sonal advantage greatest" Rev. Ira
S. Dodd.
But it was not 80 in the case Of
Samson.
Z. His weakness was very great.
His spiritual nature was not highly
developed. He was not leader or
organizer of men. He did his work
alone, and not by massing the nation
against the oppressor. He was infect
ed with the loose morals of his heath
en- neighbors. These were a hind
rance to his mission, and brought him
to blindness, slavery, and an untimely
death.
s. But in the main he was firmly
on the side of Gods people and the
fulfillment of his mission. He never
broke his Nazirite vows. He was
total abstinence man to the end. ITO
appreciate the faith Of Samson it is
necessary to understand the tempta-
tons and difficulties in face of which
the performed his task. II
Samson had cared only for the salts.
faction of his course and selfish i'm
pulses, the road to that infamous fame
would have been wide open. But
read his story. You will see that he
always fought on one side,-the I'M
popular, the dangerous. the appar-
emily hopeless side.
Practical Points.
Strength, even physical strength.
has real use in the kingdom of God.
The jollity and frolicsomeness of
youth, even the tendency to pranks
and hazing, becomes means of use
| fulness.
Samson was temperance man and
never broke his VOW.