The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-11-26
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR DEC. 1 BY THE
REV. /. w. HENDERSON.
Subject: The Deathof Samson, Judges
16:21-31-Golden Text, Eph. 6 /:
1O-Memory Verses, 1880
Read Judges 1915.

16:21-31-GOlden Text, Eph. g..
1O-Memory Verses, 1880
Read Judges 1916.
Samson is warning to humanity
of the consequences that inevitably
follow the misuse of God-given capac-
tiles. His life is tragedy His death
is result Of the life he lived.
In his commentary on the death
OF Samson the Rev. r. A. Watson,
d. D., says:
The last scene of Samson's history
awaits us-the gigantic effort, the
awful revenge in which the Hebrew
champion ended his days. In one
sense it aptly crowns the mans ca
reer. The sacred historian ig not
composing a romance, yet the end
could not have been more fit. Strange
! ~ enough it has given occasion for
| preaching the doctrine of self-sacri-
flee as the only means of highest
1 achievement, and we are asked to
see here an example of the finest
heroism, the most sublime devotion.
Samson dying for his country is lik-
ened to Christ dying for His people.
1t is impossible to allow this for
a moment. Not Millions apology for
Samson, not the authority Of all the
/ i1lustrious men who have drawn the
| parallel can keep us from deciding
that this was case of vengeance and
/, self-murder, not of noble devotion.
If this was truly fine act of self
| sacrifice what good came of it? The
sacrifice that is to be praised docs
distinct and clearly purposed service
4 to some worthy cause or high moral
! end. We do not find that this dread
full deed reconciled the Philistines to
! Israel or moved them to belief in
| Jehovah. We observe, on the con-
trary, that it went to increase the
| hatred between race and race, so that
when Canaanites, Moabites, Ammon-
| ties, Midianites no longer vex Israel
| these Philistines show more deadly
antagonism -antagonism of which Is
rael knew the heat when on the red
field of Gilboa the kingly Saul and
( the well-beloved Jonathan were to-
! gether stricken down in death. If
there was in Samson's mind any
| though of vindicating principle it
was that of Israel's dignity as the
people Of Jehovah. But here his tes-
| timony was worthless.
Much is written about self-sacrifice
which is sheer mockery of truth, most
| falsely sentimental Men and women
can only find some pretext for re-
nouncing freedom, for curbing and
endangering life, for stepping aside
| from the way of common service that
| they may give up something in an un-
common way for the sake of any per-
| son or cause, good will come of it.
The doctrine is lie. The sacrifice
of Christ was not of that kind. 1t
was under the influence of no blind
desire to give up His life, but first
under the pressure of supreme pro-
vidential necessity, then in renuncia-
ton of the earthly life for a clearly
seen and personally embraced divine
end, the reconciliation of man to
God, the setting forth of propitia-
ton for the sin of the world-for
this it was He died. He willed to be
our Saviour; having so chosen He
bowed to the burden that was laid
upon Him. 'It pleased the Lord to
bruise Him; He hath put Him to
grief" To the end He foresaw and
desired there was but one way-and
the way was that of death because of
| mans wickedness and ruin.
Suffering for itself is no end and
never can be to God or to Christ or
to a good man. 1t is necessity on
the way to the ends of righteousness
and love. If personality is not de-
fusion and salvation a dream there
must be in every case of Christian
remuneration some distinct moral
aim in view for every one concerned,
and there must be at each step, as
in the action of our Lord, the most
distinct and unwavering sincerity
the most direct truthfulness. Any
thing else is a SIN against God and
humanity. We entreat would-be
moralists of the day to comprehend
before they write of ''self-sacrifice.
The sacrifice of the moral judgment
is always a crime, and to preach
needless suffering for the sake Of
covering up sin or as a means of
atoning for past defects is to utter
most unchristian falsehood.
Samson threw away life of which
he was weary and ashamed He
threw it away in ayenging a cruelty;l
but it was cruelty he had no reason
to call wrong. 20 God, that /
might be avenged! THAT was no
prayer of faithful heart. 1t was
the prayer of envenomed hatred, of
soul still unregenerate after trial.
His death was indeed self-sacrifice-
the sacrifice of the higher self, the
true self, to the lower. Samson
should have endured patiently, mag
nifying God, Or we can imagine
something not perfect yet heroic. Had
he said to those Philistines, My peo-
pie and you have been too long at
enmity. Let there be an end of it.
Avenge yourselves on me, then cease
from harassing Israel-that would
have been like a brave man. But
it is not this we find. And we close
the story of Samson more sad than
ever that Israels history has not
taught great man to be a good
man, that the hero has not achieved
the morally heroic, that adversely has
not begotten in him wise patience
and magnanimity. Yet he had place
under Divine Providence. The dim
troubled faith that was in his soul
was not altogether fruitless. No Je-
hovah-worshiper would ever think
Of bowling before that god whose
temple fell in ruins on the captive
Israelite and his thousand victims.