The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-11-27
Sunday School Column
Side Lights on Next Sundays Les.
son for Teachers and Pupils
-eNeNN-O1\>
Sunday School Association oMesrs
By CHAs. K. MEYERS

secretary ana treasurer, SnaS. N. Meyers,
Department secretaries are as follows: Home
department Mrs Pierce R Denis9n Normal de
70 house Mrs. Harper. Dow City,, Primary. Mrs.
gss De1sen TEMPS s Nss
Dec. 1st. The Death of Samson.
Judges 16: 22-31.
! Samson was one of the men who
judged. or ruled over Israel for
twenty years at period about 1900
before Christ was born. Like Samuel,
who lived some years later. Samson
was child of promise. His mother
was told at time when she had no
Expectation of having a child that a
son should be born to her. She was
directed not to eat anything unclean
or drink wine or strong drinks in the
days before the birth of the boy. and
it is stated that the lad should abb
stain from strong drink. and in time
deliver Israel from the hand of the
Philistines. He was to be .'Naza.
rite'' man and youth separate from
others, He was not to cut his hair.
His vow as to strong drink he kept
throughout life. There can something
be learned for mothers now. in the
instructions of the angel to the
mother of Samson. To become the
mother of strong healthy child she
was to take the utmost care of her
health and her eating. That her boy
should have no taste for liquor. she
was to abstain from it herself.
Samson grew to manhood. and per-
formed many feats of strength. He
kept the Philistines in terror of him.
and showed to his fellow Israelites
that God was still with them. The
Spirit of the Lord was with him and
he judged his people for twenty years.
1t appears that later in his life. he
fell away from right dong. Like some
other men. he let the wiles of bad
women rob him of his manhood and
glory. and for this severe punishment
came swift and sure. He was cap
tured by his enemies. his eyes put
out. and he was made to do the work
of beast of burden in the prison
house. The bible does not cover up
the sins and faults of the men whose
histories it gives. No matter how
great and good they may have been in
past life they are punished if they do
wrong. Moses was criticised when he
took power and glory to himself.
u David was brought low in sorrow. Sol
ONION was old that the mighty king
dom he had built up should be broken
with his death because of his sins. If
men with the power and standing of
David. Jacob. Moses. Solomon. Sam
son escaped not punishment for wrong
doing. how can men and women now
! expect to go on in sin and wrong
doing and be free and blameless?
Yet these men of the bible were not
entirely cut off. they were greatly
favored for what they had BEEN. and
the good they might still do. Peter
explains the attitude of God toward
men when he says the Lord is not
slack concerning his promises as some
men count slackness. but is longsut-
fering not willing that any should
perish but that all should come to re-
pentance. This Peter said because
some were insisting that God was pay
! ing no attention to what going en-. and
l that things would continue forever Just
] the same.
4 The wicked Philistines we're jubi-
I liant over their good fortune in cap
! turing Samson and humbling him and
! the Israelites. They laid this to the
] superiority of their God over the God
of the Jews and had merry time.
To add to the occasion Samson was
4 brought out from his prison and made
sport of. 1t is dangerous thing
Y for Goddess men to laugh over their
& powers in defeating the laws of God
q or men. Just this week some people
4 of Davenport. Iowa defied the govern
or and had prize fight. and just prev
= iously some assaulted man who want.
ed the saloons to obey the Sunday
. closing law and drove him from the
q city. These persons evidently thought
81 that their will was law in such mat
4 tiers. This is but recent example,
g but all Of experience have known OF
= how those living and acting in def
& ance of God and is laws. have gloated
4 over their strength. only. to find they
= had reached the limit and fell tt
81 ruin. In the case of the Philistines,
= in the midst of their sports the wall,
s of the place fell in. caused by the
y strength given by the God. whum they
q reviled. to Samson. He persisted too
81 but his life had taught lesson to US
q and to his enemies then and to thos,
q of Gods cause now. that He reign'
~ and cannot be mocked;.
81 NOTICE IN PRORATE