The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1907-04-27

IlCh ~ otiS ~ 1880
felt that it were worse than folly to
attempt the work of deliverance with
such a force.
D~isconsolate and wellnigh discour'
aged, he wandered forth n day
alone. Questionings filled his heart.
Had he after all been set for the de-
~liverance Of Israel? How was he to
begin when the people were not with
him in spirit? No, he did not even
have the 300 which Gideon had SO eff.
fectively used.
Thus occupied in thought he had
not noted whittier his footsteps were
taking him until some voices at his
elbow caused him to look up and he
noted that he was just within the out
skirts of Timnath, a town some three
miles distant from his w home. Be-
fore him he saw two men struggling
Of a small ass, that, Overladen and
weary from a journey, had fallen and
was now crushed to the earth by the
weight of the merchandise which he
had been carrying. The exhausted
animal had fallen in such a manner
as to make the fastenings by which
the burden was strapped to his back
inaccessible, and the men were ours
ing and swearing and pulling at the
helpless beast in an unsuccessful ef'
fort to raise him and loosen the
thongs.
Samson took in the situation al &
glance, and before the men fairly
realized what had happened he had
lifted the ass, burden and all, with one
hand, while with the other he quick
ly unfastened the thongs, and lightly
throwing the burden across his
shoulders, he indicated to the mer
that he would finish carrying the load
If they would lead the way.
Such was the odd procession which
passed up the one main street of Tim
nath that day and more than n per
son came to the door to see the man
walking along with light quick step
carrying an ASS load, while the pa,
tient beast trotted on by his side,
and the two men led the way.
The novelty of the situation for the
moment quite drove from the mind OF
Samson the thoughts which had been
troubling him, but when he had de
posted his burden at the door of the
house where the two men lived and
had turned to go, having refused the
hospitality which the men were urg.
s~~ o- III, ~ whole -D1np~x
train of thought returned. He re-
scented those Philistines being in the
land; he despised their overbearing
and supercilious airs; and he turned
impatiently from the door and has.
tened down the street.
But" he asked himself, fiercely,
"how is it to be changed? What a
| do? The men of Israel will not
stand with me against these Philis-
tines"
He was looking into the doorways
he was passing as he spoke, for
the people who had thronged thith.
er had not yet withdrawn, and he
noted the expressions of wonder and
admiration as their eyes followed him.
His attention was especially directed
to n young woman who had eagerly
pushed herself to the front of a group
of people standing in one doorway.
and as his eyes met hers a blush
Overspread her face and in confusion
she retreated within.
The incident started a new line of
thought, and ere he had half retraced
his steps toward his home he had
made up his mind what he would
do.
IF l cannot raise an army to fight
against the Philistines, 1 will force a
quarrel with them. 1 will take me a
wife of the Philistines and will yet
have occasion against them"
But when he had spoken to his par
ents concerning the matter, saying:
Il have seen a woman in Timnath OF
the daughters of the Philistines: nov
therefore get her for me to wife,"
they chided him saying: Us there
never a woman among the daughters
of thy brethren, or among all my peo-
pie, that thou goest to take a wife Of
the uncircumsized Philistines?"
But Samson was deaf to his fathers
.entreaties and his mothers tears
making reply always to their repeat
ed appeals:
Get her for me; for she seemeth
right in my eyes,"
And when they saw 1t was useless
any longer to try to restrain him in
his resolve, for they did MOI under
stand that it was of the Lord and that
he sought an occasion against the
Philistines, they did as he desired. So
It came to pass that in time the young
woman of Timnath became the wife
of Samson, but ere the week of festiv-
tiles had ended there had t%ranspired
those events of which the Scripture
speaketh in detail. and which gave to
Samson the occasion which he sought
inf1icting upon the Philistines the
punishment they so richly deserved.
and of turning the hearts of his peo.
pie back to the service of the true
God.