Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-30
for SUNDAY Scbools.
STAR LESSON FOR DECEMBER I,
By Rev. ]. E. Gilbert, DID,,
SECRETARY AMERICAN SOCIETY OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.
81 1ndces

God. remember me and strengthen me-"
This was his first petition. He was
moved wellnigh to desperation. feeling
that unless God interposed his case was
hopeless. that he must submit to the
indignities of his captors and possibly
perish while they tormented. Only this
once o Cod" he cried. He purposed to
make this his last petition. He would
ask no further favors. But then comes
a closing clause. that may be avenged
for my two eyes" He cherished a vim
dictive spirit. He would overcome his
enemies and bring upon them swiu
inflicted upon him. He sought Divine
help for this alone.
SLAUGHTER oversees 30 and COZ
The man OF prayer having regatned ms
God. laid hold Of the two pillars. one on
the left. the other on the right. Ihose
pillars supported the roof on which the
Philistines were No one could antici-
pate the purpose. Al feit sscute ,,,, IA
ing would keep them in safety. But
Samson's strong arms were stronger
than the wooden columns and beams.
Let me die with the Philistines. he
cried. He would sacrifice his own life
in destroying his enemies. He might
have lived and they might have died.
But there was nothing to be gained
His eyes were gone, and with them all
hope had fed and all desire for lie had
departed. Bowling himself with one tire
r.endous effort, he brought down the
structure in ruins-plllars, beams, door
ing, people-a1l were buried in one con-
fused mass. That was a fearful siaugh-
ter---Iords and priests and people met
their death while in the very act or
tormenting the helpless Israelite. the
victim of their hate and their sport.
BURIAL. (verse 3D.-1t may be
that the bodies OF the Ihilistines We're
left to decay beneath the debris that
covered them Not so the body OF Sam
son. His brethren, all the members OF
his fathers family, came down to GAIA.
moved by affectionate regard for the
mighty man. who had SO siGnaily In
ficted upon the enemies Of Israel the
judgment which was due. Long time
had these marauders annoyed The peo-
pie OF God. Again and again had they
overrun the land. DESTROYED the cities
and laid waste the harvest fields. They
had been a terror by day and BY night.
and no victory gained over them had
prevented q further attack. But In
this hour Samson had done more than
on all previous occasions The very
flower and dignity of Philistia had gone
down in one heap Of ruins. through the
might Of singls man. The relatives
were proud of the dead hero. They
away with many marks of affection.
such as only oriental people know how
to show. They buried the body between
Zorah and Eshtaoi, SO that both locali-
ties might share the. honor. in the place
where his fathers body rested Thrice
honored was he at the end of twenty
one years OF service.
REFLECTIONS.-The have been
mauy vain attempts by distorting this
narrative to discover spiritual truths
cal juggqery. and holding to the plain
rendering of the passage. the following
are safe conclusions: 1. Samson was
not an ideal character in any sense.
rr,.- AnRA
makeup with little to admire az imi-
tate. 2. But God used his physical
strength in the cause Of his people. en-.
aiding him to do under stress or most
good to Israel. 3. Nevertheless. by his
own folly and plumbers Samson brought
disaster upon his own head. ana MS
dead body, fallen among the dead bodies
Of enemies. was a witness to the 1udg.
ment Of the Almighty. 4. Still, he had
a rightful place among the deiiverers
Of Israel. and was entitled to receive
measure OF respect from Kindred as
a servant of God.
Questions Answered.
Any person may send any biblical oues-
ton to DIR. Gilbert. 1903 r street north
west, this city, and receive answer
through The Star.
315 If Jesus went to Paradise when
he died when did he descend into hell?
Answer. The descent into hell Is not
mentioned in the Bible; 1t is In the
Apostles Creed There is no warrant
for the creed Ntterance. except Acts. fi:3l.
and Petcr. iii:l9. Expositors are dis
posed to think that the latter reference
is not to a post-mortem ministry OF Jesus.
and most Of them think the word hell in
first passage refers to the place OF de-
parted spirits, whether Of, the good or
bad.
BIG. How may I find certain verses in
the Bible?
Answer. If one word OF the verse Is
known consult a concordance referring
to the word. If topic is to be treated
or a verse desired bearing on topic use
an. index Bars Index, costing 40 cents
and Cruden's Concordance. costing 81.
should be in the hands of every Bible
student as helps in the cases mentioned
above.