The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-30
In the Religious World
And out of the strong came forth sweet
MONDAY.

And out of the strong came forth sweet
ness"
His bride leased Samson into telling
her the answer. which she told to her
countrymen, that they might not have
to pay the wager. Samson thereby lost
the wager and the wife. but he went
out and slew thirty Philistines, and
paid the bet with their raiment.
Later. Samson sought reconciliation
with his heather wife, only to find that
his father-in-law had given her to an
other Our immature hero could be
stirred to action only by individual
wrongs; he had not the imagination to
visualize whole peoples suffering. An
affront to himself put him into action.
He was like the rich woman who
thought Of the poor's need Of coal only
when her own fire went out. So this
affront led Samson to gather doubtless
with the help of companions) three hun
bred jackals, which he tied tail to tail.
firebrand was attached to each pair
of cOnjoined tails. and the animals
were set loose amid the ripe grain
fields of the Philistines- exploit
which led the latter to burn the faith
less wife and father in-law.
Whimsically, this weather-vane fell
low thereupOn undertook vengeance
for the murder of his wife and her
father, and slew a host Of Philistines.
Q C.
Samson, in their midst by a ruse. slew
a thousand of them with the jawbone
Of an ass. In personal prowess the
strong man was not lacking. Later,
figuring in the days war dispatches),
he carried away the gates of the city
On his shoulders, and dropped them
on a mountain. A giants prank, that.
Betrayed by a Woman.
AS Samson is q name for physical
strength and spiritual folly, so Delilah
is hfstory's synonym for disloyal
woman. Samson was infatuated with
her, and his enemies bribed her to
betray him by learning and disclosing
the secret of his strength. He tested
with her by misleading answers to- her
opportunities. SO that she successfully
bound him with green withes, with
web. crying each time. THE Philis-
tines are upon thee OF course Sam
son was foolish not to perceive what
all this meant: but Solomon later OBJ
served that the ways of a man with a
woman are past finding out.
leased, reproached, nagged without
ceasing, Samson at length divulged
his secret: the Nazirite vow. which
made him dedicated man, was the
secret of his strength. The cutting
of his hair would mean the shearing
of his strength. The perfidy of the
woman. and the patience of his enc
mics, had at last conquered Samson.
He was in the PhilistineS hand, and
they blinded him. and bound him
with letters Of brass and made him
to grind at the mill, like dumb
animal.
Samson never really saw Alright un-
til his eyes were put out. In his
blindness he perceived the folly of his
youth. and his missed opportunities.
A pathetic figure he, the redoubtable
and invincible hero now the sport OF
children and loafers. In those bitter
days there grew up in his heart a
great purpose to do one service for
his nation. AS he felt his strength re-
turn-a fact which he concealed from
his captors-a plan shaped itself in
his mind.
So when called into the great hall
Of assembly to make sport for his
enemies his hour came. The incident.
the climax of Samson's career, is best
told in the words Of Scriptures:
And Samson called unto Jehovah.
and said. o Lord Jehovah, remember
me, I pray thee, and strengthen me.
l pray thee. only this once, o God.
that may be at once avenged Of the
Philistines for my two eyes. And
Samson took hold Of the two middle
pillars upon which the house rested
and leaned upon them, the one with
his right hand, and the other with his
left. And Samson said. Let me die
with the Philistines. And he bowed
himself with all his might; and the
mouse fell upon the lords, and upon
all the people that were therein. So
the dead that he slew at his death
were more than they that he slew In
his life