The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-01-30


and drink no wine nor strong drink
Judges 1874
The story of Samson bulks large in
the book of Judges and in the interest
and Imagination of all men ever since
his day. This being the only lesson in
a seven years course we suggest, in
outline, Samson's entire life.
!. Samson's Parents. God chooses
humble man and woman, folk of piety
and prayer, to bring forth and rear
this great deliverer. The angels most
improbable promise (13:3) is accepted
by Manoah and his wife Q3:6, y.
They express a desire to be able to
measure up to the responsibility-a
suggestion to parents. There is also a
hint of the dual responsibility of par
ents in the words, teach u.s." (See
Eph. GA; Jas. 1:5-7.) 1t was reason
able to believe that the one who
brought the promise could also tell
them how to train and nurture the
child. God honored the mothers pray
er and she shares her experience with
the father ". 81. AS the mother of a
Nazarite she must keep herself from
all things unclean ". IA; ii Cor. 6:
10, even as Mary, the mother of
Jesus luke 1889. The experience of
the sacrifice, the worship of Manoah
and his wife and the fact of Sam
sons birth completes the record of
chapter 10. Manoah could not worship
the angel, but could show him hospi-
tality. Verse IS Or. W seems to indi-
cate that this was another premani-
festation of our Lord Jesus.
u. Samuel's Power. Every race has
Its superman, and usually it is one of
physical strength. That Samson had
no physical evidence Of his superior
strength is evident from the fact that
Deiilah asked to know his secret. Nor
was his strength in his hair, else there
was no need that the Spirit of
Jehovah" should come upon him. The
secret of his power is indicated in
1925. The word move" suggests to
play upon harp, as if Samson's heart
was open to God as harp is open to
human touch. "Samson's power was
the result OF faith that was open
to the infinite storehouse of the di.
vine dynamic" Such spiritual power
Is within the reach of every man.
Samson ("sunny') was full of laugh
ter; not the comic, but the joyous. He
did the big things God gave him to do
and was filled with gladness. But
Samson came under the spell of an
evil woman and all of this true laugh.
ter and glad joyousness left his soul.
Chapter Is, verse 25, illustrates the
anointing of the Holy Spirit for service
rs perhaps distinguished from the
same Spirit for holiness. The laughter
heard in the haunts of sin has lots its
ouoyancy. is forced, is different, is
hat of men whose hearts are unclean.
III. Samson's Impurity. A woman
AN make or mar the man with whom
he associates. AS Nazarite. Samson
vas dedicated unto God, must not al |
ow razor to touch his head, was not |
o touch anything unclean, nor drink |
intoxicating liquor. This VOW was |
Usually for short period. Samuel and |
ohm the Baptizer are other Naza-
ties re orded in Scripture, and are
aid to have been such from birth
3:14; 1917; Luke 1:15). Samson's
trength burned out when he lay his
cad in harlot's lap and the laughter
vent out of his soul. 1t was that
which broke the contact between him
nd God Samson's birth in a godly
ONE, his knowledge of his relation to
rod and the experience of Gods power
i'd not keep him from an ignoble
allure. He left the atmosphere of
Iod's spirit for that of sin prov. A:
81.
Nv. Samson's Imprisonment. We find
i'm after his excuses grinding in the
hilistine prison, where he perhaps
verheard praises being sung to Dagon
ho had overthrow Jehovah's Judge.
is never safe to play with tempta.
on though conscious of our own
-rength; then 1t is we are most apt
, fall q Cor. 10:12). One act and
lie gay hero is grinding in a prison
ouse. Directly man goes into i'm
lrity, whether in act or thought, he
ses the power that formerly moved
en or worked wonders. Year after
ear Samson plodded his round of en-
reed toll, type of the force and
over of intemperance and other i'm
Ire habits. During these years he
put his hand upon his head
Id said, "My hair is growing again."
Id it gave him courage to believe
at God would yet give him another
lance.
Finally, when their hearts were
cry" (16:25), he is brought out to
axe sport. During one of his resting
'rfods he said to boy near by, Let
e feel of the two pillars" those upon
hich the main walls rested and
nich were within a mans reach.
len 1t was that he was able to grip
e mysterious power Of the unseen
$500. Was Samson a suicide? No!
accepted death as the inevitable
nsequence of his act of duty (See
eb. 11:32).
The growth of his hair was only a
ken of that conservation which he
d surrendered when he failed to
thstand the wiles of Delilah.
The Temperance Teaching of this
'son is all too plain. 1t must begin