The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-30
Try WILLIAM r. ELL1S.1

Samson "Judg. 13:S-16, "a, %.
JBY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.l
A frank look at the weakness of the
strongest man. Samson, is tOday'S Sun
day school lesson.
Back in the unsettled times Of Israeli
more than a thousand years before the
birth of Jesus, before ever the people
had a king, and the leadership was
with judges, or champions, or heroes
Samson was born.
Like SO many other notable charac-
tiers, he was the child of yearning and
prayer and covenant. His parents had
been long childless when they received
with JOY the promise of a son. In
spirit of grateful exaltation, they dedi-
Gated the babe to a life apar-, and made
for him the NaZirite VOWS, which later
were taken for John the Baptist. His
head should so unshaven. he should
drink no wine and touch naught UNI
clean. And the child grew, and Je-
hovah blessed him. And the Spirit of
Jehovah began to move him.
There was great beginning. In
heritance, natural gifts, spiritual en-
duement-all were the lot of this young
Nazirite The most favored youth OF
his day was Samson. All the elements
of greatness were his. He had been
IlduS Teduy LUZ great ScANlCC " his
time. Thus far his case runs parallel
to that of host of our favored young
men of today. richly lowered in body,
mind, fortune and home. To them, as
to Samson, the nation looks for leader
ship and deliverance. Some of them,
alas. fail in quite the same fashion as
he.
The Man Who Missed His Chance.
Every mature person has marvelled
a the young men and women of prom
Use who have not amounted to any
thing. Every college has it's stories to
tell of graduates sent forth with high
hopes, who have never met expecta-
tions. They are the Samsons, lowered
with giant capacities, which they fail to
use Alright.
All who follow baseball recall the
death last year. of meteoric pitcher
who could not settle down to his real
work. He preferred to be a barroom
hero. wonder on a small team. to
doing his days work on the famous
nine of which he was for a time a men,
Der. Swiftly he slipped down and down.
until death ended the tale of what
might have been. 1t was the Samson
story over again.
Samson's strength was not only
physical He had qualities of leader
ship-enterprise. daring, resourceful-
ness and self-reliance. His pranks re-
veal this. But these gifts were not
used in sober. mature and reasonable
fashion for the benefit of his people
Samson preferred a mad personal ex-
plot to a substantial achievement OF
citizenship. He had not that sense OF
responsibility which marks the rea
leader.
Samson and Richard the Lion Hearted
Later history developed a brilliant
figure singularly akin to Samson. This
was King Richard the Lion Hearted, Of
England. Both gloried in deeds Of dan.
ger and derringdo. Neither seemed
ever entirely to grow up. A whimsical
OF adventure, when they should in.
stead have been soberly serving tn,
welfare Of their people. Neither wa,
bad, and there were noble traits il
both: but they failed to use their gift.
Alright. No substantial achievement re
manned as a memorial to either. Pic
turesque and heroic figures they were
but no historian can write them dow
as successful.
The presence of enemies never at
frighted blithesome Samson. He dwell
amid the Philistines, the powerful in
vanders from the West who so lonl
oppressed Israel. In his day the enemy
yoke was heavy on the peoples neck
1t was an hour for a hero, a deliverer
and Samson was sent to be the man
He. however. used for his own spor
gifts that were meant for service. In
stead Of organizing and leading tn
Jews against the tyrants. he provoked
the latter by his wild pranks Not unit
his closing hour did Samson soberl,
serve his nation.
That is the condemnation that mus
be written over against his name n
against the name Of every other giftet
man who lives for himself alone in :
time when his country needs him-h
failed to give his best to his time. Prob
ably II Samson were in England toda,
he would be either a professional foot
ball player or an aviator; no place il
the trenches for him.
The Bibles Practical Joker.
Samson is best known for his prac
tical jokes. He is the buffoon of tn
Bible. On his way to court a Philistin
wife he slew a lion with his bare hands
Later, as he passed by. he saw tn
carcass filled with honey. At the wed
ding feast he wagered thirty garment
with the guests that they could no
guess his riddle:
'.Out of the eater came forth food,