The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-11-28

ing These persons
tails In their the living
Bible holds for us.)
SAMSON
There real people, would be people and
just people. Of these the real people the
who make jealous nature give up her secrets and
treasures bringing humanity nearer and nearer
to full realization of its ultimate possibilities and
duties. Real folks That is the kind of human
to be! red-booded. up-and- doing mortal; one
who is alive to the creative impulse within himself
and earnest enough to keep busy in Gods workshop
the world. Being such man women is not
reserved for chosen few; any be that kind.
Nor does position, circumstance. money. name. any
of the excuses the woud-be folks offer. stand in the
way; it is what people do that makes them real.
Samson is Bible character in point.
The pioneer days of any people nation are
filled with romance adventure and achievement; al
so they hold untold measure of hardships, sacrifice
and labor. So it was with the early days of the
Hebrew nation. Having, before their sojourn in
Egypt lived roaming life the plains and deserts,
then dwelt for time in prosperity under the Phar-
aohs and later in abject slavery. it was great
change to be brought to a land of hills and mount
aims and valleys where they confronted by the
task of making permanent homes for themselves.
Within the bounds of the land they had pre-empted
and all about them we're tribes and nations that re-
sented the Hebrews intrusion and it only nat
ural that these people, singly and together should
wage continual warfare against the Israelites.
During that period of about four hundred years
when the 1sraelires were led and ruled by Judges
they we're sometimes conquerors and many times
conquered Reading the record of events as the
different writer's have left it impressed with
the fact that whenever they defeated and ruled
by of their enemies it because the children
of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord" And
every victory was looked upon as coming to them
because the Lord raised up deliverer to the
children of Israel who delivered them"
Such deliverer was Samson. So greatly did
his deeds inspire and effect the people that the
writer of the book of Judges relates his history with
considerable detail. 1t about the eleventh
fury B. G. that Samson born. The Israelites
had been under the rule of the Philstnes for per-
iod of forty years because they did evil again."
The story of Samson as told in Judges plainly is
meant to show that he sent by God to deliver
his countrymen.
However this may have been, circumstances
set him against the Philistnes and his daring
and strength gave him great victory them.
Being we'll pleased with a woman in Timnath of the
daughters of the Philistnes'' he married her and
gave feast in celebration of the occasion. 1t was
at this time that he gave to his guests the riddle
out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the
strong came forth sweetness"
Because his guests obtained the answer by
trickery Samson left home in anger. When he
turned it was to find his wife had been taken from
him which led him to set himself against the Phil
istines His victory led the Israees to regard him
deverer sent by Jehovah and they chose him
as ruler and he Judged Israel in the days of the
Ph1listines twenty years."
During that time he not able to rid his
people entirely of their enemy's rule. But
for day did he give over his work of fighting
against the Philstines HIS deeds do not show be-
hind them any deep strategy or ingenious thought
but they were all of one purpose-war against the
enemy until his countrymen free. His death
is wonderful epitome of his unchanging purpose.
Blinded. shorn of his great strength Knocked and
made the plaything of the sporting crowds, yet his
very purpose strong within him that it gave
him strength to accomplish the greatest feat of his
life whereby he slew greater number of Phs-
tines at his death than those he killed during his
life.
That is the difference between real people and
the rest of humanity-a purpose.
Life is of to anyone unless there is held
purpose to- use it for some single. definite end.
Might well be born an insect or worm to be
human without purpose. We are created to do,
to accomplish something; to add to what the mortal
we succeed has done. If this is not so why do we
walk erect with our head and eyes up so we may
look around and above and discover what is our
part in the beauty and lntrcacy of the universe
Man ia not like the beasts pg for instance with his