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ungodly； under cover of a pretended friendship； to allure God's people into
sin； that he may separate them from Him； and when their defense is removed；
then he will lead his agents to turn against them and seek to accomplish
their destruction。
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Chapter 54
Samson
Amid the widespread apostasy the faithful worshipers of God continued to
plead with Him for the deliverance of Israel。 Though there was apparently no
response； though year after year the power of the oppressor continued to
rest more heavily upon the land； God's providence was preparing help for
them。 Even in the early years of the Philistine oppression a child was born
through whom God designed to humble the power of these mighty foes。
On the border of the hill country overlooking the Philistine plain was the
little town of Zorah。 Here dwelt the family of Manoah； of the tribe of Dan；
one of the few households that amid the general defection had remained true
to Jehovah。 To the childless wife of Manoah 〃the Angel of Jehovah〃 appeared
with the message that she should have a son； through whom God would begin to
deliver Israel。 In view of this the Angel gave her instruction concerning
her own habits； and also for the treatment of her child： 〃Now therefore
beware； I pray thee； and drink not wine nor strong drink； and eat not any
unclean thing。〃 And the same prohibition was to be imposed； from the first；
upon the child； with the addition that his hair should not be cut； for he
was to be consecrated to God as a Nazarite from his birth。
The woman sought her husband； and； after describing the Angel； she repeated
His message。 Then； fearful that they should make some mistake in the
important work committed to them； the husband prayed； 〃Let the Man of God
which Thou didst send come again unto us； and teach us what we shall do unto
the child that shall be born。〃
When the Angel again appeared； Manoah's anxious inquiry was； 〃How shall we
order the child； and how shall we do unto him？〃 The previous instruction was
repeated〃Of all that I
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said unto the woman let her beware。 She may not eat of anything that cometh
of the vine； neither let her drink wine or strong drink； nor eat any unclean
thing： all that I commanded her let her observe。〃
God had an important work for the promised child of Manoah to do； and it was
to secure for him the qualifications necessary for this work that the habits
of both the mother and the child were to be carefully regulated。 〃Neither
let her drink wine or strong drink；〃 was the Angel's instruction for the
wife of Manoah； 〃nor eat any unclean thing。 All that I commanded her let her
observe。〃 The child will be affected for good or for evil by the habits of
the mother。 She must herself be controlled by principle and must practice
temperance and self…denial； if she would seek the welfare of her child。
Unwise advisers will urge upon the mother the necessity of gratifying every
wish and impulse； but such teaching is false and mischievous。 The mother is
by the command of God Himself placed under the most solemn obligation to
exercise self…control。
And fathers as well as mothers are involved in this responsibility。 Both
parents transmit their own characteristics； mental and physical； their
dispositions and appetites； to their children。 As the result of parental
intemperance children often lack physical strength and mental and moral
power。 Liquor drinkers and tobacco users may； and do； transmit their
insatiable craving； their inflamed blood and irritable nerves； to their
children。 The licentious often bequeath their unholy desires； and even
loathsome diseases； as a legacy to their offspring。 And as the children have
less power to resist temptation than had the parents； the tendency is for
each generation to fall lower and lower。 To a great degree parents are
responsible not only for the violent passions and perverted appetites of
their children but for the infirmities of the thousands born deaf； blind；
diseased； or idiotic。
The inquiry of every father and mother should be； 〃What shall we do unto the
child that shall be born unto us？〃 The effect of prenatal influences has
been by many lightly regarded； but the instruction sent from heaven to those
Hebrew parents； and twice repeated in the most explicit and solemn manner；
shows how this matter is looked upon by our Creator。
And it was not enough that the promised child should receive a good legacy
from the parents。 This must be followed by careful
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training and the formation of right habits。 God directed that the future
judge and deliverer of Israel should be trained to strict temperance from
infancy。 He was to be a Nazarite from his birth； thus being placed under a
perpetual prohibition against the use of wine or strong drink。 The lessons
of temperance； self…denial； and self…control are to be taught to children
even from babyhood。
The angel's prohibition included 〃every unclean thing。〃 The distinction
between articles of food as clean and unclean was not a merely ceremonial
and arbitrary regulation； but was based upon sanitary principles。 To the
observance of this distinction may be traced； in a great degree； the
marvelous vitality which for thousands of years has distinguished the Jewish
people。 The principles of temperance must be carried further than the mere
use of spirituous liquors。 The use of stimulating and indigestible food is
often equally injurious to health； and in many cases sows the seeds of
drunkenness。 True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything
hurtful and to use judiciously that which is healthful。 There are few who
realize as they should how much their habits of diet have to do with their
health； their character； their usefulness in this world； and their eternal
destiny。 The appetite should ever be in subjection to the moral and
intellectual powers。 The body should be servant to the mind； and not the
mind to the body。
The divine promise to Manoah was in due time fulfilled in the birth of a
son； to whom the name of Samson was given。 As the boy grew up it became
evident that he possessed extraordinary physical strength。 This was not；
however； as Samson and his parents well knew； dependent upon his well…knit
sinews； but upon his condition as a Nazarite； of which his unshorn hair was
a symbol。 Had Samson obeyed the divine commands as faithfully as his parents
had done； his would have been a nobler and happier destiny。 But association
with idolaters corrupted him。 The town of Zorah being near the country of
the Philistines； Samson came to mingle with them on friendly terms。 Thus in
his youth intimacies sprang up； the influence of which darkened his whole
life。 A young woman dwelling in the Philistine town of Timnath engaged
Samson's affections； and he determined to make her his wife。 To his
God…fearing parents； who endeavored to dissuade him from his purpose； his
only answer was； 〃She pleaseth me well。〃 The parents at last yielded to his
wishes； and the marriage took place。