按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
only answer was； 〃She pleaseth me well。〃 The parents at last yielded to his
wishes； and the marriage took place。
563
Just as he was entering upon manhood； the time when he must execute his
divine missionthe time above all others when he should have been true to
GodSamson connected himself with the enemies of Israel。 He did not ask
whether he could better glorify God when united with the object of his
choice； or whether he was placing himself in a position where he could not
fulfill the purpose to be accomplished by his life。 To all who seek first to
honor Him； God has promised wisdom； but there is no promise to those who are
bent upon self…pleasing。
How many are pursuing the same course as did Samson！ How often marriages are
formed between the godly and the ungodly； because inclination governs in the
selection of husband or wife！ The parties do not ask counsel of God； nor
have His glory in view。 Christianity ought to have a controlling influence
upon the marriage relation； but it is too often the case that the motives
which lead to this union are not in keeping with Christian principles。 Satan
is constantly seeking to strengthen his power over the people of God by
inducing them to enter into alliance with his subjects； and in order to
accomplish this he endeavors to arouse unsanctified passions in the heart。
But the Lord has in His word plainly instructed His people not to unite
themselves with those who have not His love abiding in them。 〃What concord
hath Christ with Belial？ or what part hath he that believeth with an
infidel？ and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols？〃 2
Corinthians 6：15； 16。
At his marriage feast Samson was brought into familiar association with
those who hated the God of Israel。 Whoever voluntarily enters into such
relations will feel it necessary to conform； to some degree； to the habits
and customs of his companions。 The time thus spent is worse than wasted。
Thoughts are entertained and words are spoken that tend to break down the
strongholds of principle and to weaken the citadel of the soul。
The wife； to obtain whom Samson had transgressed the command of God； proved
treacherous to her husband before the close of the marriage feast。 Incensed
at her perfidy； Samson forsook her for the time； and went alone to his home
at Zorah。 When； afterward relenting； he returned for his bride； he found her
the wife of another。 His revenge； in the wasting of all the fields and
vineyards of the Philistines； provoked them to murder her； although their
threats had driven her to the deceit with
564
which the trouble began。 Samson had already given evidence of his marvelous
strength by slaying； singlehanded； a young lion； and by killing thirty of
the men of Askelon。 Now； moved to anger by the barbarous murder of his wife；
he attacked the Philistines and smote them 〃with a great slaughter。〃 Then；
wishing a safe retreat from his enemies； he withdrew to 〃the rock Etam；〃 in
the tribe of Judah。
To this place he was pursued by a strong force； and the inhabitants of
Judah； in great alarm； basely agreed to deliver him to his enemies。
Accordingly three thousand men of Judah went up to him。 But even at such
odds they would not have dared approach him had they not felt assured that
he would not harm his own countrymen。 Samson consented to be bound and
delivered to the Philistines； but first exacted from the men of Judah a
promise not to attack him themselves； and thus compel him to destroy them。
He permitted them to bind him with two new ropes； and he was led into the
camp of his enemies amid demonstrations of great joy。 But while their shouts
were waking the echoes of the hills； 〃the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily
upon him。〃 He burst asunder the strong new cords as if they had been flax
burned in the fire。 Then seizing the first weapon at hand； which； though
only the jawbone of an ass； was rendered more effective than sword or spear；
he smote the Philistines until they fled in terror； leaving a thousand men
dead upon the field。
Had the Israelites been ready to unite with Samson and follow up the
victory； they might at this time have freed themselves from the power of
their oppressors。 But they had become dispirited and cowardly。 They had
neglected the work which God commanded them to perform； in dispossessing the
heathen； and had united with them in their degrading practices； tolerating
their cruelty； and； so long as it was not directed against themselves； even
countenancing their injustice。 When themselves brought under the power of
the oppressor； they tamely submitted to the degradation which they might
have escaped； had they only obeyed God。 Even when the Lord raised up a
deliverer for them； they would； not infrequently； desert him and unite with
their enemies。
After his victory the Israelites made Samson judge； and he ruled Israel for
twenty years。 But one wrong step prepares the
565
way for another。 Samson had transgressed the command of God by taking a wife
from the Philistines； and again he ventured among themnow his deadly
enemiesin the indulgence of unlawful passion。 Trusting to his great
strength； which had inspired the Philistines with such terror； he went
boldly to Gaza； to visit a harlot of that place。 The inhabitants of the city
learned of his presence； and they were eager for revenge。 Their enemy was
shut safely within the walls of the most strongly fortified of all their
cities； they felt sure of their prey； and only waited till the morning to
complete their triumph。 At midnight Samson was aroused。 The accusing voice
of conscience filled him with remorse； as he remembered that he had broken
his vow as a Nazarite。 But notwithstanding his sin； God's mercy had not
forsaken him。 His prodigious strength again served to deliver him。 Going to
the city gate； he wrenched it from its place and carried it； with its posts
and bars； to the top of a hill on the way to Hebron。
But even this narrow escape did not stay his evil course。 He did not again
venture among the Philistines； but he continued to seek those sensuous
pleasures that were luring him to ruin。 〃He loved a woman in the valley of
Sorek；〃 not far from his own birthplace。 Her name was Delilah； 〃the
consumer。〃 The vale of Sorek was celebrated for its vineyards； these also
had a temptation for the wavering Nazarite； who had already indulged in the
use of wine； thus breaking another tie that bound him to purity and to God。
The Philistines kept a vigilant watch over the movements of their enemy； and
when he degraded himself by this new attachment； they determined； through
Delilah； to accomplish his ruin。
A deputation consisting of one leading man from each of the Philistine
provinces was sent to the vale of Sorek。 They dared not attempt to seize him
while in possession of his great strength； but it was their purpose to
learn； if possible； the secret of his power。 They therefore bribed Delilah
to discover and reveal it。
As the betrayer plied Samson with her questions； he deceived her by
declaring