patriarchs and prophets-第147章
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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 that the weakness of other men would come upon him if certain
processes were tried。 When she put the matter to the test； the cheat was
discovered。 Then she accused him of falsehood； saying； 〃How canst thou say；
I love thee； when thine heart is not with me？ Thou hast mocked me these
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three times； and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth。〃 Three
times Samson had the clearest evidence that the Philistines had leagued with
his charmer to destroy him； but when her purpose failed； she treated the
matter as a jest； and he blindly banished fear。
Day by day Delilah urged him； until 〃his soul was vexed unto death；〃 yet a
subtle power kept him by her side。 Overcome at last； Samson made known the
secret： 〃There hath not come a razor upon mine head； for I have been a
Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb： if I be shaven； then my strength
will go from me； and I shall become weak； and be like any other man。〃 A
messenger was immediately dispatched to the lords of the Philistines； urging
them to come to her without delay。 While the warrior slept； the heavy masses
of his hair were severed from his head。 Then； as she had done three times
before； she called； 〃The Philistines be upon thee； Samson！〃 Suddenly
awaking； he thought to exert his strength as before and destroy them； but
his powerless arms refused to do his bidding； and he knew that 〃Jehovah was
departed from him。〃 When he had been shaven； Delilah began to annoy him and
cause him pain； thus making a trial of his strength； for the Philistines
dared not approach him till fully convinced that his power was gone。 Then
they seized him and； having put out both his eyes； they took him to Gaza。
Here he was bound with fetters in their prison house and confined to hard
labor。
What a change to him who had been the judge and champion of Israel！now
weak； blind； imprisoned； degraded to the most menial service！ Little by
little he had violated the conditions of his sacred calling。 God had borne
long with him； but when he had so yielded himself to the power of sin as to
betray his secret； the Lord departed from him。 There was no virtue in his
long hair merely； but it was a token of his loyalty to God； and when the
symbol was sacrificed in the indulgence of passion； the blessings of which
it was a token were also forfeited。
In suffering and humiliation； a sport for the Philistines； Samson learned
more of his own weakness than he had ever known before； and his afflictions
led him to repentance。 As his hair grew； his power gradually returned； but
his enemies； regarding him as a fettered and helpless prisoner； felt no
apprehensions。
The Philistines ascribed their victory to their gods； and；
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exulting； they defied the God of Israel。 A feast was appointed in honor of
Dagon； the fish god； 〃the protector of the sea。〃 From town and country
throughout the Philistine plain the people and their lords assembled。
Throngs of worshipers filled the vast temple and crowded the galleries about
the roof。 It was a scene of festivity and rejoicing。 There was the pomp of
the sacrificial service； followed by music and feasting。 Then； as the
crowning trophy of Dagon's power； Samson was brought in。 Shouts of
exultation greeted his appearance。 People and rulers mocked his misery and
adored the god who had overthrown 〃the destroyer of their country。〃 After a
time； as if weary； Samson asked permission to rest against the two central
pillars which supported the temple roof。 Then he silently uttered the
prayer； 〃O Lord God； remember me； I pray Thee； and strengthen me； I pray
Thee； only this once； O God； that I may be at once avenged of the
Philistines。〃 With these words he encircled the pillars with his mighty
arms； and crying； 〃Let me die with the Philistines！〃 he bowed himself； and
the roof fell； destroying at one crash all that vast multitude。 〃So the dead
which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life。〃
The idol and its worshipers； priest and peasant； warrior and noble； were
buried together beneath the ruins of Dagon's temple。 And among them was the
giant form of him whom God had chosen to be the deliverer of His people。
Tidings of the terrible overthrow were carried to the land of Israel； and
Samson's kinsmen came down from their hills； and； unopposed； rescued the
body of the fallen hero。 And they 〃brought him up； and buried him between
Zorah and Eshtaol； in the burying place of Manoah his father。〃
God's promise that through Samson He would 〃begin to deliver Israel out of
the hand of the Philistines〃 was fulfilled； but how dark and terrible the
record of that life which might have been a praise to God and a glory to the
nation！ Had Samson been true to his divine calling； the purpose of God could
have been accomplished in his honor and exaltation。 But he yielded to
temptation and proved untrue to his trust； and his mission was fulfilled in
defeat； bondage； and death。
Physically； Samson was the strongest man upon the earth； but in
self…control； integrity； and firmness； he was one of the weakest of men。
Many mistake strong passions for a strong character；
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but the truth is that he who is mastered by his passions is a weak man。 The
real greatness of the man is measured by the power of the feelings that he
controls； not by those that control him。
God's providential care had been over Samson； that he might be prepared to
accomplish the work which he was called to do。 At the very outset of life he
was surrounded with favorable conditions for physical strength； intellectual
vigor； and moral purity。 But under the influence of wicked associates he let
go that hold upon God which is man's only safeguard； and he was swept away
by the tide of evil。 Those who in the way of duty are brought into trial may
be sure that God will preserve them； but if men willfully place themselves
under the power of temptation； they will fall； sooner or later。
The very ones whom God purposes to use as His instruments for a special
work； Satan employs his utmost power to lead astray。 He attacks us at our
weak points； working through defects in the character to gain control of the
whole man； and he knows that if these defects are cherished； he will
succeed。 But none need be overcome。 Man is not left alone to conquer the
power of evil by his own feeble efforts。 Help is at hand and will be given
to every soul who really desires it。 Angels of God； that ascend and descend
the ladder which Jacob saw in vision； will help every soul who will； to
climb even to the highest heaven。
（569）
Chapter 55
The Child Samuel
Elkanah； a Levite of Mount Ephraim； was a man of wealth and influence； and
one who loved and feared the Lord。 His wife； Hannah； was a woman of fervent
piety。 Gentle and unassuming； her character was marked with deep earnestness
and a lofty faith。
The blessing so earnestly sought b
