Story 71: Sam'son's Weakness Atoned By His Dying Feat l

   Following the account of Sam'son's remarkable exploit in the valley of So'rek, it is stated that he judged Is'ra-el for twenty years. Although it does not appear that the dominion of the Phi-lis'tines was broken during this period, it seems that for a long number of years there was no open warfare between the two peoples. The Is'ra-el-ites yielded meekly to their cruel masters, and continued to mingle with them in ways of idolatry and wickedness. Nowhere is there the slightest evidence that they repented of their idolatry or improved their moral conduct.
   Among the few privileges granted to Is'ra-el was that of having a judge, and this office was held by Sam'son. The nation was unready and unwilling to accept freedom from the alien people into whose idolatrous ways and wicked habits they were now completely entangled, and Sam'son's efforts to gain independence for Is'ra-el had been cowardly rejected. For these reasons the career of Sam'son was free of further exploits against the Phi-lis'tines until his reign of twenty years was nearly over.
   It is probably that the intervening years were spent quietly by Sam'son at his home in Zo'rah, and that no stirring events worthy of record took place. He no doubt advised the Is'ra-el-ites in their domestic and civil problems, acted as a judge in settling their differences, and had authority in other matters where there was no conflict with the Phi-lis'tine rule.
   For some unknown reason Sam'son decided to visit Ga'za, which was the Phi-lis'tine capital, and one of their strongest cities. It is probable that he went there seeking an opportunity of performing some mighty feat which would amaze and distress the Phi-lis'tines.
   While it is evident that Sam'son did not go down to Ga'za with any intention of doing wrong, he was guilty of entering the path of the wicked unguarded from temptation. Led on by his hasty, impulsive nature, he entered a house where he had no business.
   Ga'za was a walled city, and the gates were closed and locked at night. When the Phi-lis'tines saw Sam'son enter the home of a woman innkeeper for the night, they surrounded the place and posted guards at the city gates, expecting to capture and slay him the next morning. Sam'son was in the stronghold of his bitterest enemies, shut in by strong walls and locked iron gates, surrounded by plotters who were eager to seize him, and exposed to probable death at the hands of an angry mob.
   In some way Sam'son discovered the plot against his life. He was filled with fury by the thought that he might be trapped in a prison of death. What were high walls and iron gates before his miraculous strength! Determined to spoil the plans of his enemies, he left the building at midnight, and made his way secretly to the gates of the city. Taking a firm hold upon the folding iron gates, he tore the heavy posts from the ground; placing the gates and posts on his back, he boldly marched away.
   Ten miles or more from Ga'za was the city of He'bron, noted as the religious and political center of the tribe of Ju'dah, and situated on a high mountain. As a sign of contempt for the Phi-lis'tines, Sam'son carried the gate of their capital and strongest city far up the mountain road leading to the rallying point of his own people, and cast it to the ground.
   As usual, Sam'son appears to have gone on his way without the slightest regret or penitence for the sins which had very nearly cost him his life. More than once God had saved him from evils caused by his own hasty, self-confident deeds, but never do we read of a prayer for forgiveness. His fondness for idolatrous women, if persisted in, would surely lead to his downfall.
   In spite of his many worthy traits of character, Sam'son seems to have lost his sense of moral uprightness, and to have forgotten the LORD'S command against marriages between the children of Is'ra-el and heathens. Soon after the episode in Ga'za, he fell in love with a Phi-lis'tine woman named De'li'lah. With the treachery so common among the Phi-lis'tines, she used her charm over him for his own downfall. Blinded and enslaved by his unholy affection for her, he permitted himself to be led step by step into a violation of his Naz'a-rite vow, and thus to his ruin.

Story 70: Exploits Of Sam'son Against The Phi-lis'tines lll

   When these traitors promised not to harm him, Sam'son agreed to be bount with strong ropes and delivered to the enemy. When the Phi-lis'tines saw Sam'son being led to them with strong ropes around his hands, they set up a terrific howl of scorn and triumph. This awakened the power which slumbered in the arms of the giant, and the cords which held him fast were instantly parted like flax touched by a flame of fire. "The Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him," and Sam'son made use of the jaw-bone of an ass to slay a thousand Phi-lis'tines. The whole army was paralyzed with terror, unable to fight against the sudden avalanche of power which appeared among them. Those who were not slain fled in confusion, and Sam'son voiced his triumph in these words:
               "With the jaw-bone of an ass, heaps upon heaps,
               With the jaw-bone of an ass have I smitten a thousand men."
   Suffering from thirst in a place where no water could be had, Sam'son cried unto the LORD, "Thou hast given this great deliverance by the hand of thy servant; and now shall I die from thirst, and fall into the hands of the heathens?" The LORD miraculously opened a spring of water where Sam'son threw the jaw-bone, and the name of the place was changed to En-hak'ko-re, which means "the spring of him that called."
   Thus in the zenith of his supernatural power Sam'son left to all future generations a memorial to the fact that his exploits and triumphs were dependent on faith and prayer. The Phi-lis'tines, like an over-running flood, had swept over the land of Is'ra-el. In a manner unthought of and unheard of up to this time, God had raised up one lone man to serve as a breakwater against these destructive torrents. By super-human strength he manifested sufficient power to defeat a whole nation. But it was only when Sam'son fully relied upon Divine help, looked to God in faith and with humble supplications, that he triumphed against his enemies.

Story 70: Exploits Of Sam'son Against The Phi-lis'tines ll

   For five or six days the young men tried as hard as possible to guess the answer, but without success. Then they urged Sam'son's wife to find out the answer, threatening to set fire to her house if she failed. They also accused her of marrying a foreigner in order to rob her own people. Under the pressure of these threats, she begged and cried to her husband until he told her the answer to the riddle. Then she told the young men, and they waited until the close of the seventh day before they said to Sam'son, "We have the answer. What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?"
   Sam'son was not slow in detecting the treachery of the young Phi-lis'tines, so he charged them at once with underhanded plottings with his wife. Their scheme had been so unfair that he would have been justified in refusing to pay the things which had been promised. Rather than be charged with failure to keep his word, however, Sam'son took advantage of the occasion to begin his mission of smiting the Phi-lis'tines. He went to the Phi-lis'tine stronghold of Ash'ke-lon, slew thirty prominent men, and brought the shirt and fine outer garment of each one back to the men of Tim'nath in payment of his wager. Thus the schemers received their ill-gotten gains through the death of their own countrymen.
   Moved to anger by the deceit of his bride, and by the apparent plot of her family and friends to bring contempt upon the Is'ra-el-ites, Sam'son returnt to his home without his wife. Her father then gave her in marriage to the leader of the spies who had sought to outwit Sam'son by treachery, and thus a strange Providence put an end to a marriage which was forbidden by the LORD.
  Although the LORD had been merciful in breaking Sam'son's marriage with an idolatrous woman, the mighty man of Is'ra-el tried to win her back. With a special gift in hand, he went to her father's house in the hope of meeting her once again. His father-in-law then showed the lack of respect for marriage which prevailed among the Phi-lis'tines by admitting that he had given Sam'son's wife to another man, and by suggesting that he console himself with a younger daughter who was more attractive.
   Knowing that the Phi-lis'tine people of the community agreed with his father-in-law, and feeling a new impulse to carry out his mission against the oppressors of Is'ra-el, Sam'son performed a daring feat of destruction upon the crops and vineyards of the entire neighborhood.
   He went into the forest and caught three hundred foxes, tied their tails together in pairs, placed burning firebrands upon them, and turnt the foxes loose in the fields of ripened grain. Frightened by the fiery torches, maddened by the painful burns, these animals swept like streaks of lightning through the fields and vineyards, setting fire to the grain, and completely ruining the vineyards.
   When the owners of these fields and vineyards were told that Sam'son was responsible for the destruction of their crops and fruits, and that he had done this because his father-in-law had given his wife to another man. They took vengeance upon their neighbor by burning his house down upon him and his daughter.
   Sam'son then turnt upon the murderers of his faithless bride, and single-handed slew vast numbers of the Phi-lis'tines in Tim'nath and its surroundings.
   Aroused by the depredations of the giant Is'ra-el-ite, yet fearing to attack him, the Phi-lis'tines raised a huge army to force the people of Ju'dah to surrender Sam'son to them. Three thousand of the men of Ju'dah went out to meet the army of the Phi-lis'tines, not to engage in battle with them, but to make a disgraceful surrender. With unspeakable cowardice they yielded to the demands of their oppressors, failing to rally around the champion of their liberties in a battle which might have freed them forever from tyranny.
   The pages of history contain no act more cowardly than that which is here recorded of the Ju'de-ans. Three thousand of them approached the lone Sam'son in his mountain retreat, and denounced him for arousing the Phi-lis'tines to acts of violence against Is'ra-el. They were willing to give up their Divinely appointed deliverer in exchange for peace with their cruelest enemies.

Story 70: Exploits Of Sam'son Against The Phi-lis'tines l

   From his mountain home Sam'son could look down upon the plains of the seacoast occupied by the Phi-lis'tines, and upon many communities once held by his own tribe but now in their possession. As he grew in superior physical strength, and as the Spirit of God moved upon him, he must have felt an impulse to begin his work against these oppressors of his nation.
   When Sam'son was about eighteen years of age, he visited the town of Tim'nath, which was just a few miles from his home. Many Phi-lis'tine families lived here, so he may have intended to begin his Divinely appointed work of terrorizing the aliens who now held dominion over Is'ra-el. Instead of doing this, he fell in love with the daughter of a Phi-lis'tine family.
   In keeping with the customs of the age, he asked his parents to arrange for the young woman to be his wife. They were astonished at this request, and rebuked him for seeking a wife from a heathen race, pointing out that it was contrary to the Law of God, and would work against his mission of breaking the tyranny of the Phi-lis'tines over the Is'ra-el-ites.
   Although they preferred their son to take a wife from his own people, Sam'son's father and mother finally yielded to his wishes, and visited the parents of the girl to secure their permission for the proposed marriage. While passing near the vineyards in the valley of So'rek, Sam'son grappled with a lion, and killed it with his bare hands. Upon reaching the home of the young woman, and talking with her, he became more deeply attracted than ever.
   After waiting for the usual period of six months between the engagement and marriage, Sam'son and his parents went to the home of the Phi-lis'tine girl for the wedding. A festival lasting seven days was planned, and friends of both families were invited. Among those invited by the bride's family were thirty young men of their own nationality. They were present, not only as friends of the bride, but as spies upon Sam'son, should any trouble arise.
   As Sam'son and his parents made the journey to Tim'nath, they passed near the place where Sam'son had slain the lion six months before. Bees had made a hive in the skeleton of the lion, and it was filled with honey. Sam'son gathered and ate some of the honey, and gave some to his father and mother.
   During the festivities of the first day of the wedding feast Sam'son told the thirty young men that he would ask them a riddle. If they were unable to solve it within seven days, they were to give him thirty shirts and thirty changes of clothing; and should they give the answer within this time, he would give them the same things. They agreed to the proposal, and Sam'son stated his riddle in these words:
         "Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet."

Can Prayer Save America?

   During the Civil War, a friend of Abraham Lincoln was a visitor at the White House. "One night I was restless and could not sleep... From the private room where the President slept, I heard low tones. Instinctively I wandered in, and there I saw a sight which I have never forgotten. It was the President, kneeling before an open Bible. His back was toward me. I shall never forget his prayer: 'Oh, Thou God that heard Solomon in the night when he prayed and cried for wisdom, hear me...I cannot guide the affairs of this nation without Thy help. Hear me and save this nation.'"
   When the leaders of our country assembled to write the Constitution, Benjamin Franklin proposed each session be opened with prayer. Franklin said, "I have lived a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proof I see of this truth-that God governs the affairs of men."
   Our nation is great because it was founded upon God's Word and prayer. But today prayer has been replaced by political intrigue, materialism, and a mistaken notion that our private and national affairs can be run without God.
   But here and there throughout American voices are heard, as individuals and groups begin to call on God in prayer. But this whole nation must be moved to prayer. So great are the dangers, so grave the perils, so tremendous the problems, that it is imperative that we lay hold upon the LORD God in prayer for His will.
   Prayer can save America. There is only one way out, and that is up! If we do not turn to God, we will be overcome by the godless. It is either revival or ruin! It is now or never! The answer will not be found by the UN or NATO. The answer will be found only when we call upon the LORD God. Spiritual values must be restored.We must return to the faith of our Father, and to family prayer, and the Bible.
   But we cannot really lay hold upon a Holy God until we come to know Him as our Father. The Bible says that we have all sinned and are separated from God. By His death on the cross, God's Son Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
   Christ's death and resurrection make it possible for you to have victory over sin and a vital relationship with God. Only then can He hear and answer prayers...both for America and your own personal needs. Receive Him today. For as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in His name."
   Then you can claim God's promise: "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land."
                                               THE AMERICAN"S CREED
   I believe in the United States of America, as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign nation of many sovereign states; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established on those principles of freedom, equality, justice and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
   I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies (and to pray for its leaders.)
 

Story 69: Jeph'thah's Vow And The Sacrifice Of His Daughter lV

   The word which Jeph'thah used in making his vows was frequently employed in ancient Is'ra-el in the dedication of lands, tithes, or other valuable possessions to the LORD. The object offered in such a ceremony was thought to be so entirely devoted to the LORD that it could belong to no one else. Such an offering did not necessarily require the slaying and burning of the object offered, and certainly would not require the murder of a human being in defiance of one of the Ten Commandments. For these reasons it may well be that Jeph'thah's vow was fulfilled without staining his hands with the blood of his own precious child.
   Soon after Jeph'thah's victory over the Am'mon-ites, certain men of the tribe of E'phra-im showed a very ugly spirit. They were jealous of the honor to which Jeph'thah had risen, of the superior courage displayed by the Gil'e-ad-ites, and of their triumph over such powerful foes. Twice before this tribe had shown a haughty, envious spirit toward other tribes of Is'ra-el; first, when the land was allotted by Josh'u-a, and then when Gid'e-on won a great victory over the Ca'naan-ites of the north.
   Because of the superior blessing conferred upon their ancestor E'phra-im by his grandfather Ja'cob, the E'phra-im-ites were ambitious to rule over the tribe of Ma-nas'seh, and regarded them as their inferiors. The Gil'e-ad-ites were descendants of a powerful family of Ma-nas'seh, and therefore were especially envied by the men of E'phra-im.
   The E'phra-im-ites took advantage of Jeph'thah's victory to show their hatred for the clan which was rising so rapidly among the tribe of Ma-nas'seh. They pretended that their rank had been ignored because they were not asked to take part in the war against the Am'mon-ites, and threatened to destroy Jeph'thah by burning his house. A large company crossed the Jor'dan and prepared for the civil war at Za'phon, which was a small town in the territory of the tribe of Gad. Jeph'thah disproved their charges by reminding them that they had refused to join him in battle, that there was no just cause for their complaint, and that they should be grateful because the land was free from all oppressors.
   The men of Gil'e-ad resented the proud attitude of the E'phra-im-ites, and engaged them in a fierce battle. Thousands of them were slain, and the others were forced to flee in confusion. Those who escaped from the battle sought to flee across the Jor'dan to their own territory, but were trapped by a clever plan of the Gil'e-ad-ites.
   Jeph'thah placed guards at the fords of the Jor'dan to intercept all the E'phra-im-ites who tried to escape into their own land. In order to tell the tribal membership of those who wished to cross the river, they were required to pronounce the Hebrew word "Shib'bo-leth," which means "an ear of corn." The E'phra-im-ites could not pronounce this word as the tribes east of the Jor'dan did, but could only say "Sib'bo-leth," and in this way was known that they were enemies.
   The entire length of Jeph'thah's rule was six years. Peace and prosperity prevailed among the tribes east of the Jor'dan after the defeat of the Am'mon-ites and the civil war with the E'phra-im-ites.
  

Story 69: Jeph'thah's Vow And The Sacrifice Of His Daughter lll

   Lifted far above his natural courage, strength, and wisdom by the anointing of the spirit of God, Jeph'thah raised a large army from the tribes of Ma-nas'seh, Gad, and Reu'ben, and marched against the Am'mon-ites. His army was assembled at Miz'pah, sacred in the history of Is'ra-el as the place where Ja'cob and La'ban had made a covenant of lasting peace, as one of the forty-eight Le-vit'i-cal cities, as a City of Refuge, and as the capital of Gil'e-ad. Here Jeph'thah made a solemn vow to God that if He would give him victory over the Am'mon-ites, he would offer Him as a sacrifice whatever came forth to meet him on his return from the field of victory.
   In the battle which followed, the LORD enabled Jeph'thah to win a crushing victory over the Am'mon-ites. Many of the invaders were slain, and those who escaped death fled from the land. Twenty cities formerly held by the Am'mon-ites were captured by Jeph'thah's army. The land of Is'ra-el was completely delivered from oppression, and Jeph'thah was made Judge over the tribes east of the Jor'dan.
   Jeph'thah had in his home an only child, a lovely young daughter. He loved her very dearly, and she was tenderly devoted to her brave and heroic father. On his return from the great victory over the Am'mon-ites she ran out to meet him, singing for joy, and dancing on praise of her father's triumph over the enemies of Is'ra-el. Jeph'thah was smitten with anguish when he saw her, for he remembered the vow which he had made with God. His heart was filled with grief at the thought of laying his only child, his beloved and cherished daughter, on the altar of sacrifice to the LORD. Calling upon all the heroism of his noble character, he told his daughter of the vow which he had made with to God. He solemnly declared, "I have made this pledge to the LORD, and I cannot take it back."
   Without pausing for a moment to reflect upon what her words might mean to her and her father, Jeph'thah's daughter said, " Do to me according to that which thou hast vowed." She then asked permission to spend two months in the mountains surrounding Miz'pah that she might "mourn her virginity." To give up the privilege of being a wife and a mother was a supreme sacrifice for an Is'ra-el-it-ish woman. Every Jewish woman hoped, in becoming a mother, that she might give to the world the promised Mes-si'ah of Is'ra-el.
   When the two months had passed, Jeph'thah's daughter returnt to her home, and the Bible narrative says, "He did with her according to his vow." Some earnest readers of the Bible believe that Jeph'thah did not put his daughter to death on an altar of sacrifice, for the Scriptures do not say that he actually offered her as a burnt offering to the LORD.
   It may be that the sacrifice which Jeph'thah's daughter made was that of giving her life entirely to the service of God, giving up all thought of marriage, and thereby causing the house of her father to pass away without leaving some descendant to bear his name. Such a sacrifice would require both father and daughter to give of their best to the LORD, and would carry out the spirit in which Jeph'thah made his vow unto the LORD.