CONTENTS The close of Samson's history forms the subject of this Chapter. We have in it a melancholy proof of our fallen nature, in the renewed breakings out of lustful passions in Samson, and the sad consequence of them, in the loss of his eyes, when, after repeated disappointments, the Philistine... [ Continue Reading ]
And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him. See Reader! how alive the enemies to God, and his people are, to w... [ Continue Reading ]
And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron. I pass over every other consideration, to call t... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. Again we behold the sad breakings out of our fallen state. How justly doth the Psalmist (and everyone taught of God may join issue in the same language), say for himself: The transgression of the wi... [ Continue Reading ]
I see no reason to interrupt the progress of the history through the several relations given, of this artful woman ' s persevering spirit to ruin Samson. But I rather pass on to the spiritual improvements the history furnisheth. And here we see to what a degree of folly, and presumption, sin reducet... [ Continue Reading ]
And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him. This is a very awful account: the Lord was departed from him, and he knew it not, It is said of... [ Continue Reading ]
But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. Awfully let us remark the punishment suited to the offence; that is, I mean, not as it came from the hand of man, but from the correction of Go... [ Continue Reading ]
Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven. Sweet are the renewings of the Holy Ghost. Oh! how precious the returns of the Comforter, after a night of desertion!... [ Continue Reading ]
Nothing can be more plain from the history, than that it was the artful intrigue of a woman which had been the instrument for delivering Samson into the hands of the Philistines; but yet a dunghill god must have the credit. To what a desperate state of ignorance, as well as sin, is the mind capable... [ Continue Reading ]
How wonderful are all the ways and works of God! By what solemn and striking providences, doth the Lord carry on his designs in the world! Samson's triumph was greater in his death, than in all the victories of his life. But Reader! let us pass by the mere circumstances of the history, with even all... [ Continue Reading ]
Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years. It is worthy remark, how careful the Patriarchs and early believers were, to record th... [ Continue Reading ]