Judges 16:25-30

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 the moral improvements it affords, to attend to the spiritual views it exhibits. And here surely, if anywhere, we are called upon to behold this Nazarite of the Old Testament, as holding forth evident marks of similitude to the glorious Nazarite of the New. Did Samson pull down the temple of Dagon at his death: and did not Jesus overthrow to the ground every false god, when he died on the cross, and when he ruined the whole empire of sin and Satan? Did Samson die voluntarily for the destruction of the Philistines? And did not our Jesus give his life, a willing ransom for the sins of his people? Herein indeed, they differed. Samson died to crush his enemies with him. But Jesus died for his enemies to have life. Did Samson by his death obtain a most decisive victory! And what victory more decisive than that of the Lord Jesus, who by his death destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil, and delivered them, who through fear of death, are all their life time subject to bondage? Did Samson with his two hands push down the pillars of the house: and were not the arms of Jesus stretched, forth on the cross, when he made the pillars of the earth to move at their centre, and the gates of hell itself to be loosened forever? Yes! thou precious Almighty Nazarite, thy death was distinguished with every wonder heaven could give in testimony to its importance. Herein indeed again, Samson ' s death differed from thine. He fell to rise no more. But thou in thy death didst open the path to everlasting life; and in thy glorious resurrection that followed, thou hast forever destroyed that dreaded foe of our nature. Oh! blessed Lord! may my soul look on this, and learn by thy Spirit ' s teaching, to rejoice with trembling. While, as Samson ' s victory even in death, caused Israel to triumph over their enemies, so in the everlasting triumphs of the cross over the ungodly, (as in the instance of the Philistines), may my soul behold the sure destruction that awaits all them that know not God, nor obey the gospel of Jesus. For in that final hour when thou shalt come to be glorified in thy saints, and to be admired in all that believe; we know also that a tremendous judgment will take place on the enemies of thy truth, who shall, be driven from thy presence with everlasting destruction. 2 Thessalonians 1:9.