Notes on an Address. By J. T. T.
THE story of Samson illustrates to Christians an important subject; namely, “Wherein their great strength lieth.”
The spirit of the Lord began to move Samson, and so did the flesh. Walking in the latter, he married a wife of the Philistines, which was forbidden by God. Walking in the former, he rent a young lion as if it had been a kid.
The fellowship with evil in which he indulged, was what led him into all his trouble; his victory by the power of the Spirit yielded him afterward honey when he hungered.
Just so, every Christian who believes on Jesus, and thereby has eternal life (John 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47)), has within him or her two powers, ―the flesh and the Spirit: the former is the source of all our trouble; the latter is that wherein our great strength lieth.
So, again, with so simple a weapon as the jawbone of an ass, he, by the Spirit’s power, wrought a great victory, and it afterward yielded him refreshment. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord.” The Lord still uses the jawbone of an ass often to accomplish great results in the salvation of sinners.
But finally Samson found himself alone with God upon the rock Etam. The Philistines (the world) complained to the men of Judah (the people of God) that they sought to be revenged on Samson (the servant of God), and the people of God at once sacrificed the servant of God to purchase their own enjoyment of quiet. So, it any Christian really seeks to walk before God, following His word, surely their friends―yes, even their Christian friends―will seek to bind them.
Samson foolishly yielded to the entreaties of those who sought their own rest rather than God’s glory, and surrendered his Nazariteship; that, is, his separation to God. He lost his strength, his eyes were blinded, and he did grind in the prison house. But even when thus fallen, once more he exercised the Spirit. His slender arms are round the pillars of error, and one cry to God yields him his last and greatest victory.
But obedience is often difficult; for light, perhaps, is thrown on the first steps only of a long flight of stairs, from the top of which God calls, “Come up.” We cannot see the end, the issue, the result; we tremble to walk in the light; we fear to follow, not seeing the future. But then, we may remember that the darkness of the future is that which calls for the exercise of faith in the present path. If we see light clearly, let us walk in it, even though we do not see where it leads. Abraham, at God’s call, went out, not knowing whither he went.