Vera. 15-20.-Unlawful method,s of interpreting IJivine mysteries. Samson is betrayed into revealing his riddle. ft was a mean subterfuge, and the fraud is promptly avenged. I. THERE ABE ILLEGITIMATE WAYS OF GETTING AT DIVINE TRUTH. False prophets. Unwilling prophets, as Balaam. Mercenary attempts at obtaining a peculiar know- ledge, as of Simon Magus ( cf. Acts viii. 9-24; xix. 13; Col. ii. 17, 18). II. THE ESSENTIAL MEANING OF THE TRUTH CANNOT BE THUS DISCOVERED, The Philistines only learnt the historic circumstance; they were still in outer darkness as to the evangelic significance of the parable or riddle. So it is with those who '' intrude into those things which they have not seen or heard, vainly puffed up in their fleshly minds." God will deliver them over to strong delusion, and the belief of a lie. III. THIB IS FULL OF DANGER, AND WILL BE PROMPTLY AVENGED. Partly in the apparent illumination, but real ignorance, of such men ; and partly in the consequences attending an incomplete or garbled gospel. Here the vengeance was both spiritual and physical. How sorry the gain that involved their fellow-countrymen in such a deathl-M. Ver. 18.-Ploughing with another's hei,fer. The flaying derives itself from the occasional discovery of hidden treasure by the plough, and the superstitious belief that the homebred heifer knew where the furrow ought to be drawn, because it has been shown the way before, when the treasure was hid. I. So SATAN AND BIB SERVANTS BETRAY MEN THROUGH THEIR HABITUAL TEMPERA- MENT OR BIAS-THE WEAKNESS PECULIAR TO THEM, The·weak place in Samson was his sensuality. His enemies speedily discovered this, and were unscrupulous enough to take advantage of it. II. SAINTS SHOULD BE DISTRUSTFUL OF UNHOLY CONFIDENOES, AND SHOULD LEAVE " NO UNGUARDED PLACE " IN THEIR SPIRITUAL CHARACTER OB RELATIONS. All habitual relations or companionships with worldly persons are dangerous. Our sin will find us out, to our confusion. Safety can alone be found in perfect consecration-putting on the whole armour of God. Relations in life which, when both parties are holy, are full of comfort nnd help, when they involve us in close fellowship with the wicked may be our destruction.-M.
Ver. 20.-How confidence in wicked men is rewarded. The world is full of mteh instances of misplaced trust. The fable of the viper and- the husbandmun. It is hard to persuade men of the utter folly of worldly friendships nnd alliances. Only the most severe warnings and painful consequences will suffice to disabuse the mind. At the same time that the carnal nature of God's servant draws him towards the enemies of his country and his faith, God's providential dispensations are working out an effectual divorce, and preparing Samson for deadly hostility to his quondam friends. • I. THE CONFIDENCE WE PLACE IN THE WICKED WILL 0ERTAINLY BETRAY US. II. GoD BEEKS DY STERN LESSONS TO SEPARATE ms PEOPLE FROM THE WORLD. Ill. NONE ARE SO OPPOSED TO THE CHARACTERS AND PRACTICES OF THE WICKED .!B THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BETRAYED BY THEM.-M.
Ver. 14.-Samson'a riddle. The first intention of Samson's riddle is plainly, ns he 1hows in the interpretation, to wrup up in mystery a simple event of liis own t'~peri- 158 THE BOOK OF JUDGES. [CH, XIV. 10-20,
ence. But, with the Eastern instinct for imagery, Samson may well be supposed to intend also to set forth general principles which he sees illustrated in that event. The words seem to suggest the beautiful truth that things harsh and destructive may be found to contain within them sources of happiness and life. I. SOURCES OF LIFE MAY BE FOUND IN POWERS OF DESTRUCTION. Out of the de- stroyer came forth food. 1. The ikstroying agencies of nature prepare the way for fresh !if~.. Geological catastrophes renew the face of the old earth with virgin fields of fert1hty._ ~he products o~ decay are the foo~ of new life; the rotting leaves of autumn nourishmg the bloommg flowers of sprmg. 2. National revolutions i;ometimes i_ntroduce a better or~er. . <;)ut of the corruption and disintegration of the RorJ?a1! empire the _separate _nationahties of modern Europ~ ~prang into being. 3. Reliqwus destructive agencies prepare the way for new religious institutions. The work of the Hebrew pr~phets, of Christ and his apostles,-especially St. Paul,-of the leaders of the Reformation, was largely destructive, and only after a certain amount of ruthless breaking up·of old revered habits and doctrines was it possible to intro- duce the good things they were ultimately destined to establish. We may be too fearful of needful but painful destroying agencies, and by joining the new cloth to· th<1 old garment may only increase the final rent. 4. Destructive influences in private life are overruled by God's providence to produce· fruitful issues. Our cherished hope is dashed to the ground ; for the moment we are in despair. But in time out of the grave of the past God makes a purer, nobler hope to spring. 5. The death of Christ ·is the source of the Christian's life. In his broken body we see our bread of life (1 Cor. xi. 24). II. SOURCES OF QUIET BLESSEDNESS MAY BE FOUND IN MOVEMENTS OF VIOLENT STRENGTH. Out of the strong comes forth sweetness. 1. It is only in strength that we can find true gentleness. While gentleness makes us great, greatness is necessary to the perfection of gentleness. Soft weakness is not gentleness. Self-control, for- bearance, quiet work in the midst of difficulty are signs of gentleness, and they all imply greattstrength of soul. Christ's shadow shelters us because he is a great rock (Isa. xxxii. 2). 2. Violent exercises of strength are sometimes required to renwve an unsettled, restless condition of things, to establish an equilibrium, and so secure more peace. Storms clear the air and bring about a. more stable calm than that which nreceded them. The troubles of life subdue our passions, rebuke our wilfulness, ~hasten onr affections, and thus prepare us to receive the peace of God. 3. A healthy exercise of strength is the means of bringing happiness to others. • Sentimental svmpathy is of little use. If we wish to sweeten the lot of ·the most miserable da.sses of men, we must be prepared for active measures of improvement. 4. In proportion to the violence of earthly trials will be the weetness of the heavenly. rest.-A.