November 14

Judges xvi.—18. And, when Delilah saw that he [Samson] had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once; for he hath showed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.

19. And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. Howbeit, the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.

23. Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice; for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.

24. And, when the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country; which slew many of us.

25. And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison-house, and he made them sport; and they set him between the pillars.

26. And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.

27. Now, the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.

28. And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God! remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once. O God! that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

29. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.

30. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.

From Gideon, the type of moral courage, we turn to Samson, the hero of physical strength. The Philistines still hold the coast of the Mediterranean from Carmel down to Gaza, and had even subjugated the Israelites upon their immediate borders. Samson was consecrated to the Lord under the vow of a Nazarite, which for sale his head to be shorn. While yet a young man, he tore a sunder a lion that rushed upon him from the woods. A swarm of wild bees made honey in the lion's carcass; and Samson, who married a Philistine, put forth a riddle to the young men who came to his wedding feast: "Out of the water came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness." They got his wife to coax the answer

out of him: "What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion?" Incensed at their duplicity, Samson took revenge upon the Philistines, and made his name a terror throughout their country. At last, they prevailed upon his wife to entice from him the secret of his strength; and when, at last, he told it, they deprived him of sight, and mocked him as their prisoner. The terrible vengeance which he executed upon his enemies helped to rid his country of their power. The character of Samson is not a model, but a warning, showing how extraordinary gifts from God may be abused by strong sensual passions; and the greatest hero, by dallying in the lap of pleasure, may be shorn of his strength and renown.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 132, 136, 140.

O God, who hast spared our lives, and brought us to the beginning of another day! we lift up our hearts to thee. We thank thee for rest during the past night; for life preserved, and strength renewed; and for the many tokens of thy loving-kindness which surround us. May we ever have true gratitude for thy mercies, and never grieve thee by a hard and unthankful heart!

Lord, watch over us, and all who are dear to us, this day. Let not the world with its cares and vanities fill our hearts, and so make us forget the worth of our souls, the love of our

Saviour, and the nearness of eternity. Whilst we are busy in the world, may our hearts rise above it!

Defend our souls from the assaults of the Wicked One, and preserve our bodies in health and safety. May we walk in the light of thy countenance, and know the happiness of those who have the Lord for their God! Finally, prepare us to depart and be with Christ. Hear us, heavenly Father, and when thou hearest forgive, for the sake of Jesus our Saviour; who, with thee and the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.