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SAMSON

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 27, 1876

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 17.

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SAMSON

By Jos. Clarke

Samson had a strange and unfortunate preference for vain and outlandish associates, when it seems that he might have found virtuous and noble and excellent persons, of great moral worth, much more conveniently. It seems clear that he passed by the worthy and estimable, who were near his home, and risked his life among hostile foes, to gratify a singular taste for strange company in foreign lands.
But the penalty came; his friends in his new home turned traitors. His head was shaven, his body was put in chains, and his eyes were put out.
May not Samson represent the church of God, forever panting for worldly gain and honor, and worldly friendship? And may not Delilah, treacherous Delilah, represent the world, alluring only to betray? When she finally prevailed upon the church to set aside the law of God and the gifts of the Spirit, then she caused the locks of the antitypical Samson to fall. He lost his great strength and fell into Satan’s snare; next, his eyes were destroyed. So the church, in rejecting the gifts, was made sightless. The gift of prophecy and other gifts were laid aside, and spiritual blindness ensued, and the poor church was shut up in the world’s prison-house. There she lies, prostrate, in submission to her cruel captors.
But look! the locks of Samson in his long confinement, began to grow again; so the antitypical Samson is now refreshing his wasted powers, and he thinks of the long-rejected gifts. His soul expands and glows in hope of coming events, the time of his thralldom is nearly at an end; he will yet exult in his former glory. The Delilahs of Philistia will yet hear of his glorious victories over treachery and deceit.
Even so the church of God in the last days is waking up in her gloomy prison-house to the fact that she has given away the secret of her power and strength; and she is also becoming aware of the fact that spiritual blindness is the result of the loss of power to ward off the enemy. But signs of returning power are appearing. Her last victory will surpass all her former triumphs. JOS. CLARKE.