patriarchs and prophets-第145章
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Friend； to follow the path of convenience and worldly pleasure。 They
intended at some time to return to God； but the world with its follies and
deceptions absorbed the attention。 Frivolous amusements； pride of dress；
indulgence of appetite； hardened the heart and benumbed the conscience； so
that the voice of truth was not heard。 Duty was despised。 Things of infinite
value were lightly esteemed； until the heart lost all desire to sacrifice
for Him who has given so much for man。 But in the reaping time they will
gather that which they have sown。
Saith the Lord： 〃I have called； and ye refused； I have stretched out My
hand； and no man regarded； but ye have set at nought all My counsel； and
would none of My reproof： 。 。 。 when your fear cometh as desolation； and
your destruction cometh as a whirlwind； when distress and anguish cometh
upon you。 Then shall they call upon Me； but I will not answer； they shall
seek Me early； but they shall not find Me： for that they hated knowledge；
and did not choose the fear of the Lord： they would none of My counsel： they
despised all My reproof。 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own
way； and be filled with their own devices。〃 〃But whoso hearkeneth unto Me
shall dwell safely； and shall be quiet from fear of evil。〃 Proverbs 1：24…31；
33。
The Israelites now humbled themselves before the Lord。 〃And they put away
the strange gods from among them； and served Jehovah。〃 And the Lord's heart
of love was grieved 〃was grieved for the misery of Israel。〃 Oh； the
long…suffering mercy of our God！ When His people put away the sins that had
shut out His presence； He heard their prayers and at once began to work for
them。
A deliverer was raised up in the person of Jephthah； a Gileadite； who made
war upon the Ammonites and effectually destroyed their power。 For eighteen
years at this time Israel had suffered under the oppression of her foes； yet
again the lesson taught by suffering was forgotten。
As His people returned to their evil ways； the Lord permitted them to be
still oppressed by their powerful enemies； the Philistines。
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For many years they were constantly harassed； and at times completely
subjugated； by this cruel and warlike nation。 They had mingled with these
idolaters； uniting with them in pleasure and in worship； until they seemed
to be one with them in spirit and interest。 Then these professed friends of
Israel became their bitterest enemies and sought by every means to
accomplish their destruction。
Like Israel； Christians too often yield to the influence of the world and
conform to its principles and customs； in order to secure the friendship of
the ungodly； but in the end it will be found that these professed friends
are the most dangerous of foes。 The Bible plainly teaches that there can be
no harmony between the people of God and the world。 〃Marvel not； my
brethren； if the world hate you。〃 1 John 3：13。 Our Saviour says； 〃Ye know
that it hated Me before it hated you。〃 John 15：18。 Satan works through the
ungodly； under cover of a pretended friendship； to allure God's people into
sin； that he may separate them from Him； and when their defense is removed；
then he will lead his agents to turn against them and seek to accomplish
their destruction。
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Chapter 54
Samson
Amid the widespread apostasy the faithful worshipers of God continued to
plead with Him for the deliverance of Israel。 Though there was apparently no
response； though year after year the power of the oppressor continued to
rest more heavily upon the land； God's providence was preparing help for
them。 Even in the early years of the Philistine oppression a child was born
through whom God designed to humble the power of these mighty foes。
On the border of the hill country overlooking the Philistine plain was the
little town of Zorah。 Here dwelt the family of Manoah； of the tribe of Dan；
one of the few households that amid the general defection had remained true
to Jehovah。 To the childless wife of Manoah 〃the Angel of Jehovah〃 appeared
with the message that she should have a son； through whom God would begin to
deliver Israel。 In view of this the Angel gave her instruction concerning
her own habits； and also for the treatment of her child： 〃Now therefore
beware； I pray thee； and drink not wine nor strong drink； and eat not any
unclean thing。〃 And the same prohibition was to be imposed； from the first；
upon the child； with the addition that his hair should not be cut； for he
was to be consecrated to God as a Nazarite from his birth。
The woman sought her husband； and； after describing the Angel； she repeated
His message。 Then； fearful that they should make some mistake in the
important work committed to them； the husband prayed； 〃Let the Man of God
which Thou didst send come again unto us； and teach us what we shall do unto
the child that shall be born。〃
When the Angel again appeared； Manoah's anxious inquiry was； 〃How shall we
order the child； and how shall we do unto him？〃 The previous instruction was
repeated〃Of all that I
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said unto the woman let her beware。 She may not eat of anything that cometh
of the vine； neither let her drink wine or strong drink； nor eat any unclean
thing： all that I commanded her let her observe。〃
God had an important work for the promised child of Manoah to do； and it was
to secure for him the qualifications necessary for this work that the habits
of both the mother and the child were to be carefully regulated。 〃Neither
let her drink wine or strong drink；〃 was the Angel's instruction for the
wife of Manoah； 〃nor eat any unclean thing。 All that I commanded her let her
observe。〃 The child will be affected for good or for evil by the habits of
the mother。 She must herself be controlled by principle and must practice
temperance and self…denial； if she would seek the welfare of her child。
Unwise advisers will urge upon the mother the necessity of gratifying every
wish and impulse； but such teaching is false and mischievous。 The mother is
by the command of God Himself placed under the most solemn obligation to
exercise self…control。
And fathers as well as mothers are involved in this responsibility。 Both
parents transmit their own characteristics； mental and physical； their
dispositions and appetites； to their children。 As the result of parental
intemperance children often lack physical strength and mental and moral
power。 Liquor drinkers and tobacco users may； and do； transmit their
insatiable craving； their inflamed blood and irritable nerves； to their
children。 The licentious often bequeath their unholy desires； and even
loathsome diseases； as a legacy to their offspring。 And as the children have
less power to resist temptation than had the parents； the tendency is for
each generation to fall lower and lower。 To a great degree parents are
responsible not only for the violent passions and perverted appetites of
their children but for the infirmities of the thousands born deaf； blind；
diseased； or idiotic。
The inquiry of every father and mother should be； 〃What shall we do unto the
child that shall be born unto us？〃 The effect of prenatal influences has
been by many lightly regarded； but the instruction sent from heaven to those
Hebrew parents； and twice repeated in the most explicit and solemn manner；
shows how this matter is looked upon by our Creator。
And it was not enough that the promised child should receive a good legacy
from the parents。 This must be followed by careful
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training and the formation of right habits。 God directed that the future
judge and deliverer of Israel should be trained to strict temperance from
infancy。 He was to be a Nazarite from his birth； thus being placed under a
perpetual prohibition against the use of wine or strong drink。 The lessons
of temperance； self…denial； and self…control are to be taught to children
even from babyhood。
The angel's prohibition included 〃every unclean thing。〃 The distinction
betw
