Sunday, August 13, 2006

Some Words of Matthew Henry, on Samson

We've been reading through Judges in the mornings as a family, and we just finished up on the life and death of Samson. Having been pressed upon the duty of making good use of the tools we have today to help us understand the Bible better (from reading the Westminster Larger Catechism's question and answer #157, and J.G. Vos' commentary thereon), I turned to Matthew Henry to help me understand more about this "riddle of a man" named Samson. Some of Rev. Henry's thoughts to ponder:

"Samson did only begin to deliver Israel (David was afterwards raised up to complete the destruction of the Philistines), but our Lord Jesus is both Samson, and David too, both the author and finisher of our faith."

"It is no part of religion to go contrary to the innocent usages of the places where we live; nay, it is a reproach to religion when those who profess it give just occassion to others to call them covetous, sneaking, and morose. A good man should strive to make himself, in the best sense, a good companion."

"It were well for us if the unkindnesses we meet with from the world, and our disappointments in it, had but this good effect upon us, to oblige us by faith and prayer to return to our heavenly Father's house and rest there. The inconveniences that occur in our way should make us love home and long to be there."

"When differences happen between near relations, let those be ever reckoned the wisest that are most forward to forgive and forget injuries."

"The mischief we seek to escape by any unlawful practices we often pull upon our own heads."

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