1567. Samson and His Bees

Samson and His Bees

"And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating" (Jdg_14:8-9).

The story of Samson, like that of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, is a story most illuminating in its typical teaching. This story particularly emphasizes the Second Coming of Christ.

Surely the things written aforetime are for our instruction.

1. "Samson went down" (Jdg_14:5).

Jesus Christ came down from the Father's right hand, into this world of woe. He spoke frequently of the fact that He came forth from the Father and that He came into the world.

2. "Behold, a young lion roared against him" (Jdg_14:5, l. c.).

"Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil."

The Lord met him and vanquished him. He met him again on Calvary's Cross and made a show of him openly, triumphing over him.

3. "And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well" (Jdg_14:7).

After the Lord vanquished satan, He goes, in the Spirit, to select the Gentile Bride. This is the work that our Lord is accomplishing during this present age.

The same type was seen in the case of Rebekah and also of Asenath.

4. "After a time he returned to take her" (Jdg_14:8).

The Lord is coming back to receive unto Himself His Gentile Bride. There is a happy day awaiting when that meeting and marriage takes place.

5. "And he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion" (Jdg_14:8).

(1) The mission of the Church during this age is set forth by the activity of this swarm of bees. The bees did not seek to open up a sanitary plant and to purify the carcase of the dead lion. Neither should the Church seek to purify and to purge the present corrupted civilization. The bees did swarm in the carcase, and in its midst they placed their honey. Thus the saints should swarm, establishing their churches even where satan's seat is, in the very centers of his realm and reign, of his wreckage and ruin.

(2) The mission of the Church is to create honey. God wants us, in the midst of a perverse and a wicked generation, to shine as lights; He wants us to produce love and joy and peace and long-suffering and gentleness, all the fruit, the honey, of the Spirit.

(3) When the Lord returns, after a time, the one thing that will interest Him will be the honey which the bees, the saints, have deposited in the carcase of the lion (the wicked world-regime) during the period of His departure.

It is while the Lord is gone the honey is stored up; it is when the Lord returns that He finds the honey.

6. "And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating" (Jdg_14:9).

We have in this picture the great delight that our Lord will have in the consummated work of His saints. He will take of the honey and eat. He will not be unmindful of our labor of love, nor of our patience of hope which we have wrought in His name.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR