Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-10-24
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. J. o. sHERBJRN.


ing his primitive occupation. as stock
grazer, when news was brought to him
that city of his kingdom was in sore
distress The Ammonites came against
Jabesh Gilead, east of the Jordan, and SO
terrified the people that they readily
offered TO become tributary to them, II
they might be spared. The conditions
imposed were very severe. Every citizen
was to have his right eye thrust outand the
disgrace was to be considered reproach
mon all Israel. In this extremity the people
obtained respite for seven days until it
should be seen whether aid could be found.
Messengers were dispatched in the great
est haste to Saul, and he, nightly moved
by the spirit of God, vigorously set to
work and brought large army TO their
rescue. After the Ammonites had been
completely vanquished. Samuel who ap-
pears to have accompanied Saul on the
campaign proposed to the people that on
their return they assemble at Gilgal and
renew the kingdom there. 1t is not
perfectly clear what was meant ny that'
but Samuel doubtless meant Il more for
NAL and hearty endorsement of the new
king than he had yet received. When
the people were assembled at Gllgal. the
first fortified place which Israel had in
Canaan, after joyful sacrifices Samuel
delivered the address of which the lesson
forms part. After recounting the sigaal
favors God had shown thom, and their
ingratitude under these favors, he adds
their latest sin, in desiring king; and
says: "Behold the king whom ye have
chosen He virtually declared that Saul
was their God-appoined sovereign
Though the people had dshonored God in
turning away from him to ask king,
like the other nations, yet that was not u
fatal thing. Ifnow the people. with their
king, would fear and honor God, they
still have promise of their favor. Their
condition was not much changed by adopt
ing a new form of government. Their
only hope of continued national life, now
as before, was in Fl lelity to 6 ID and in his
favor which is sure TO come upon tue
faithful. Ofsuch Fundamental Importance
was this truth that .muel repeats it again
and again in his address. That his words
might rest with more force upon the
hearts of the people, Samuel declared
that they should see sign which might
help to impress them. 1t was midsdm
mer, the beginning of the dry season
il Palestine, it was Il very strange thing
that any rain should fall in that season,
(,he month of June,) but Samuel declares
to the people that he will call upon the
Lord and he will send thunder and rain
God granted him the sign he asked, land
the people greatly feared the Lord and
Samuel" They saw plainly that Samuel
enjoyed the favor of God, and they not
on revereuced him on that account, but
thev feared him because he had admins
tered to them re Duk .s forth 3ir perver y,
and they feared that he would use his
power with God in bringing judgments
upon them. In their terror the people
plead with Samuel to pray for then, lest
thcy die. A sense of their real offence
seems 10 have dawned upon them finally
Samuel reassures them in their misgv'
ings and urges them not to let the con-
seriousness of their former slnfulness
hinder them from following the Lord with
all the heart. The fact Of their wicked
ness remained, as it does with every
transgressor; but that was of the past
and the provisions of mercy covered it.
If now the people would turn from sin
and be true 10 God, he would delight to
bless and prosper them. Samuel takes
occasion here to remind them that there is
no reasonable alternative. If they turned
away from God, they turned 10 senseless,
meaningless ilolatry. The expression
spain things" is said to be the same term
that is used 10 Genesis to denote formless
chaos, before the Spirit breathed the
worlds into life. The thought which
Samuel here presented to The people ough
to be kept con ,tantly before the minds o
men. No help but in God. Every Other
refuge is no refuge, and there is no rea
good out OF him. Going away from hin
we 60 to nothing. Samuel further assures
the people on the ground that God will
not forsake his own. He had been pleased
to make them his people. Hence nothing
but persistent departure from him woult
hinder his mercy toward them. H
assures the people that h. should regar
it as sin against God, if he should ceas
to pray for them; his purpose in plain J.
speaking to them of their sins was not tt
fill them with alarm, nor had he an,
vindictiveness of feeling because they ha
acted contrary to his wishes, but his Who'll
design was to teach them the good an
right wav. His aim was simply 20 brip
about such penitence and fear of the Lor
as would secure the people in time I
come against disgraceIul departure fror
him He would have the people bound I
God by sense of his great favors
them in the past. 1t would seem tn.
they had enjoyed enough 10 secure
grateful loyalty in all coming time. Br
we must be careful in condemning the
ingratitude and forgetfulness, lest in 6
doing we condemn ourselves; for we hay
cause of gratitude and loyal remem branc
of God vastly greater than these peop
ever had. At the end of his addre
Samuel plainly declares TO the people tn,
if they do w:cksdLN retribution will sure
follow upon them and their king. IT
form of government is of little momel
in the sight of God; he looks upon Il
real character of the people; and the
prosperity Or disgrace is determined
what they are and not BY how they al
governed. God has no thought that Il
person of the king is inviolable, but sen,