Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-09-26
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. j. o. SHERBJRN.
Oct. 18th: Ellis Death-I, Sam. 4: 1O-ls

Since our last advance lesson the affairs
of Israel have been growing worse and
worse. The sons of Eli kept on in their
wicked practices until the time of retribu-
ton came The old enemies of the Israel
ties, the Philistines, still oppressed them,
and held them in bondage. With the
hope of breaking this yoke, Israel went
out TO war against them; and having
chosen their position, they engaged the
foe. The first days battle was disas
trous to the lsraeites. At its close they
counted four thousand slain. Then in
conference, after The battle they decided to
bring the ark Of the Lord from Shiloh into
the camp, thinking that with this symbol
OF Jehovah's presence they would be sure
of victory. Again the armies joined in
battle, and this time with greater deter.
mination than before. The Philistines
thought thu their case was desperate, and
hence fought as at the last ditch; and
when it appeared that they were getting
advantage, we may well suppose that the
Israelies fought desperately in defence of
the Ark But all in vain after thonsan' s
had fallen the courage of their comrades
failed and general rout was the result
That day thirty thousand instead of four,
were slain, the ark taken and the two
priests lost their lives.
There is II complete and sudden catas-
trophe to close this dramatic picturing of
Israel sin and its consequences. A Ben
aminite ran out of the scattered host ard
came in haste to Shiloh, with those com.
mon eastern tokens of supreme sorrow
and distress; his garments rent and dust
upon his head. Eli had taken his seat by
the way7ide at the entrance of the town,
which may have been his customary place
when acting as Judge, but more likely he
took his position there that he might be
sure to learn the first news from the field
of conflict. Those who watched mails and
telegraph offices day and night, almost,
during our late war can appreciate some.
whal the feeling of this aged father and
priest of the people.
The herald evidently approached the
town by another way than that by which
Eli was seated, lor he first hears tumut
in the city and inquiries its meaning. Tuen
the messenger came directly to him and
announced the sad defeat which Israel had
suffered, told him of the death of his sons,
and last of all that the ark of God was
taken At hearing this bis powers gave
way, and the nfirm old man fell backward
and "his neck brake" Tho tragic end OF
Eli has in it several important lessons,
First sin, unrestrained, brings calamity
and ruin. There is no intmalon that Eli
abused his office as priest, or was guilty
o. any other crime so far as his own doing
was concerned. The picture given of him
is that of a good and Cody man, but he
was greatly delinquent in some matters
lie did not bring up his sons in the way Of
uprighlness, and, while he was all along
the head or high priest, and hence, in Il
sense, responsible for the correct discharge
of all the functions of the office, he had
shameless course of extortion and licen
tiousness The sad results of such neglect
came upon him in the extremity of age
and fte5eness, and he was not permitted
to escape even though the sin was not, as
We are acustomed 10 reckon, his own. The
punishment, however, which he endured
was for his own sin. For to him that
knoweth to do good and doeth it not to
him it is sin. lie should with vigorous
hand have restrained the corruption prac
ticed by his sons. or better yet, so trained
them in youth that they would not have
been of such abandoned character. The
evil evidently grew until he thought it
beyond his control before he saw its
enormity Like calamilies are sure to
como upon every family where sefconrol
and the fear of God are not taught and
illustrated We have not TO 60 far or
search long 10 find tragedies as heart rend-
ing and as calamitous In their results as
was .he one of our lesson, and it is more
than mere coincidence that wantonness
and wine are generally among their
inducing causes. Another lesson is this;
hat painful solctude cannot undo the
wrongs of other years, or avert the sure
consequences of neglect. Eli, with all his
ardent interest in the cause of his people,
and intense devotion 10 the ark of God,
could not with anxiety and tears from
sightless eyes ward off the stroke which
years of neglect had merited. Only one
remedy is known for sin, only one means
by which its consequences can be averted;
hearty repentance and real faith in God
mercy. Again while we do and must
suffer on account of sin, that is, as q con
sequence of sin, it is not necessary that We
sink down in despair under The rod.
Samson fell on account of sin, and suffered
all that a man could well suffer, but he
did not despair when it would seem tha
hope had gone out for MIN, he cried to
God and casting himself upon him for
help, gave up his ruined life in defence of
his people, and for the overthrow OF their
enemies. His death. painful as it is to
contemplate, is not so painful as that OF
Eli, who gave up in utter desplir and
ended his inefficient life without one effort
TO save the sinking nation at whose head
he had been placed. By this we would
not put the general character of Eli below
that of Samson, but in the latter there is
more of manly spirit, and withal better,
though a painful ending