Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-09-12
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. j. o. SHERBJRN.

The present is lesson for the children
preeminen,ly. Samuel was yet child.
His pious mother had given him to
the Lord, and put him under the care
and training of Eli, the priest of her
people. 1t would appear that he was
almost constant attendant upon Eli, who
had become now old and infirm. We do
not know how old Samuel was at this
time, but without doubt somewhere be
tween ten and fifteen years. Nearer to
fifteen probably. He was engaged about
such work us lad of his years could
perform, and seems to have had this room
somewhere within the sanctuary itself,
though it may have been only inside the
court. There are indications that at
Shiloh more permanent structure had
been built then the tabernacle which the
people had during their journey in the
wilderness. This idea is partly substanti-
ated by the expression of the 18th verse,
which speaks of the doors of the house of
the Lord. The tabernacle had only
curtains before the entrance. The history
rs given lis here indicates that, among
other thing, Samuel had the care OF the
building, filled the office of our modern
janitor. In the stiffness of the night
toward morning, Qor the lamps we e
ready to 90 out,) the Lord is aroused by
some one calling his name. 1t appears
al bot ho h,l Tod
by the aged priest under whom he served
Thinking that Eli had called him he at
once reports himself and inquiries what is
wanting. Eli affirms that he has not
called him and bids him lie down again
We can easily imagine with what feelings
of wonder the boy would return ag.n to
bis bed, having hearu the voice but
finding that it was not the voice of his
master. This wonder and questioning
would be greatly increased when the
same mysterious voice repeated the call
second and third lime. At length Eli
perceives that the call is from the Lord
and directs Samuel how he is to answer
it. At this point we come naturally to
consider the expressions of the first and
seventh verses. Israel had so far depart.
ed from God that be had in great measure
ceased to communicate with them. The
word of God was precious, or rare in
those days. Samuel had never yet had a
direct communication from the Lord, and
hence did not know him, i. e., did not
recognize his voice or think of the posi-
biity that the Lord was seeking to hold
converse with him. We are not to
conclude that he did or did not know the
Lord, in the sense of having a personal
knowledge of his favor and hope in him.
That matter is not involved in the fact
that Samuel failed to understand that it
was Gods voice which had aroused him.
After returning TO his bed the third time,
the voice was again heard as before, and
Samuel answered, as instructed, save that
he omitted the address which Eli had
suggested. He said "speak, for thy ser.
want heareth," while he was instructed to
answer "speak, Lord, for thy servant hear
eth" He may yet have felt some doubt
as to who was calling. or he may have
neglected the title through fear of the
divine presence. Having obtained the
attention of Samuel, God clearly reveals
to him the desolation and destruction that
is to come upon the family of Eli, because
of the gross wickedness of his sons. The
morning came aud Samuel went about
his usual work in the sanctuary, all the
while fearing the question which his
master might ask him about the vision he
had received. But when strictly charged
under solemn oath TO declare the whole
matter, he does so in a straightforward
manner. Eli conscious of the ill desert of
his sons and of his own fault in the matter
him do what seemeth TO him good. "Having
passed hurriedly over the text of the
lesson we do we'll to gather up some of
the leading teachings which, it present..
First childhood is not overlooked in the
divine communications. For some reason
about which we need not speculate, God
revealed the coming calamities of Ellis
house to the lad who waited in his sanctu
ry. That was not the beginning or the
end of divine revelations to children. Ii
was given Joseph, long Lefore this, TO SEE
the rank and honor which he was after.
ward to attain. and, in the ages since
Samuel, God has often spoken to the
heart and mind of childhood. and great
and blessed have been the results of his
word to them. Many lad has found
himself in the darkness of the night, and
in the midst of unpropilious surroundings
listening to voice that spake within him
out of the unseen world; and many times
it has happened that the voice of the Most
Nigh, heeded and followed, has led that
lad out from his unfinished chamber, and
and his comfortless home to become
mighty power in The earth. Second,
God calls those who are earnest and
Guliful If Samuel had followed the
wicked example of the sons of Eli, and
had he been careless of the service he
owed to Eli, he might have slept or
walked, he would not have known the
Lord who spake to him. The boy or girl
who seeks to do duty faithfully will not
be long destitute of divine revelations.
Cop speaks in those ears that are attent to
hear. Third, if the voice of God is hoard
and needed, there will soon be work to
do in telling what God has said to US.
And the real test comes when we are
required 10 declare what has been commu-
nicAled 10 us. 1t is all the same to the
world as if Gods voice had never come to
us, if we refuse to communicate what he
has spoken. In this connection Samuel
gives us good example. 1t was not
pleasant for him to tell Eli what denun-
citation God had uttered against him, but
be went at the task in the most simple and