The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-07-12
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JULY IA.
Les ON Text: "rhe Sorrowfui Death of
En-" 4 Sam. Nv 4 49, Golden Text:
4 sam. III, 13.-Commen'a ary
OH the Les IN

Israel would know through him tho win OF
the Lord. In studying my portion Of the
history or Isruel we must rcnlombcr, TINT
they were chosen by God from aIpcng al tho
nations OF the earth and placod in that rood
land In order that He through them might
make Himself namo and be magnified by
them in tho eyes of all the nations QI Sam.
vii, 90; Chr. xviii, 81; Isa. xiii, 13), He
them peculiar people unto Himself Ex.
xix, b. Israel went out against tho Philis-
tines TO battle." II was during q forty years'
oppression of Israel by the Philistines that
Samson was enabled by the Spirit of God to
istines that Israel was defeated when Saul
and his sons were slain; IL we judge from I
Sam. xvii, 26, As, wo aro to look upon them
as. defiers Of the living God, the God Of
Israel, over whom true Israelites should al
g. "Israol was smitten before the PhiliG-
tines" This indicates that God was not with
them, for had He been in their midst victory
would have been certain; lone should chase
flight" He had promised to fight for them
when He sent them forth Deut. l., 30; I'LL,
20; xxxii., 3C), SO that this going out against
tho enemy and this defeat was not tho result
of Gods leading When thoy were defeated
at All it WINS because Of sin in the camp, and
tho sin which eli knew and did not put away
may havo been partly tho causo OF this de-
fcat; but our noxt lesson will tell us that they
Lad as nation forsaken God CHAP vii, 8)S
and this Judgment rominds us that 1.-THE hand
Of our God is upon all them for good that seek
Him; but Hispower aud His wrath is against
oil them that forsake Him." Ezra viii, 22.)
3. Lot us fetch tho ark of the covenant Of
tho Lord; 1t may save u.s." They
were not at this time worshiping Him, but
idols, and they speak of this holy vessel rs if
it were au idol which perhaps may havo
more powor than tho other idols which they
worslipcd; but their iniquities had separated
between them and God, aud their sins had hid
His faco from them lisa. lix, Q; Jer. ", 25).
3. $50 tho people sent TO Shiloh, that thoy
might bring from thence tho arl of the cove
nant Of tho Lord of Hosts which dwollotli
between the cherubim." Thus thcy add sin
enormity of this sin. Consider tho signifl-
canoe of this holy vessel, mentioned eleven
tunes in this chapter, ond that its place in
tho tabernacle WINS in the Holy of Holes into
which the High Priest nlonc entered but once
year and never without tho blood of tho
sacrifice, typifying the blood Of Jesus Christ;
consider also the expression 'dwelleth between
: the cherubiin" found here for the first time,
and only seven times In oil Scripture II Sam.
vi, q; III Kings xix, Is; Chr. xiii, 6; Ps.
Xxx, 1; xcix, 1; Isa xxxvii., 1G); carrying
us back to Ex. XIV, % where we find its
origin. The Lord of Hosts will be entreated
by, and do great things for, every penitent
heart that humbly seeks Him, but whon such
they can only expect His wrath.
s. IAN Israel shouted with great shout"
1t was not like the great shout whom tho walls
of Jericho foil, or whom the foundation of tho
second tcmplo was laid Josh. vi, 20; Ezra ill.,,
lib, for then it was shout because tho
Lord was In their midst and tho work was
for His glory, but this was simply the shout
Of Israel without reference to tho glory OF
God; il may have been louder shout than
on tho other occasions but it was all noiso
with no power to it.
60. God is come into tho camp" Whom
tho Philistincs heard the shout, and under
stood the cause of it, they were afraid, sup
posing the ark was Isracps God as DagOn
possible results remembering what they had
heard nf tn" wonders in Egypt md in the
Wilderness, they are ready to mako trial of
the power of their god against Israeps God
and urge their soldiers to bo strong and quit
themselves like men, least they become SER
wants TO tho Hebrews. 1t is not to bo won
tiered at that the Philistines knew not tho
God of Israel nor His mighty power when
Israel knew not their own God nor relied
upon Him. Had He indeed como into the
camp Of Israel that would have settled tho
matter
10. "1sracl was smitten; = there
fell of Israel thirty thousand foot,nen." Is
rael was chosen to rely upon God that Ho
she failed to do SO her defeat was sure. Two
things were required of her; that sho should
be holy and by implicit reliance upon, and obc-
dience to her God, magnify His nome. The
samo two things are required now Of every
Christian and of every church.
II. ''The ark of God was taken: 4 s. =
the two sons of Eli wcro slain" The next
two chapters tell Of the journeyings of the ark
in tho land of Philistines, and how tho hand
of the Lord was against the people wherever
Israel with an Offering. God win SEQ to His
own glory and will care for His own ark,
oven il His people dcspise Him and the enemy
seem for time to prosper.
1917. ELI sat upon seat by tho waysido
watching, for his heart trembled for the arl
{ God" Only twice outside OF these first fou.
chapters OF / Samuel do we find the name OF
Ell In the ptpio tcnap, XIV, 8; Kings, u,
m, yet he lived to be 9s years old and Judged
walked worry closely with God or to havo been
very intimate with Him.
The glory of Israel was not the house of
Ell, OF which four died that day, nor even the
,rk itself, precious holy vessel though it was;
IF Israel whom no Philstine could touch,
and whom the death Of oil the priests and
prophets that ever lived could not affect.
Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, rely wholly
upon Him, keep His commandments, magni-
~ His name, seek His glory, and losing sight
IF self, or church, or denomination, except In
80 far as they may honor Him, seek with the
whole heart and all our might to hasten the
completion of His church and the coming Of
His Kingdom.
18. "When he made mention of tho ark OF
God q q he died" The man of Benja-
min who brought the tidings from the field
Of battle broke them to Eli as gently as pos
siblo roserving, tho worst for the last
"Israel is fed, great slaughter,
+ thy two sons arc dead, y the
ark of God is taken" but it is too much for
The old man. and whom it Is mentioned that
the ark is gone he falls backward and dies;
cause Of the judgments Of tho Lord upon the
house Of eli, on account of sin tolerated In
high places. Chap ill.,, 11-14). What shall
ulaee @ to punish the inhabitonts of tho earti,
for their iniquity" Qsa. XVI, 21), and how
would you stand should Flo como today
Lesson Helper.
.rNxIT