The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-08-01
SAUL CHOSEN KING.
LESSON v, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 4.

LESSON v, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, AUG. 4.
Text of the lesson. I Sam. ix, f5-s7-Com-
nit to Memory Verses I5-i6- Golden
Text, Prov. will. I5-Commentary by the
Rev. ID. NJ. Stearns.
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per
mission of a S. Hoffman, publisher. Philadel
phia.
After the continued and persistent demand
of the people for king, that they might be
like other nations, notwithstanding the de-
scription of the way their king would treat
them, Samuel rehearsed in the ears of the
Lord all the words of the people, and the
Lord said, "Hearken unto their voice and
make them a king" viii, 81, 90. 1t would
then seem that Samuel, having sent every
one to his city, waited upon the Lord TO know
what next to do and how to find the king
Is. Now, the Lord had told Samuel In bis
ear day before Saul came, saying The
revised version says. 1.-THE Lord had revealed
unto Samuel"
16 Tomorrow, about this time, win
ssed thee mani Samuel was therefore ex-
pecting confidently to meet the man whom
God had selected; just where he should meet
him and how he would know him he left to
God, whom he served, but in confidence made
preparation for him., ''Thou shalt anoint
him to be captain Prince, r. W over
nay people Israel" See In this verso
end the next one tho name "my people,
repeated four times; think Of their treatment
of Him and yet hear Him say so tenderly
my people, and speak of hearing their cry
and saving them. Years afterwards He
says, How shall give thee up, Ephraiman
while at the same time He declares that they
are bent to backsliding from Him. (Hos. XII,
z, 81 1t is the same Lord who after His res
direction sent a special message of love to
Peter, who had denied Him. o, believer, be-
your God, and draw nearer to Him and behold
more faithful.
II. ''The Lord said unto him, Behold the
mani" How beautiful to see Samuel living
so near to God that God can talk so freely to
him and make known to him His will so
easily; we have the mind of God fully re-
vealed to us in His word and may constantly
talk to Him in prayer and hear Him talk to
us In that word If we really desire to. As
Samuel looked upon Saul he saw before him
a choice and goodly young man, from his
shoulders and upward higher than any of the
people ". 81 but remember that was his
outward appearance; the state of his heart
before God was of more Importance. All
prophets, priests and kings in Israel were as
to their office mot their character) types of
the greatest prophet and true Priest King,
Jesus of Nazareth; and as we read of this
first king chosen to reign over Israel and hear
the words Behold the man." we are at once
carried forward to a day when the God of
Samuel and of Israel stood In human form
before the people for their acceptance or re-
lection, and the Roman governor said BE
the mani Behold your Kingln John XIX
s. 14) and although then and stiff rejected He
shall yet sit on the throne of David and reign
over the house of Jacob forever and the peo-
pie shall be all righteous luke /, SO, 89;
1sa. *, 21.l
IS "Tell me I pray thee where the seer's
house is" A prophet was before time called
a seer ". o.; that Is. one who sees what ma
tural eyes cannot see. Saul and his servant
had given up seeking the asses and were now
seeking the man Of God If perchance he might
tell them of the lost animals.
19 ~ am the seer" How like this il to
the reply of Jesus to the woman at the well,
and to the blind man, II that speak unto thee
am He," ut is He that talketh with thee 4"
John iv, 20; IL, 97.) "Ys shall eat with me
today" How surprised he must have been
as much 80, perhaps as Zaccheus, who only
wanted to see Jesus, but was called down
from the tree to receive Him into his house.
20. "Set not thy mind ON them; for they
are found" II we would consult Him who
Is perfect In knowledge and Is always with us
Job. xxxvi, a we would more readily find
our lost things There is nothing too small
or trifling to tell Him about, for He is inter
ested in all that concerns US, and we are COM
manded to be careful or anxious about moth
ing, but In everything to make our requests
| known to God with Thanksgiving that thus
we may enjoy the peace of God phil. iv, 6,
| \. ION whom Is all the desire of tsraela''
In saying that the desire of all Israel was to
Him and His Fathers house, He said what
was true as God saw it, for Israel as yet knew
not who would be king
81. "a Benjamite, smallest of the
tribes, my family the least of all the
families" Benjamin, since the slaughter of
Judg. Xxx, 464S, was literally the smallest Of
| the tribes in point Of numbers, and it may
| have been In the same respect that Saul's
family was also the least, for his father is
said In verse to have been a mighty man of
| power or substance.
232i. 80 Saul did not eat with Samuel
that day" What a day of surprises for
SAUL Samuel expects him, speaks to him OF
@ high place in Israel, invites him to o
| feast, gives him the chief place at the feast,
and the chief portion Of the feast, q portion
| specially reserved for him, while all that Saul
had in view when he came 70 Samuel was
that he might recover the lost asses of his fa-
ther. How many people are today intent
upon earthly things, thinking of nothing
| higher, while there Is feast and kingdom
and great honor awaiting them, of which
| tft, he sc
that their enjoyment of this feast and honor
depends upon their being invited and accept
| Ing the invitation.
25. Samuel communed with Saul upon the
top of the house, This was after the feast
| when they were come down from the high
| place into the city, and Saul and Samuel
| were alone We are not left in ignorance as
to the subject of their conversation, for chap
| ter K, 1G, implies that the communion was
concerning the Kingdom. When the real
| King came, of whom all good kings were as
| to their office, type, He was always speak
ing Of the Kingdom. and during the forty
days after His resurrection, when He APP
peared many times TO his Disciples, He was
| speaking of the things pertaining to the
Kingdom Of God tActs !, b. W hen that
Kingdom comes, Israel shall be the cehter,
| Jerusalem the throne Of Jehovah, and all ma
| lions OF the earth shall go up from year to
| year TO worship the King, the Lord of Hosts
at Jerusalem.
%. "Up, that may send thee away" So
spake Samuel TO Saul, very early next morn
Ing. Just as the three apostles had soon to
come down from the Mount of Trausfigura-
tion where they would fain have remained,
20 Saul must go forth from this holy place
| and return to take up for little season the
ordinary affairs Of life. Though by faith in
Christ Jesus we are now children Of God and
joint heirs with Christ, seated with Christ In
the heavenlies Rom viii, Il; Eph ii. u, yet
we must go forth day by day into the ortii-
nary affairs Of life, there to gInrify God
while we wait for the Kingdom. Il we sim
cerely desire above all things the Glory OF
God, there Is one sentence In the words Of
Samuel to Saul which ought t. l., +, great
comfort and rest TO US, and can trti. s,y IL
has besn to me; it is, "Do as eSV..l, .s.n serye
thee, for God Is with thee" Chap Il
| Prefers Death.
The lot of the native dependent
| nriuces in British India Is not aluavs