The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-07-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONsIDERED.
Reflections OF nm Eievsting Character
wholesome Food for Thought = study
ing tho scriptural Lessons Inteiiigsntly


wholesome Food for Though Int = STUDY
ing the scriptural Lessons Intelligsntly
and Probably.
The lesson for Sunday. July 20. may be
found In Sam. 3: 4-20.
INTRODUCTORY.
We speak OF the evolution OF popular gov
eminent. Here WAS evolution backwards.
Not that Israel under the kings did not
make progress considering especially her
former state OF anarchy; not that she failed.
even as "a monarchy. 10 astonish the ma
tions, for this was Gods people. David
and Solomon touched, doubtless. the high
tide mark OF human magnifcence and OF
kingly royalty. But what might Israel have
become had she not broken violently from
the paths OF "A simpler but juster form OF
government, such as Jehovah seemed to
point out to her? One goes not far astray
in the opinion that Israel lost there her
golden opportunity TO teach the nations OF
the world that better mode of chastened
republicanism. which. because OF her adj
verse choice, was left for later ages to
bring TO light. She set the worlds hour
hand. as IL were. two revolutions back.
Hers was glorious kingdom. for Goa was
merciiul: but how much more glorious.
and gracious. too. under God. might have
been her reign OF the common peoplel
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
Then. 1t was ut the close OF the eleventh
century before Christ. Israel had been in
comparative peace and prosperity since
the victory OF Ebenezer. The maladminis-
tration of amuel's sons Tvs. I-3 is the i'm
mediate occasion OF the grave proposition
made in the lesson before us.---Eiders.
Same word as below. V. 5. (Oid) The old
men were the accustomed counselors of
the people, a sort OF popular senate. See
4: 3.)-Rdmah. Samuers home. a. H.
A few miles north OF Jerusalem. This en-
bassage was in itself tribute to Samuers
nobility.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Then all the Elders Of Israel gathered
themselves together. il was virtual revolu-
ton. When Israel gathered together at
Mizpah Philistia took it at once as decla-
ration oil war and came up against her. But
God Is more merciiul than man. He allows
Israel to meet and lay plans TO depart from
the true and beautiful plan of government
handed down from the skies. That method
they have brought into sad confusion, but
1t Is through their own unfaithfulness and
apostasy. Now instead OF mending their
ways. they assume to mend the pattern
given to them. Or rather, they will put it
wholly aside and fashion themselves after
the nations about them. Truly as has been
said, any villain can take away life. only
God can give It," With reference 10 nations
as we'll as to individuals the peril is the
same. Mans free agency is IA fearful
legacy. SAVIOR OF life unto life, or OF death
unto death.
Gipe as king TO judge u.s. No wonder
Samuel was grieved. He was human. in
the first place, and could not but see the
slight only half hidden in the clever words.
Behold. thou art old. and thy sons walk
not in thy ways. But he was given also in
large deg rec the mind of God and he could
see the real and wretched Gffront il was to
jehovah himself. Now make us a king TO
Judge US. they said. like all the nations. :"
Those last four words told the animus Of it
all. IL was the evil Influence of the nations
again, worldly conformity There Were. in
brief. three features to Israels INSIDE
meanor here. u) 1t was "A confession of
personal luke warmncss We have tried to
! live up TO the idea of the theocracy and
failed. Give us n king that he may rule for
Us and take the responsibility ca our shout
ders. CD 1t was an acknowledgment of
their real subsection TO the heather people
who surrounded them and TO whom they
We're appointed to teach more excellent
way. 90 1t was virtual testimony TO
their lack OF faith in God. who had set him.
self "a their king and guardian, il they
would but hear his voice. The thing dis :
! pleased Samuel because il, first OF ALL dis
| pleased God.
! and Samuel prayed unto the Lord. That
was what saved Israel from entire extinc-
| ton. There was "a man in her midst who
! prayed. ., the power of prayer! Often the
/ church seems more ready TO make terms
! with the world than with God. Spirituality
AT low ebb. secularism sweeping all be-
! fore IL. Well for such people they have
| an undershepherd alone with God upon his
! knees. A Hugh Latimer. a John Knox. II
| Charles Wesley. Out of sight. il may be.
and unknown TO them, but the effectual
iervent prayer of righteous man availeth
much. Yes, il made up. in a degree. for
/ the lack OF homage all around. Over in
| Revelation. in the midst Of the mysterious
! silence at the breaking Of the seventh seal.
John saw an angel come and stand at the
altar. having n golden censor. aud there
was given unto him much incense that he
should offer with the prayers of the saints
land the smoke of the incense which came
with the prayers Of the saints assembled up
before God out OF the angels hand" The
weaker the homage Of men. the stronger
let the prayers of saints he. for up there at
the throne it makes for worship.
Hedrket unto their poice. God hears the
voice of our prevalent desires. They are
in sense prayers lifted up to him. and
often the worst thing that could happen to
short-sighted humanity is TO have its
prayer granted-eXactly as asked. Hence
we say very devoutly, in submission to the
divine wisdom. Thy will be done" Heze-
| kiah's reign. il appears. would have been
more blameless and glorious had he not
| implored for those fifteen added years
years of sin and judgment-for "Hezekiah
| rendered not again for the benefit done
| unto him; for his heart was lifted up.
therefore there was wrath upon him. and
upon judah and Jerusalem" q Chron. 81:
| 25) Remember the prayer under the
leaves of the garden. Nevertheless. not
| my will but thine be done"
Nav. but zee tCiU hare king. They did it
intelligently. deliberately. determinedly.
Was there ever more clear and vivid pic
ture Of the ills Of IA kingly rule than that
! sketched by Samuel here? The history OF
the nations declares its truth. Yet with
these things distinctly before them. the peo =
pie chose king. With all his usurpations.
| expressions, exactions. give us a king Co
| rule over us and fight our battles"-~that
| we may also be like all the nations" O
| there is no sacrifice men will not lay at the
feet OF pride; there is nothing they will not
endure or forego that they be in the world s
fashion. The thumbscrews and racks OF
| custom put even the Papal inquisition IN the
shadow. Nay. but we will. men saw. II
may cost health. comfort life itself. yea. the
everlasting soul. nevertheless we will have
| that of which our carnal minds make choice.
Here is the cause OF our Indebtedness. Not
ignorance. not hefedity. habit. environment.
1t is petty scitfulneSs that mars US. Nay.
| bal tre tciI
Fight our battles. Choose God TO fight
| your battles. Why should Israel so soon
| forget that man who stood over against
Joshua with the drawn sword in his hand
DID he not say very distinctly. AS captain
| OF the host OF the Lord am Gomez" Hap
py il was for Israel that God in His forbear-
ance raised up at last man in the royal
| lineage after His own heart. who should
say for Israel and for us. in words that shall
last while life's struggles continue. The
Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for
the battle is the Lord's.