The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-07-25
SAUL ohoeEN.
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~Vs August \ 1855. &

lesson. ACCORDING 70 others, B. G. 10o6)
PLAcH-Ramah, 6amuel's home, four
miles northwest Of Jerusalem. Samuel,
about seventy years old. Judge and prophet
in Israel. Saul asked for). ).--6ou Of Kish, Of
the tribe Of BENJAMIN. he probably be.
longed 70 0ibeah. He was Q giant In stat
ure, probably seven feet high at least, and
Of noble appearance. His mental powers
were sluggish. He was difident affection
ate and brave, but impulsive, Q good war
rior, attractive and popular AT this time
he was probably about forty years old, asin
chapter IS we ind be had o son old enough
10 distinguish himself as warrior.
HELPS OVER HARD PLAcEs-We find o
double leading by God. In the verses pre-
vious to the lesson, Saul is sent out to seek
some strayed asses, and is unconsciously
led to Ramah and to Samuel. 16 NotD Me
Lord, ETC.. here Samuel is guided to Saul,
and the choiceof him as king l6 Sdcc my
people, etc. this shows that the Philistines
were gathering for an attack upon Israel,
and this was probably one reason why the
people were 80 anxious for king. 1S. 1he
seer: one who sees; prophet. 10. The high
place: hill where sacrifices were onered,
there being no central place Of worship.
90. On Whom s all the desire of Israeli not
that all Israel desires him, but to him would
come all that was most desirable In Israel
the kingly power Of wealth. 81. BcJdmfte,
of the smallest of the tribes: at the number.
ing, in Moses time, it was next to the
smallest Mum. 1 :37, and 1t had lately been
almost extingushed (Judg. 20:46). o. The
pdrlor: the priests chamber. About thirty
persons: In the chamber. The leaders,; the
rest Of the people worshiped outside.
%. Samuel said, etc.: this was to show Saul
that his coming had been foreseen and pre-
pared for. Is. COmmuned tcith Saul on the
state of the country and the duties OF
king. Cpon the top Of the house: the most
comfortable place in summer was the fiat
roofs Of the houses.
LESSON FAcTs-In our last lesson we saw
that the people were bound to have King,
so as to be like the nations that were
around them. In the tribe Of Benjamin
there was man who had fine young boy
for his son. There was not goodlier per.
son than he among the children Of Israel.
Kish was the name Of the father, and Saul
was that Of the son. One day the asses OF
the father strayed away and the son was
sent after them Not succeeding In finding
the beasts they were about to return to
their homes, when 1t occurred to him that 1t
would be good thing to ask the advice Of
ant started for the prophet.
God had forewarned Samuel that the next
day He would point out to him the man
whom he was to appoint as King over
Israel. When, therefore, Saul appeared,
| God told Samuel that this was the man OF
whom He had spoken to him. On Saurs
asking for the prophet, Samuel told him
that he was the prophet himself, and at the
Same time comforted him by assuring him
| that the asses were found already. He
then indicated to him that he was to be the
chosen king Of his nation. To this Saul
made very modest reply, showing that he
| was by no means proud of the distinction.
Samuel then honored him in the assembly
that was gathered, giving him place OF
prominence, and keeping him for his guest
that night The next day Samuel accom-
panied him part Of the way home, and told
him what the word Of God had been in the
matter Of his being appointed as king over
Israel.
CoMNrNrs-There is proverb that says
"All's well that ends we'll" This Is no,
strictly true, but it is more nearly true
than II It read: "All's we'll that begins
WELL" There are great many things tina,
have begun well that have ended very badly
Adam and Eve began we'll in the garden Of
Eden. II only they had continued as vel
as they began, It would have been CRED
advantage for US oil. But their good be
ginning had bad ending, and they los,
that advantage that God gave to them IL
their hrst estate. Solomon began we'll II
his reign over the people, but no had sc
ending. Judas began well ss an apostle
and for awhile he gave as good promise o,
continuing well a. any Of the apostles. Blu,
he turned aside from the right way, ani
ended most fearfully. Paul speaks OF MANI
who did once run well, but who were hin
dered BY some temptation, and who turned
aside from the ways Of truth. Amonl
those who thus began well is Saul. We no
mark that he seems to have been really {
modest young man, and to have though
that ho was not worthy Of the honor thu,
put upon him. This was . good sign, fol
humility was good virtue, and one not TO,
often found among the young. Doubtless
every one who knew Saul said about hiu
that he was 'young man Of goot
promise" .ate
There are thousands Of young mo.
and young women ''of promise" Blu
by and by the world will begin y
look for fulflment of that promise
In many cases the world win be entirel,
and bitterly disappointed Whyi Becaus,
|
start that they have made, and will no
realize that 1t was only start, and that ,
good start is only part, and q very small
part Of the battle of life. 80 it was witt
6sul.-Rev. A. f. Schauffier.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
I. Gods guiding providence Is over all
Q. The smallest things rightly used ma,
lead to the largest issues. Saul sought tol
stray asses and found kingdom.
8. There is scarcely limit to the posi-
bilities Of our lives.
4. II God has work for US to do, HI,
spirit will prepare US for It,
s. The proof Of our election to position
Is our capacity to fill II.
9. God has called US all to be kings.
T. We become kings by accepting God Q,
the King of kings.
You may assuredly find perfect peace 1
you resolve to do that which your Lord ha.
plainly required, and content that He shoult
indeed require no more Of you than to a,
justice, to love mercy and to walk humbl,
with Him.-Ruskin.
THAT peculiar law Of Christianity whioj
| fOrbids revenge M man ran think 0r,avnv,