The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-08-03
SAUL CHOSEN.
International sunday-school Lesson for
AUGUST 4, 1889.


Especially arranged from S. S. QUARTERLY
LESSON TExT-ISam. 9:l52T
GOLDEN TExT-By the Kings reign, and
princes decree justice.-Prov. S:l5.
CENTRAL TRuTH-God guides us to tho
kingdom to which He calls US.
TIME-B c. 1918, shortly after the last
lesson. according TO others, b. c. lO95.)
PLAcE-Ramah, Samuels home, four
miles northwest Of Jerusalem. Samuel,
about seventy years old. Judge and prophet
in Israel Saul asked or).-Son OF Kish, OF
the tribe OF Benjamin. He probably be-
longed to Gibeah. He was u giant in stat
ure, probably seven feet high at least, and
Of noble appearance. His mental powers
were sluggish. He was diffident affection
ate and brave, but impuisive, good war
rior, attractive and popular. At this time
he was probably about forty years old, ASH
chapter 10 we find he had u son old enough
| to distinguish himself as warrior.
HELPs OVER HARD PLAcEs-We find
double leading by God. In the verses pre-
yious to the lesson, Saul is sent out to seek
some strayed asses, and is unconscously
] led to Ramah and to Samuel. ID. Notp the
| Lord, etc. here Samuel is guided to Saul,
| and the choiceof him as king. 10. Sdrc 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 so anxious for king. IS. The
seer: one who sees; aprophet. 10. The high
place: q hill where sacrifices were offered,
there being no central place of worship.
| 90. On trhom Is all the desire Of Israel: not
| that all Israel desires him, but to him would
come all that was most desirable In Israel
the kingly power of wealth. 81. Be'Jdmite,
| of the smallest Of the tribes: at the number
ing, in Moses time, it was next TO the
smallest Mum. :31), and it had lately been
almost extinguished Uudg. 20:46). %. The
pdror: 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. 25. Communed Nth Saul: on the
state of the country and the duties OF o
| king. Upon the top OF the house: the most
| comfortable place in summer was the fat
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 a fine young boy
for his SON. There was not u goodlipr 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 it occurred to him that 1t
would be a good thing to ask the advice Of
the prophet Samuel. So Saul and his serv-
ant started for the prophet.
God had torcwarned 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 SauPs
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.
CoMMENTs-There is a proverb that says
"Alls well that ends well" This is not
strictly true, but it is more nearly true
than if it read: "Alrs well that begins
we'll" There are great many things that
have begun well that have ended very badly.
Adam and Eve began well in the garden of
Eden. If only they had continued as well
as they began, it would have been great
advantage for us all. But their good be-
ginning had a bad ending, and they lost
that advantage that God gave to them in
their first estate. Solomon began well in
his reign over the people, but he had q sad
ending. Judas began well as an apostle,
and for awhile he gave as good promise of
continuing well as any of the apostles. But
he turned aside from tho right way, and
ended most fearfully. Paul speaks of many
who did once run well, but who were hin
dered by some temptation, and who turned
aside from the ways Of truth. Among
those who thus began we'll is Saul. We re-
mark that he seems to have been really a
modest young man, and to have thought
that he was not worthy Of the honor thus
put upon him. This was good sign, for
humility was good virtue, and one not too
often found among the young. Doubtless
every one who knew Saul said about him
that he was young man of good
promise"
There are thousands of young men
and young women 'of promise" But
by and by the world will begin TO
look for fulhment of that promise
In many cases the world will be entirely
and bitterly disappointed Why's Because
these same young people will rely on the
start that they have made, and will not
realize that it was only "a start, and that a
good start is only part, and very small
part Of the battle of life. So it was with
Saul.-Rev. A. +. Schauffler.
II PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
/. Gods guiding providence is over all.
2. The smallest things rightly used may
lead to the largest issues. Saul sought Tor
stray asses and found kingdom.
3. There is scarcely limit to the posi-
bilities of our lives.
4. II God has work for us TO do, His
spirit will prepare US for it.
5. The proof Of our election TO a position
is our capacity to fill it.
9. God has called US all to be kings.
Z. We become kings by accepting God as
the King of kings.
fi,,l .