Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-08-22
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
AUGUST 10.
Lesson Text; "The Amounting of
David" 1 Sam. xviii, Lis
Golden Text: Sam. xvi,
documentary.

!. "And the Lord said unto Samuel: How
long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing have !,
rejected him from reigning over Israel" So
difficult is it for US to side with God, regard |
less OF our own thoughts or feelings or prefer
ences, that even the great and good Samuel
Is here seen clinging in his heart (for he went
not near him, Chap. xv., 80 to Saul after the
Lord had rejected him. We must remember
that the Lord did not reject Saul until Saul
had persistently rejected and disobeyed the
Lord Chaps. xiii, Is, "A; xv. 26, so that Saul
had no one to blame but himself for the loss
Of his position.
2. "How can I go9 If Saul hear it he will
kill me-" This does not sound like the utter.
ance of faithful, fearless follower of the
Lord God of Hosts. It might be said to Sam.
uel: "Who art thou that thou shouldst be
afraid of a man that shall die, and
forgettest the Lord thy Maker? Qsa., H., IL,
1877 Had Samuel been in full sympathy with
the Lord in the case of Saul he might not
have talked thus; but whenever we are in the
least degree out of the fellowship with God
we are apt to say and do many foolish and
sinful things. The fear Of the Lord and conf
dence in the perfect love of God, is an effect
ual cure for all other fear. Sand the Lord
said take an heifer with thee and say, Tam
come to sacrifice to the Lord.n Sinful man
can do nothing in the way of serving God
apart from sacrifice and atonement; ou
holiest actions, our very best service cannot
be acceptable to God apart from the merits
Of our Lord Jesus Christ, but the weakest
cry or the feeblest service is made acceptable
through Him.
g. II will show thee what thou shalt do
and thou shalt anoint unto Ne him whom ]
name unto thee" The servant of the Lord
has only to move forward calmly and in per
feet confidence in his captain and he is al
ways promised sure guidance.
4 "And Samuel did that which the Lord
spake." This is now as it should be, the
word Of the Lord prevails, and the servant iS
simply obedient and comes to Bethlehem
leaving God to carry out His own plaas and
manage His own affairs in His own wise way.
When we are thus passive and also obedient
in His hands, all will be well and His pur
pose unhindered. ''The elders of the town
trembled" Here is another indication Of lack
Of fellowship with God, for if their hearts
were right and their conduct right there
would have been rejoicing instead Of trem
bling at visit from the Lords servant; but
probably they, too, were clinging to the disc.
bedient king.
5. II am come to sacrifice unto the Lord'
He uses the very words which he was told to
use ". q, and that is always the right thing
to do Jesus Himself said only what the
Father told Him John xii, 4Y; ; Jeremiah and
Ezekiel were to speak only the Lords word.
(Jer. l., 70; Eek. ill.,, T. 10, II, To- and
when we as messengers Of the Lord confint
ourselves to the Lords message, rather thar
give our thoughts about it, surely we shall b.
most pleasing to Him.
6, Z. ''The Lord looketh on the heart" As
the first Of Jesse's sons stood before Samuel,
there was something about him which caused
Samuel to think that he was the Lords an
nointed; but how solemn the word Of the
Lord: EFI have refused him." Let us again
repeat that in the matter of salvation the
Lord refuses none who come to Him; but
this is a matter of special service, and it Is
not stature nor a fair countenance He seeks,
but heart right With Himself, "a man afteI
bis own heart" CHAP, xiii, 14).
$40. Jesse made seven of his sons to pass
before Samuel; and Samuel said unto Jesse,
the Lord hath not chosen these" Here then,
is an apparent failure; the Lord had said to
| Samuel that He had provided king from
among Jesse's sons, and yet here are all the
SONS whom Jesse had thought it necessary tc
bring; and for this special service, this placs
of honor, all are set aside, the right man ha,
not appeared. Gods thoughts and ways are
as much higher than ours as heaven is higher
than earth; and how few seem to know Hii
thoughts or understand His countenance
Qsa. w., 8, 9; Mic. iv., 12l; but let men b.,
blind as they may, there is no failure with
God. He has chosen His servant, and will
yet set the man of His choice on the thron,
of Israel and of the whole world. Wait upon
Him and be patient.
II. 'Send and fetch him. for we will not
sit down till he comes hither." So every.
thing has to stand still till the slighted son
is brought In reply to SamueFs question as
to whether these seven were all his sons
Jesse replied that the youngest was at home
keeping the sheep, and it was for him that
they We're now sending and waiting. .,
10. sand he sent, and brought him in, y ~
and the Lord said: Arise, anoint him; for thii
| is he" As we are thus for the first time per
sonally introduced to David, the son of Jesse
| the history of whose kndom, past and future
| fills so much of Scripture, and with whom VIZ
expect to be somewhat intimately associated
when Jesus, the son of David, who is also tht
church's Bridegroom, shall sit on Davidi
throne, we can only stand and gaze upon thii
ruddy, good-looEdng young man and wonder
at the grace of God in choosing amortal maj
for such glorious immortal future; anC
then turning to our own souls we would say
o, my soul, see that thou dost never CEASE
to adore, and cry aloud the praises Of Him
whose grace has called you, passing by 81
many others, to be a king-priest unto God
washing you in His own precious blood.
13. Then Samuel took the horn of oil ant
anointed him in the midst of his brethren
He was afterward, at Hebron, anointet
king over the house of Judah, and some
what later, at the same place, anointed kim
over all Israel. III Sam. H., 4;v., 1-5) Al
ter Samuel anointed him that day there wer
long years of waiting and rejection and per
secution ere he came to the throne, SO nov
although Jesus, the Son of David, is God
chosen and anointed King of Israel and o
all nations, we are still living in the tim
when He is rejected and prosecuted. 9Th
spirit of the Lord came nightly upon Davi
from that day forward" (See r. W Her
Is the power by which alone we can suffer Q
serve or wait OF in any way glorify Goo
From beginning to end Of Scripture the epowe
of the Spirit Of God is the only power rt
vealed for effectual service, and whether it
playing upon the harp or writing psalms, sui
DUNG enemies or reigning over Israel, wha
ever David did that was acceptable to Go
was by the Holy Spirit.
$50 Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
For the second time he has anointed CaI
tain over the Lords inheritance, and now
retires to his own home no doubt to col
tinue in prayer for the Lords people and fc
His anointed. Helper.