The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-07-05
SAMUEL CALLED.


tE|+-f 49, ~-r "~- ''~--~ 49,"
crxrnAi. rnrru- God calls US 70 love and
serve Him.
Tlnr--B. q. "A. when Samuel was twelve ,
years old
PLAcE-shlloh, the religious capital Of
Israel, seventeen miles northwest OF Jeru-
salem.
CONTEMPORARY HISTORY wv Samson was
horn about the same time as Samuel, and
was Judge in another part Of the country.
INTRODUCTION now take up our les
sons where we left on AZ the close OF lose
The Judges ruled over three hundred years,
70 the time OF Samuel Now we enter upon
n new era in the history Of Israel.
HELPS OVER II ARD Places. Samuel MIN
<sfered: did such work as lighting lamps,
opeuing doors. etc Before III: under the
direction OF the high priest. He seems 20
have been personal attendant Word wds
,,reeio,ls. i. e.. rare. No opsn ,ision: no pub
lie prophecy, such a. had been through
Moses and Joshua. 3. Ere the lamp re'if
ouf. | 81. lust before morning Laid d,unto
sls<.. in one Of the buildings within the
court Of the tabernacle, and built around IT,
Not in the tabernacle itself 10. Aud me
Lard came aud stood: in some manifest pres
ence. or vision. Not merely voice As be-
fore. II. both nc cars tings: with horror.
- an hsngs usieh hare spoken: some
time before this by a prophet q sam. 2:27-
34,. 49, Made Themselves rl<: probably bet
Ter rendered. hare cursed Themselves: l. e.,
brought curses upon themselves COOK
Els sons had biasphrmed God and made
light OF HIM By their Infamous conduct IN
his very presence. Hs restrained them n";
and hence was partly 10 blame. a. shat
not ~ pury>d: clcansed away, but the pun
ishmcnt would surely come
COP CAiIrxG THE YorxG- God is calling
every child as he called samuel II is AN
individual call. BY name. for He calleth
His own sheep by name" Got calls CD by
HIS Word: t2l by His own loving attrac-
tive character: o. by what He has done
fo~us in Jesus Christ: 90 by the Influences
OF the HOLY Spirit: 81 by various provi-
dences: tG) by conscience; fl by sabbaths
and religious services: % by the invita-
tions and influence OF friends; o. by the
living water which satisfies every thirst o.
the soul; t10) bv the attractions OF gooc-
ness and Of Heaven.
LEssox FAsrs We now return 70 the Old
Testament for our lessons. And more
beautiful story than that OF the text y Is
impossible 10 find. Let the teacher nrs'
tell the class about the birth OF little sam
uel. and how his mother at q tender age
Drought MN 10 tue Tempe. Attti ~ '.4sA-t'N
10 the Lord. Having made that clear the
way will be open TO go on TO the story Of the
lesson.
Much is implied In the first verse. The
teacher may well try 10 set before the class
the simple duties Of the young lad as ~
went about his daily task Among M
other duties was the opening and closini
OF the doors Of the tabernacle each day
and perhaps. also, the lighting Of th'
golden candlestick Besides this. ne was
Kind OF personal servant Of the aged Eli
There was nothing at all romantic ABOUT al
this. but II was fidelity in small things tha
opeucd the way for the larger privileges .
which our lesson speaks. Al last ther'
came day which. in the life Of this boy
was most marked.
One day the lad had gone TO his rest q
usual in some one Of the chambers arouh'
the tabernacle The night had worn ava
silently. and the morning was approaching
No profane priests or pious worshiper
have vet appeared AT the tabernacle. Al
was wrapped in that profound silenc
which betokens the approach OF the dawr
Then. without warning. Samuel heard hi
name distinctly spoken. 1t Is Eli" p
thinks. aud with quick obedience he m
swers the call II called thee not say
old Eli: Ego lie down again" Ferplexcd
and perhaps thinking that he had pee
dreaming. the boy returns 70 ms iowi
couch Again the voice speaks his name
and again. thinking that II must pc ~
master. he runs. but only 70 be sent pac'
A third time this experience Is rcpcatcs
and then only does i; dawn upon EMS min
that God is calling the boy. go lie down,
saws the old man. '.and II shall be that II
call thee. thou shalt say: Speak. Lord. 4
INV servant heareth'" For the fcurt
time God called, and now the lad. =
struc.cd. SAYS: "Spcak, Lord. for IN
servan. hearcth- Then God tells hi
what He proposes 10 do Ia the family
Eli. and how lie will bring Judgment upc
he house of the high priest for his faiiul
10 do what he should have done in the Drin
inr up 81 his sons.
CoNMKSrs- There are other ways
which God spcaks 70 Us, besides ia n
HOW Wed. To every one lie has gwen
conscience. which tells them that y
wicked 10 as wrong. What j. that ia o.
heart. which condemns Us when we ha'
tojd 4 lie or disobeycd our parcntsy IL
reailv the voice 81 God. just as plain as ia
winch addressed the boy so many years ~
h tnc taeernace There Is no ono in "a
class who has not had the privilege Of hca
mo the voice 81 God speaking directly
him. No one VIII ever be able 70 say
have not had as great privileges a. that o
had In fact. We must confess that y
have. in reality, hal higher advautsss
than he FOR the revelation that we have
our hands H. lar fuller and far more he
ful than that which the boy Samuel
loved. How did Samuel act as soon as
understood that II was God who was spes
ing 10 hims III said Speak. Lord. for \
servant hcarc;hi That WAS good way
answer the Lord. BY 'hcarcth' he mea
not only that he was ready TO listen. but
obey as well That is exactly the attitu
that every one should take when God spca
TO them whether il be by the voice 81 n
own conscience or BY the written page
His Holy Word III, in this particular.
ere careful 10 obey what we hear, we 81
receive many messages from Him that
gladden. our lives and lead US Ia the y
IN which we should walk. 1t IS only tn
who are not willing TO obey what they
hear who receive no additional MESA
Revelation is in measure progress
thing. and 10 him that hath shall DC civ
ana tie shall have abundance. DO what ,
know i the viii OF God, and you shall ia
more and more of His ways, until all !
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