Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-07-25
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONSIDERED.


Wholesome Food for Thought = Study
ing the scrIptural Lessons Intelligently
and Pro1tably.
The lesson for Sunday, July %. may be
found in Sam. 8; 400.
INTRODUCTORY.
We speak OF the evolution of popular gov
ernment. 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 monarchy, to astonish the ma
tions. for this was Gods people, David
and Solomon touched, doubtless. the high
tide mark OF human magnillcence 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 herr One goes not far astray
In tho opinfcn that Israel lost thoro ho.
golden opportunity to teach the nations OF
the world that better mode OF chastened
republicanism, which. because OF hor adj
verse choice, was left for later ages to
bring to light. She set the worlds hour
hand, as 1t were, two revolutions back.
Hers was a glorious kingdom. for God was
merctful; but how much moro glorious.
and gracious, too. undor God. might have
been her reign of the common peoplel
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
Then. 1t was at tho close OF the eleventh
century before Christ. Israel had been in
ptdC0 anu llObptllhy blhtO
the victory Of Ebenezer. The maladminis-
tration OF Samuers sons Tvs. l-9 is the i'm
mediate occasion OF the grave proposition
made in the lesson before us.--Elders.
Same word as below. W 5. (OldD The old
men were the accustomed counselors of
the people, sort OF popular senate. tSee
4: 3)-Rdmah Samuels home. q: 17)
few miles north OF Jerusalem. This en-
bassage was In itself a tribute to Samuers
nobility.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Then all the Elders Of Israel gathered
themselves together. 1t was virtual revolu-
tion When Israel gathered together at
Mlzphh Philistia took ii mt once as a decla-
ration OF war and came up against ner. But
to meet and ay Tn pans mon To depart TMs om
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 to nations
as we'll as TO individuals the peril is the
same. Mans free agency is a fearful
legacy, SAVIOR OF lifo unto life, or OF death
unto death.
GiUe rs a king to Judge us. No wonder
Samuel was grieved. He was human, in
the first place, and could not but SEQ 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 affront it was to
Jehovah himself. Now make us king to
judge u.s." they said, "like all the nations"
Those last four words told the animus of it
all. 1t was the evil influence of the nations
again, worldly conformity. There were. in
brief, three features to Israers misde-
mean9s hers. IL %as ", Sfea a5
live up to the idea of the theocracy and
failed. Give us a king that he may rulo for
US and take the responsibility CO.. our shoul-
ders. ~ 1t was an acknowledgment OF
their real subjection to the heathen people
who surrounded them and to whom they
were appointed to teach a more excellent
way. (p 1t was a virtual testimony to
their lack OF faith in God, who had set him
sclf as their king and guardian. il they
would but hear his voice. Tho thing dis
pleased Samuel because it, first OF all, dis
pleased God.
And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. That
was what saved Israel from entire extinc-
tlon. There was man in her midst who
prayo1. y, the power OF prayerl Often the
church seems more ready to make terms
with the world than with God. Spirituality
at u low ebb, secularism sweeping all be-
fore it. Well for such a people Il they have
dlOHO Mllu NOu upon HIS
knees. Hugh Latimer, John Knox,
Charles Wesley. Out of sight, IL may be,
and unknown to them, but "the effectual
fervent prayer of o righteous man availeth
much. Yes, 1t made up. in degree, for
tho lack OF homage all around. Over in
Revelation. in the midst Of tho mysterious
silence mt the breaking OF the seventh seal,
John saw an angel come and stand at tho
altar, Having a golden censor, and there
was given unto him much incense. that he
NxvfNI Il -
land the smoke OF the incense which came
with tho prayers of the saints ascendod up
before God out OF tho angels hand" The
weaker the homage OF men, the stronger
let the prayers OF saints be, for up there at
the throne Ii makes for worship,
Hedrken INTO their roicP. God hears tho
voice of our prevalent desires. They are
in sense prayers lifted up to him, and
often the worst thing that could happen to
short-sightod humanity is to have its
prayer granted-exactly as asked. Hcnco
we say very devoutly, in submission TO the
divine wisdom, Thy will be DONE" Heze-
kiah's reign. it appears, would have been
more blameless and glorious had he not
implored for those fifteen added years
years OF sin and judgment-for "Hczekiah
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" e Chron. 80:
25.) Remember the prayer under tho
leaves OF the garden, Nevertheless, not
my will but thine be DONE"
Nay. bNt zoe tcH hare king. They did IL
intelligently, deliberately. determinedly,
Was there ever a more clear and vivid pic
ture OF tho ills of a 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 to
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 VIC will" men say. 1t
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 wretchedness. Not
| ignorance, not her edity. habit. environment.
1t is petty IoilUulness that mars us. Nay.
| Out zoe tciWl
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 n man in the royal
lineage after His own heart, who should
say for Israel and for US, in words that shall
last while HES struggles continue, The
! Lord saveth not with sword and spear; for
the battle is tho Lords"
Next Lesson--"Saul Chosen Of tho Lord. :
1 Sam. o: 1927.
= Il