The National tribune., 1895-10-24
INTRODUCTION.

order to have a thorough knowledge, and be-
come familiar with the laws Of God.
THE Biblo is Gods medicine for the soul.
Through it He has given US His promises and
| enlightenment. 1t is the key OF Christian en-
lghtenment and explains the characteristics
of the different nations. On the Bible depends
all future prosperity. 1t humsnizes life and
| refnes society.
1.-The dim and vague persuasions the con-
| temptnous sneers and change of attitude of
modern scholars and scientists regarding the
Holy Book are the cause of the great lack Of
faith which exists to-day.
ITO prevent and ward off the malaria of
doubt that exists to-day, ones system must be
saturated in Gods faith and word. 1t is lamp
| which will lead US into the realms of an endless
eternity"
There are persons who treat the Bible as a
| sort of charm to keep away evil. They do not
read it, but they feel more comfortable if it be
| in the house. Some are very superstitious
| about it.
SUBJECT: THE PHILIsTINEs CONQUERED BY
THE IsRAELITEs NEAR MIzPEH-GoD,
PRAYER AND LIGHTNING VS.. BAAL, BLUs-
TER AND SWORDS.
Preliminaries.
The lesson should begin at verse 3. Thus we
shall have greater unity of thought. There is.
| however, connection between a clause in verse
and the paragraph for study. The occasion
| of the meeting of the people at Mizpeh w. g.
| and the lamentation mentioned in verse 2 are
intimate. 1t was the sad plight of the people
that moved Samuel to take some steps for re-
| lief. While there was signing for the good
old times while the people were thus in
| tractable state of mind-an opportunity was
furnished warranting Samuel in the hope he
could benefit the nation over which he had be-
come judge Al. he seized on it,
Samuel as Judge.
We read in V. 6. Samuel judged the children
| of Israel in Mizpeh." After his entrance to
the tabernacle being but child. We hear
nothing of him till he was about 30 years of
age, when we learn THE word of Samuel
came to all Israel" (4:L) Then, probably. 90
years intervene, and he is not far from 80 years
of age, when, as we read, he judged Israel.
V. of the lesson. By Judged" we mean
that be in religious sense told the people how
to return to God. Further, he aided them in
adjusting difficulties then existing among
themselves a natural result of their wander
ing away from the true worship. For over 90
years the people had recognized Samuel as an
established prophet. 3: 90 81. lie exercised
civil functions. as III Ex. Is: 1919. Also, like
Othniel, Ehud, Barackg Gideon, he was a mill
tary judge. Then, at Mizpch, as consequence
Of long-continued lack of genuine religious
culture and principle, there was much for sam
ued to do judge in ecclesiastical and
ethical matters Probably at Mizpeh there
may have been some occasion to exercise pre-
ventive powers in the cases of such as refused
to relinquish idolatry
The Cali for the Meeting.
j. The time. 1t tooksplace in about the year
1884 A. ~. or 1l20 II. c. 1t is thought Samuel
was 40 tn 80 years OF aye. Eli had been dead
for about 20 years.
q The place 1t was Mizpeh. V.6. That
place in the Tribe of Benjamin, JOSH.
1921 26) and about four aud onc-half miles
northwest from Jerusalem. Mizpeh is now
known as NeJi .SdmWiH 1t was a historic place.
and made sacred rs a point for assemblage and
consultation. Jud., 90: /; 81 l. Again, SAM
ucl called for a meeting at Mizpeh to choose a
King. ! Sam, 10: II. Then, it is thought
Samuel purposed leading the Isrseites against
the Philistines, and so had the place of rendez-
vous OH the border of the land of the Phils-
tines.
g. BY whom called? 1t is evident that Sam
ueI originated the call. He first gathered about
himself number OF in iluential men who could
be easily reached aud instructed them. lie sent
them abroad to proclaim moro generally the pro-
posed meeting. We can see that he. as their
prophet, anxious to relieve the people from
their distressing condition. Issued q call sum-
moning them together. 1t is likely the gather
ing was a representative one. The leading men
from all parts met Samuel for consultation. a
time and place were most probably fixed on
for the gathering.
a. Nature of the call. While the occasion
partook OF political and military character,
yet it was mainly religious and reformatory.
The call itself gave the people a full idea of
SamUcl's purpose in wanting a meeting. We
see why the .'h0use Of Israel" ". 81 had te-
como so desolate; why the people were subject
to the Philistines; why they lamented ". p
why their bondage TO a foreign power was pro-
had
They secured the Promised Land through the
aid and guidance OF the true God. For a long
time they succeeded in vanquishing the heather
inhabitants. They had been warned again and
again that if they waned at all in the depend
ence on Jehovab-if they yielded iota to
the worship of the heather gods-they would
lose their power, be deprived of Gods help, and
left to the mercy of their enemies. Now we
sec why they were subject to the Philistines
They had compromised their God They be-
gan to sympathize with heather worship. IL
would seem they actually joined in the adora-
ton of idols. The names OF two classes Of the
gods of the Philistines given; to wit. Ashta-
roth and Baalim, which are plurals Of Ashta-
reth and Baal. Those are chief divinities of
the Canaanites. Ashtareth correspondent with
Venus or Astarte of the Greeks, and Ishtar of
the AssyriaDs Baal was probably PARALLEL by
Jove or Jupiter. Ashtaroth collectively repre-
scnted the female deities, while Bsalim in
cluded the male. We may understand, then,
all the gods and goddesses OF the Canaanites |
1t is astonishing that after numerous pre-
cautions of God through Moses. Joshua, and |
others. against the worship of idols-after all |
the evidences of Gods power as shown in His |
dealings with the Israelites-that yet the peo-
pie seemed to have proclivity toward gods |
and goddesses Their Sins had involved them !
in serious troubles. Reformation was dc. |
manded. The only way in which it was posi-
bic for them to escape was by return to the |
service exclusively of the One True and Only |
God. As soon as the people thus gave up idol |
try they were assured God. who delivered them |
from Pharoah, God, who tumbled down the |
walls of Jericho. would again come to their |
rescue, enabling them to defeat the Philistines |
Hence, they were called on to prepare their |
hearts. See V. 2. We see the tractability of |
the people and the influence of Samuel in the |
fact of ready response to his urgent appeals. |
The people turned from idols, resumed worship |
of God alone, believed the promise of deliver |
ance, obeyed Samuel's orders. We notice how |
God always accompanies His commands by en- |
couragements to obedience. If the people re- |
formed they were Guaranteed victory over the |
Phlistines. If they assembled as Samuel di-
rected they were promised the influence of his |
prayers to God. VS..
The Meeting.
We notice the several acts Of the people at |
hiZpeh, /. They drew water and poured il |