The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-30
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
NOVEMBER 8.
Lesson Text: "Samuel the judge"
i Samuel VIII, 5-15-GoIden
Text: Samuel viI., 12-
Commentary.

5. "And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to
Mizpeth, and will pray for you unto the
Lord" After the death of Eli and his sons
the ARK which the Philistines had taken re-
mained in their country seven months, but
it brought such trouble upon them that they
were glad to get rid of it, and so sent it
home on a new cart drawn by two milk COWS
and accompanied by trespass offering
(chapter vi, 10-12). The men Of Beth-she-
mesh were glad to sea the ark again, hut
transgressed by looking into it. and over
$4,000 perished. The man of kirjath-jearim
then came and fetched up the ark Of the
Lord, and it abode in the house OF Abindab
in the hill for twenty years (verse o. It
was some time during those twenty years
that Samuel urged the people to put away
all their idols, turn to the Lord with all their
heart and serve Him only, and he would
pray for them.
6. And they gathered together to Mizpeh.
and drew water aud poured it out before the
Lord" The name "Mizpeh" is found just
seven times in this chapter and Just fourteen
times in Jer. xl., and XII. Its significance Is
seen, Gen. XXI, 49, to be that Of God judg-
ing or watching between people-God as
witness. The water poured out represented
their utter helplessness and true penitence;
they were as water po"red upon the ground
which could not be gathered up again III
Sam. xiv, 14). Samuel lived before God
and sought to lead the people so to do.
2. 1.-THE children Of Israel were afraid of
tho Philistines." It troubles satan when he
sees the people of God giving themselves to
prayer and fasting. He seems to understand
that such conduct means some definite busl-
ness with God and some sure results; hence
the Philistines are stirred to action by Israel's
conduct. But Israel had no cause to fear
an6 uvonld not ha fanrad hod fho,, h,,t
membered the Lords past dealings on their
behalf in Egypt. and the wilderness, and in
the days Of the judges. To be afraid Of man
Is to forget God Elsa. L., -, 13).
8. Cease not to cry unto the Lord our
God for us, that he will save us out Of the
hand of the Philistines." Perhaps they
thought of the successful pleadings Of Moses
and believed that the effectual fervent PRAYER
of righteous man availeth much (Jas. ",
16). In Ps. 1, Is, 1t Is written: "Call upon
Me in the day Of trouble. I will deliver
thee, and thou shalt glorify Me-" In I
Thess. v, 17;I Pet. ", s, we are to pray
without ceasing and be sober and vigilant..::
9. "Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel,
and the Lord heard him." The margin says
answered him." The burnt Offering spoke
Of the merits of the great sacrifice Of which
all sacrifices were typical, whose merits alone
can avail anything. It also spoke OF whole
hearted surrender to God as fully shown
forth in Lev. /. and Bonn. xiii. l, Q. Samuel
In a measure represented both prophet,
priest and king. The king rules In right
eousness, the prophet Is for God to the people
and the priest is for the people before God.
On encouragenents In prayer see Mark x.,
as. "a; John ", Is.
10. "The Lord thundered with a great
thunder on that day upon the Phillstines and
near to battle while Samuel was having
dealings with God in the matter of the burnt
offering. That was a poor time for them to
touch the people Of God when they were ac-
cepted before Him in the Offering Uev. l., ~.
Believers are always accepted In the Be-
loved" (Eph. j.. g., and whoever touches
them touches Him. Thunder is the voice of
God, as in Ps. XXX, 8, 4; JOB 1xxvii., Is;
John xiii, 2s. When He speaks. none can
stand before Him. Just two words from
Jesus sent the soldiers who came to take
Him falling backward to the ground (John
xviii, g..
II. "And the men Of Israel went out OF
Mizpeh and pursued the Philistines and
smote them" When David went forth in
the name Of the Lord Of Hosts. the God of
the armies Of Israel, he prevailed over the
Philistine with sling and with stone q
Sam. xvii, SOY. When the children of Judah
relied upon the Lord God OF their fathers,
they prevailed over their enemies QI Chron.
xiii, 18). "For the eyes Of the Lord run to
and fro throughout the whole earth to show
Himself strong on behalf Of them whose
heart is perfect (or whole or quiet) toward
Him" II Chron. xvi. 81.
-. "Then Samuel took stone and set It
between Mizpeh and Shen and called the
name Of it Ebenezer (the stone of help), say
ing, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped u.s."
The name of ''Ebenezer" is found only in
chapters iv., 1. and v, l, and here. In the
two former places 1t Is associated with the
victory of the Philistines, but here with
their defeat. The Philistines triumphed be-
cause Israel relied upon the ark and not
upon the Lord (chapter iv., 81, but now
Israel triumphs because 1t relies upon the
Lord. He who reads the heart can always
tell whether we really rely upon Him or
only pretend to (Jer. xviii, 9, 1O).
13. "The hand Of the Lord was against
the Philistines all the days of Samuel"
They were subdued and came no more into
the coast Of Israel in his days. This was
"the hand Of the Lord" not the work Of
Samuel, but 1t was the hand Of the Lord be-
cause of Samuel's whole heart for God.
Ezra could testify that "The hand of our
God was upon US, and He delivered US from
the hand OF the enemy. aud OF such as lay in
wait by the way" Ezra viii, 3D. He also
testifes in chapter vii. %, II was Strength
ened as the hand Of the Lord my God was
upon me-"
H. "And the cities which the Philistines
had taken from Israel were restored to Is
rael. And there was peace between Israel
and the Amorites." They had peace and
prosperity because the Lord was with them.
"When a mans ways please the Lord. He
maketh even his enemies to be at peace with
him" prov. xvi, y. The way OF peace and
victory is fully stated in verse Of our lesson
chapter-a whole hearted turning to the
Lord, all idols put away and prepared
heart to serve Him only. Then we are ready
to see some of the "great and mighty
things" which He will do for those who trust
in Him that His name may be gloriaed (Jer.
xx1iii., 81. !Walk before Me, and be thou
perfect" is still the word for each believer
(Gen. xviii, /; Deut. xviii, 13).
Is. "And Samuel judged Israel all the
days of his life' We shall meet Samuel
again in connection with Saul and David,
but it is we'll to note here in connection with
his Office as Judge in Israel that when an old,
gray-headed man, he could call God and all
the people to witness that in all his life he
had defrauded nor oppressed nor taken a
a al