The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-23
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
OCTOBER 27.
Lesson Text: 1.-THE Child Samuel"
I Samuel ILL.,, 1-13 - Golden,
Text: Samuel ILL.,, g.
Commentary.

1. "And the child Samuel ministered unto
the Lord" We have set forth in this book
and the opposite. Hannah. in the bitterness
of her soul, looked unto the Lord. and He
heard her and gave her this child. There
fore she called his name Samuel, which
means Task of God" (chapter l., so, margin }.
When she had weaned him, she returned
him TO the Lord (chapter l., %, margin }.
Then she praised God in the beautiful words
OF chapter H., lilo. In this song we have
the first use of the word "Messiab," trans
lated "His anointed" (yerse 10; see also
verse 35). We have also in chapter J., 8, II,
the title of "Lord Of Hosts" for the first
time. Both of these titles suggest many
things concerning the kingdom, and in this
book, sometimes called 1.-THE first book OF
Kings" we have the story Of the first two
kings, one a man after the peoples heart,
the other man after the Lords heart
2,3. SIRE the lamp of God went out in the
temple of the Lord. where the ark OF God
was" Eli was now old and was not walking
before God in the matter OF his sons. and
very early in the morning the Lord came to
talk with this child, Samuel, Of whom 1t is
written that he ministered unto the Lord,
grew before the Lord, the Lord was with him
anu EoNodlcU ulIuSoll W DdhuOi III OlhOh Dy
the word Of the Lord (chapters H., II, 18, 81.
20; ill.,, 19, 21). See how even a child may
minister unto the Lord and have place in the
Lords house and receive messages from the
Lord while older ones are passed by Many
things are still hidden from the wise and
prudent and revealed unto babes (Math. Ii,
PSI. The thing that greatly pleases God Is
to live "before Him" and "unto Him." seek
ing in all things "His glory"
4. ''The Lord called Samuel. and he an
swered, Here am l." 1t is evident from
verse 10 that He called him by name. This
makes us think OF that beautiful verse in
thee. T have called thee by thy name; thou
art Mine" And also OF lisa. vi, 8, where
the Lord says, "Whom shall send, and
who will 90 for usf' And the prophet an
swers, Here am I; send me-" How beauti-
full to be ready for His every call, an ear al
ways open to Him!
s. "And he ran unto Ell and said, Here
am T, for thou calledst me- But Ell did
not recognize that 1t was the Lord calling
him and so told him to lie down again.
Eli had not the ear for God which he should
have had, and God saw It, and that He
could communicate with him only through
Samuel. IT was rare thing to get word
from the Lord in those days, and visions
such as those granted to Abram and Jacob,
Moses and Joshua were unknown. See verse
/, R. v, margin.
6. "And the Lord called yet again, Sam
uel." Behold the patience OF the Lord.
Samuel's readiness and Eli's continued dull
ness, How difficult II often Is for the Lord
to get our ear and make known to lis His
will! What contrast 10 ''watching to see
what He will say unto u.s." or watching
daily at His gates" (Hab. H., /; Prov. viii,
I. "Now, Samuel did not yet know the
Lord. neither was the word OF the Lord yet
revealed unto him." He must have known
the Lord through Moses and Joshua, but not
yet by direct communication. Known means
to perceive, understand, acknowledge, so
there may easily be many degrees in knowl-
edge. When Paul said, "That I may know
Him" (Phil. ILL.,, 10), he certainly knew Him
as Saviour and Lord, His wisdom and His
righteousness, but he longed to know Him
better.
8. "And the Lord called Samuel again
the third time. And Eli perceived that the
Lord had called the child" The third time
did Samuel rise and promptly 60 to Eli, be-
lieying that he called him. What unwearied
obedience! What blessed son! When he
would tell his mother Of his experience and
how he had acted, how glad she would be!
I think this Is the only instance Of God
speaking directly to little boy, but all.
Young and old, may hear His voice In His
written word (John vi, 63).
8. "It He call thee, say, Speak, Lord, for
Thy servant .heareth." Ell Is by this time
wide awake and also wide awake to the fact
that the Lord has something to say, but not
directly to him. 1t Is probable that he re-
mained awake till he heard the tidings, and
then he would be more awake than ever.
"Awake, thou that sleepest," Is good word
for many Of us. 1t would be wise also to
say. ''Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth. "
whenever we open our Bibles. and it would
also be appropriate to add the prayer In Ps.
cxix., 18.
10. sand the Lord came and stood and
called as at other times, Samuel, SamueiT'
This Is the fourth time that He came and
called, suggesting the question, How often
has he called us? And have we as yet sub
missively said, "Speak, for Thy servant
hearethi" The attitude Of servant is we'll
described in these words Ready to do
whatsoever my lord, the king. shall ap-
point "For any manner Of service, wholly
at Thy commandment" III Sam. xy., Is;
l Chron. xviii. 2l.
IL, a. "And the Lord said to Samuel. Be-
hold, will do thing in Israel at which
both the ears Of every one that heareth 1t
shall tingle." And then follows the thing
that He will do-a judgment upon the house
of Eli, as told to Ell by man OF God some
time before and fully recorded in chapter H.. /,
27-3G. Mercy always precedes judgment, for
God is slow to anger and plenteous In mercy.
He had given Eli fair warning but Eli had
honored his sons above God Gi., 29). The
law was very severe, but very plain concern
ing rebellious sons Oeut. xxi, 1921. and
the ruler who refused to see the law carried
out because the transgressors happened to be
his sons certainly thought more OF his sons
than OF God. Only those can truly servet the
Lord who serve Him in sincerity and In truth
(Jtshua xiv, 14), or, as our Lord Jesus
said, "He that loveth father or mother, son
or daughter, more than Me Is not worthy OF
Me" (Math. x, 37). In The morning Eli
called Samuel and begged him to hide moth
ing from him that the Lord had said, so
Samuel told him every whit and hid moth
ing. Eli certainly answered In the right
spirit, for he said, "It Is tho Lord; let Him
do what seemeth Him good" (verse 1S). He
makes US think of Job, who under his great
afliction said: "The Lord gave and the
Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name
of the Lord" 1t may he that the faithful
ness OF Samuel in this hard matter to Eli was
Il step on the way to his being established rs
a prophet (verse 20). See in chapter iy., II,
lS. the judgment fallen. Lesson Helper.