Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-11-07

scriptures-Time Well Spent.
Lesson for Nov. 10.
Golden Text-"The Lord reigneth; let
the earth rejoice."-Ps. o.: /.
Samuel Chosen King Is the subject of
this lesson, which Is found in ! Sam.
10: 1921.
A king for Israel. The desire was a
natural one, distinctly 30. Natural and
worldly. In a regenerate, God-instruct-
ed mood they would not have asked 1t.
But mingling with the nations, wander
ing away from close contact with God,
enamored of the pomp and glamor Of
events, which feed popular pride, Israel
cried out for king. Samuel stands out
very nobly here. Speaking for the mind
of God he disapproves of king. Vet
as the warden of the people who make
this demand, and as the servant of the
Lord who comedies 1t, how gracefully
and graciously he acquiesces to the ex-
pressed will of the nation! AS before, Mt
a great crisis in Israels career, he calls
the people together unto the Lord to
Mizpeh! If king they must have, Sam
uel will see that the change Is rightly eff
fected and that in this as in all decisions
and choices they begin with God.
Was Samuel severe in charging upon
Israel that in this demand they were re-
jecting God? Certainly it was grandly
courageous i'm him thus. in the face of
them all, ere he yielded to their clanor,
to express his own demur. But was he
right? We can only discuss this ques-
ton on philosophical and a priori grounds.
There is no history to tell us what Israel,
as a pure theocracy and on an indepen-
dent basis, might have accomplished as
a nation. There is, however, history
enough to disclose the sad truth of Sam
uers words regarding the evils they
were about to entail upon themselves in
kingly succession. And later expert
ments in the direction of democracy and
individual sovereignty raise in devout
minds the query. what might not Israel
have become had they remained true and
trained themselves to the simple form of
government first given them from the
skies? Was not national destiny reversed
and the historic growth stunted? Ger
tainly Israel here seems to have thrown
away the opportunity for founding the
great Republic.
Samuel, however, laying aside at the
command of God (for he has been upon
his knees) his chastened judgment of
what is best, and also whatever of per-
sonal feeling he might rightly have re-
garding his own displacement, proceeds
sagaciously and discreetly to execute the
popular behest. ''Now, therefore," he
says, present yourselves before the
Lord by your tribes and by your thou
sands" In this canvass is broNght to
light. the man whom already he has Sc
lected as best fulfilling the expectations
of the tribes. 1t is Saul the son of Kish.
A godly man and in stature and physical
courage at least, well qualified to be
Israers ruler. And when they saw him
all the people lift n loyal shout, God
save the kingv'
But Saul is not yet king. He has re-
ceived SamuePs approval and the first en-
thusiastic endorsement of the popular as
semblage. He must yet secure the suf-
frage of all the tribes and the strong
fealty that only follows upon tried and
proven ability. That comes presently at
Gilgal, and Saul enters upon his king
ship fully accepted and with everything
in his favor. Saul had in fact a five-fold
ordination to Office. First, Samuel's cor
dial selection 90: 20); second, Gods an
ointing 90: ~; third, Sauls own heart
response, whereby he burst into prophecy
90: o.; forth the popular ratification;
and fifth and best of all, the accreditment
of deed, as narrated in chapter eleven,
where Saul. bravely overcoming the ar
rogant Ammontes. wins the hearty sup
port of all Israel and is king de facto as
well as de jure. 1t is an interesting study
as limiting the steps by which all of us
come to our best estate.
illustrations.
1t was great day for Saul. He was
coming to the throne, and his own con-
duct, in the premises, was most comedy
and exemplary. Teachers may we'll out
line the story of Saurs elevation as an in
centive to the young. 1t is certainly an
entertaining and instructive narrative. 1t
begins with the pregnant text of Scrip
ture, "And the asses of Kish, Saul's
father-in-law, were lost" Then is I'M
folded the beautiful providence by which
Saul is led to Samuel's presence and to
the amounting oil of kingship. This sug-
gests the divine side of the transaction.
There was also human side. Saul, in
previous self-culture, we may believe,
physical, mental, spiritual, had made
himself ready for this high office, and the
prepared man finds at last the prepared
place. And witness also Saul's quiet
modesty at the first, and the wise fore
bearance with which he held his place."
till God in due time enabled him to strike
the blow by which he was brought to his
own. 1t is all a moving picture of the
way eminence and honor are reached in
this world.
There is such a thing as Providence.
God has a hand in the affairs of men.
Saul never appeared to better advan-
tage than in the humble docility of his
on God. And it was there that he
achieved most, when he put his affairs
into the hand of God. Frances Ridley
Havergal sings 1t:
Just to let thy Father do
What he will,
Just to know that he is true
And be STILL
Just to follow hour by hour,
As he leadeth:
Just to draw the moments power,
AS it needeth."
What does it signify to trust God in
the everyday affairs of life? Just what
we mean when we commit ourselves to
one of our own kind stronger or more
capable than ourselves. Be sure of God.
God cares for his own in defense or ag-
gression, and he sometimes delivers in
almost miraculous ways to emphasize his
protecting providence.
10: 1913.
The Golden Side.
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