The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-11-07
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
NOVEMBER 10.
Lesson Text, "Saul Chosen King"
j samuel n, .,t7-27-Golden
Text Psalms xcvii.,
Commentary.

II. "And Samuel called the people TO.
gether unto the Lord to Mizpeh." Israel
vas chosen TO be- a special people unto God
above all people on the earth: separated
from all others unto the Lord. that He
might show through them who and what He
was. that thus all Nations might know Him
for their good (EN. xix. .. q; Dcut. vii. 6:
III Sam. vii, 23). When therefore they de.
sired 60 be like other Nations n Sam, Wit. o
2O). they went right contrary to the will OF
the Lord for them. Samuel told them lust
how the king they desired would treat them
will, HID. but they insisted on having
their own way. The steps by which the ord
brought Saul to Samuel are fully recorded i'm
chapter TX. and the first part ol this chapter
n, and form one OF the most interesting, in.
structiye and practical of all Bible stories.
precious nugget which enjoy and love 10
pass on Is found In ". 7. "Dp n occasion
serve thee. for God is with thee"
is. Thus saith the Lord God Of Israel, |
brought up Israel out Of Egypt" The sug-
gestiyeness Of Mizpch was seen i'm our last
lesson, and there the people saw the power
of the Lord ON their behalf Now they nrp
again before the Lord but turning their
backs upon Him deliberately I'm order TO bs
like othcr Nations. He reasons with them
concerning their conduct reminding them
OF His love TO them when they were slaves i'm
Egypt and how He delivered them from all
their oppressors. They should therefore
consider that they were His property. pco-
pie Tor His own possession tritus H., a. r.
W, and that lie and not they should have
the right OF deciding in allthings concern
ing their welfare
10 aye have this day roicrtcl your God.
who Himself saved you out NJ ali vour nd
yersities and your tribulations." Samuel at
first felt that they had rejected him, but the
Lord said, "Thev have not rejected thee. but
they have rejected Ne. and lie added that
In doing rs thcv had done thcy were only
treating Samuel rs they had always trente1
Him Chapter viii, :. ~. when Israel muir
INJURED, II was not against Moses aud Aaron,
but against the Lord ok. xvi, 81. See the
application 60 us in Luke v. and let us con
slider well that all that touches the Lords
people touches the Lord Himself (Iach. H.,
~ Acts iN., 4. 81. and all rebellion or com
Him.
20. u. "When they sought him. he could
not be found All Israel presented them
selves before the Lord bv their tribes. aud
the lot was cast for the tribe. and for the
family, ana for the man. and the result was
that Saul, the son Of kish, oi the tribe of
Benjamin was taken. but he could not be-
found. God khew the man whom they would
like ana had chosen such a onp orthem
and now He guided the lot 10 bring him be-
fore them, for "rhe lot Is east into the lap.
but the whole disposing thereof is Of tio
Lord' prov. xvi, 33l.
~. The Lord answered. Behold he hath
hid himself among the stuff" The word
translated "stuff has nine different mean
ings given to II in this hoOk alone II IL
translated furniture, armor. carriage, artil-
iery, weapons, vessels. things etc. Some
where and somehow, and for some reason.
Saul hid himself He knew through Samuel
that God had selected him (chapter x., ~,
and knowing this II was II becoming thing
not put himself forward but let ali see that
he had no hand in the election. II did not
cost him penny for votes; the place sought
him not he the place. Whata contrast con-
trast to many elections in our day.
70. when he stood among the people, no
was higher than any of the people. from his
shoulders and upward" In addition 10 this
statement we find In chapter il. 2, that he
was choice young man, and that there WAS
not goodlier person in all Israel. Size IL
not everything, however, else Goliath and
other giants might be envicd, neither is out.
ward appearance, rs Samuel Hfterward
learned when heappo,nted II man after Gods
heart instead Of one To- please the people
(chapter xvi, q, y. Contrast the youth and
probable slight figure Of David (Nyii.. 80:
also what is written OF Saul Of Iarsus III
Cor. X. 100.
"a "Seo yc him whom the Lord hath
chosen, that there is none like him among
all the people, And all the people shouted
and said, God save the king" As we said in
a previous verse, saul was the Lords choice
that He might please the people aud for the
time being satisfy them. and So in duo time
humble them. A. on another orcaslon, He
gave them their request, but sent leanness
into their SOUL (Ps. cyi.. l5l. The people
have now a visible king, choice man and "a
noble looking one; they ARE like other Ma
uons in the matter Of n king but the inyisi-
BILE one, their Redeemer, Is rejected aud they
prefer 10 walk by sight.
manner Of the kingdom ana wrote It IN n
book and laid II up before the Lord All
this state of affairs had been forcseen by the
Lord and fully written about IN Deui. xvii,
1920. This IL was, probably, with perhaps
additions that Samuel wrote In the book.
Now II the king would consider himself the
Lords representative, and act for the Lord
toward the people. in all things consulting
Him and obeying Him and houoring Him, all
might yet be well, but To please self or tho
people or 10 rely on human wisdom or
strength will spoil ali.
26. "And Saul also went home TO Gibeah,
andl lthere went with him band OF men,
whose hearts God had touched" God would
help him by giving him helpers and friends.
He does everything to make IL eilsy for ny to
do right II we are only willing to serve Him
in sincerity and truth. He is the same God
who saw that II was not good for Adam to be
alone (Gen. H., IS) who also sent the dis
ciples ont by twos duke Y, -, and He al
ways, in due time, provides helpers for such
as are willing TO dwell with Him for His
work.
~. "But the children OF Beial said, How |
shall this man save US? And they despised |
him and brought him no presents. But ho |
held his peace" Saul was in the place of |
Gods representative and as such had his |
friends and his enemies II has been aud |
will be eyerso. See John xv, rs. As king |
of Israel he in n sense typilled Christ the |
truu King of Israel IIOhn / An md bpTore