The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-02
OF SAMUEL THE JUDGE
bR. PELL's iNTERfREr4fi0S or
the sUNDAf-yCHOOL LESSON.
How the Great Christian Warrior Got the
Idols Out OF His Peoples Houses and
Brought Them Together.

November Jd-Samuel the Judgc-l. SAM
uel vii. 5-l5
Ii took seven months of plague 10 con-
vince the Philistines that they had no
business with the ark OF God which
they had captured from Israel II took
. whole generation for Israel to find out
that they had just as little business
with the idolatry which they mad learned
from the phlistines. But though the
heather in their blindness" were quick
er to see the point. stupid israelites woke
up after time, and with the fruits OF
sin turned TO ashes on their lips, began
with hungry hearts 10 call OF the name
OF the Lord.
Samuel saw the signs of returning lie.
and began Immediately TO fan the empers.
He had graspcd the situation fully, ana
his plans were laid accordingly. IL was
useless TO expect the people TO return
permanently TO their own religion SO
long as they submitted to the oppression
OF the Phiiistines. on the other hand'
it was useless TO undertake to arouse their
patriotism until they had in some meas
ure returned unto the Lord. a revival
OF religion would awaken patriotism. and
patriotism would clear the way for their
religion. Samuers plan was 20 bring the
people to the poirt OF consecrasihg them-
selves to the Lord, and then, while their
hearts were on fire, move them TO throw
off the Phiistinc yoke. hls nrst step
was TO get them 90 put away their iaois.
Sick AZ they were or the fruits or idola-
try. Il required courage to renounce 'he
religion of their oppressors. But IL was
the list step. without which secor'
could never he taken, and tine ehhulen
of Israel did put away Baalim ana ASH
taroth. and served the Lord only ihey
had had a good deaf o; Experience ana
nv knew wfat many oc us to-day are
slow to learn-that until the idois ave
n,t away il il utterly useless to make
any step toward God. ..
Having gotten the Idols out OF thelr
houses Samuers next step was 10 get
tho ueopie to come together paVS-
sI,dden people may sir IN ther ho'heS
and bevau their sins and the SINS Vi
the times. but II anything is dohe' 'h's
must be warmed up to II IN 'he ElV"'
conyrepation. 10 revive n IRE, prihE
inc scattered embers together. Soi"e
things can be best Accomplished by 80
ing from house to house o,her .ninsa
can be brought to pass only py ''''S
ing ne people together. -.,.x M
Samuel announced great mes',"s %,
,,tzneb come together at Mizpeh ana
In nrav for vou.p was the message
r,ouhtless If he had ntimated tnat- ne
wanted them 10 fight the Philstines' the
meeting would have been nature.
They had not been worked mp 10 that
point: they had only reached the point
where they w-fe sorry for themselves.
and wanted God TO show them mercy.
They were just IN tho mood 10 accept
such an invitation as Samuel sent out;
II must frave made their hearts glad 10
hear that the great prophet was going
TO pray for them But what an offer
was that for one feeble mortal 10 makel
Where Is the man to-day who would
undertake 20 carry = whole nation on
his shoulders to Cod We have faith
10 pray for ourselves. we have courage
TO pray for our friends. and wee have a
sense Of the fitness OF things which
moves us TO pray for our country I'm pun
lie worship. but where il the man who
believes that all the praying he might
do would have any effect upon a whole
natione These Ola Testament heroes
knew the meaning OF prayer. They did
not put their faith IN their prayers. and
expect an answer according 10 the ability
they displayed I'm praying they rested theil
faith on Cod who answers prayer. ana
therefore could ask for great things as
easily as for small-could pray for ma.
ton as earnestly as they could pay
for a friend.
The people came together and Samuel
prayed for them And they ronfesseh
their sins and consecrarsi themselves
anew to God. Declaring by the sym
boiical act OF pouring out wafer tha'
their vows were irrevocahle. Ana 'ney
tasted. II was az natural that they snouln
fast now AS it was mat tney s"""''
feast I'M worshipping IDOLS
The news OF the great meeting sprea'
abroad and the Phlistines becoming
alarmed gatrer- their hosts and came w
90 Nizneh. II was plain that IT thes'
reonle remained together long enousn
a.. revivins, fires 81 religion wouih sum.
Mate their patriotism, and nothing cp"''
nrevent them from throwing Oh ,n','
woke when man gets right WIN 'o',
h. goes 10 work 10 make Things 'isn'
oil around him The Philistines WOMB
az. the rebellion in tho bud-"ouln s'h''
~ ,ha smbers before the fire got ne
- their control and vnen the cnll'
drep of Israel heard Of 1t. tney were
afraid OF the Philistines. BUT sam
mol continued TO pray, and the p'opi''
long unused 10 prayer. doubtless oH W,
hest they cOult. l"'"' - :
came near. lamb was onereu 10. q
bnrnt. offering. signifying their complete
sstf-surrender TO God. We should not
wonder az what followed. Israel had
surrendered to God; It was not likely
that they would surrender to the PM
istines s.And the Lord Numbered with
a great thunder on that day on ne
ph,listines. and discounted them. No
sooner had they put themselves IN dohs
hands than God took them IN ~ hls
urotection Il there anything wonderful
about that2 Is Il anything more iran
God does for every man who comes 20
him for refuge When we consecrate
ourselves wholly TO God. we may LOOK
for great things r. happen. IL Is Ia
order for great things so happen. God
never manifests his power more glorious
w than when men have Just turned from
sin and give themselves wholly 10 tho