The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-09


Secretary Of the American Society OF Re-
ligious Education.
These lessons constitute the Sunday
school extension department of the above
named society. All who study them are re-
quested TO send their names, postoffice FL
dress ana denomination. mentioning this
paper. to the author at Washington, ID. c.,
for enrollment.)
INTRODUCTION.-The sacred penman
passes over in silence a long period in the
life of Samuel, devoted to the discharge of
official duties. When old age. with it's in
firmities, came, he sought partial relief from
care by making his sons judges. They proved
unworthy. och. viii, 81 The elders of Israel,
therefore, came together and urged that a
King be appointed. Judges TX. e-2.) Dis
tressed by this proposition Samuel inquired
Of the Lord and received Instructions to
grant the request. Afterward he sought 10
dissuade the elders and portrayed the un-
happy results of monarchy; but they per-
sisted. and he yielded. About tina time Saul.
the son of Kish, of the tribe of BENJAMIN.
went forth In search of some lost asses be-
longing to his father. (Ch. ix.) Failing to
lind them, he sought Samuel, who had come
into these parts for religious service. In
structed by the spirit of God, Samuel recog-
nized the young man as the future King,
communed with him on the subject, gave
MIN a prominent seat at the feast and ended
by secretly amounting him with oil, a SYM
Dol OF the Holy Spirits grace. Saul re-
turned nome with a new heart, keeping the
matter of the kingdom a secret.
CONVENTION. Shortly after Samuel
called an assembly 10 establish the kingdom.
The text says that the people came. AS it
was unnecessary and impossible TO bring
the entire population together, this must
refer to the elders. who, derived from the
patriarchal system Gen. /, q, formed the
Keystone of the political fabric of Moses.
lex. iii. 49, There may have been included
with them the captains of hundreds and
thousands, a class of officers constituted in
the wilderness by advice of Jethro eek.
Xviii, 2D, who, 1t seems, were retained after
the settlement. Q Sam. viii, I'D The assem-
bly, was convened at Mizpeh Judges Xxx, ID.
a famous place on the confines of Judah
and Benjamin., where. in the early part of
Samuel career (Ch. vii, 5-l5), the nation re-
pented and began its career of holier living:
where, also. Samuel was accustomed to adj
munster justice. (Ch., vii, l6) The assembly
trcduced by appropriate ceremonies. The in
tentlon was to make all feel that they were
accountable to God for the action about 10
De taken, that they were in His presence
ifSalm cxxxlx, %, %, and that their mo-
ives We're all known to Him. 1t was ex-
pected, moreover, that God would override
70 accomplish His purpose and to give His
blessing.
ADDREsS.-Being so assembled Samuel
addressed the people. He did not utter his
own thoughts. but became the mouth
piece of God. beginning Thus saith the
LORD, delivering a message which had been
est function-to hear and repeat. och. iii.
10 His speech was in two parts-God's
g saat 1d ta aed n sabenioa and the bI nations in
but spoken doubtless In greater detail. He
declared, or. rather God declared by him,
that the deliverance from Egypt and from
surrounding nations covering the entire
time from the Exodus TO the present had
been by divine power. This must have been
FAMILIAR TO them as a matter of history
eek. viii, xD, for ii was frequently recalled
even In the later centuries psalm cyl, SID,
then reproved them for demanding a king
as unwarranted in view of the protection
granted as. therefore. a mark of distrust.
Some think 1t was intended to move to
repentance. But, inasmuch as Saul had al
ready BEEN chosen, 1t is not probable that
God would recede from His purpose to set
up a king. He desired to make them know
that the change in the form OF govern
ment ives not according TO His wisdom,
but against tia concession TO their folly.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES spoken Sam
uei did not announce what had ~transnpired
would have been unwise to do so. Had all
the circumstances been remembered some
would have doubted and criticised. I'm
willing to abide under a pure theocracy,
having in fact openly and persistently re-
Jected II, they would not now be likely to
this subject. much as they had honored
him In years gone by. What had been done
in secret must be repenated in public. The
whole proceeding must be so conducted as
to leave no doubt or suspicion. Every
man must go home saying that the king
had been honorably chosen That was
| necessary. not Only tn the StahilifV of the
government, but to the popularity of Sam
uel and the education of the people. And
ordered to pass before the Lord-before
the holy place where the altar was erected.
Ch; viii, - This was to be a pub PUBLIC tender
ton, placing all the men on an absolute
equality. leaving Jehovah to select whom
sonai liberty. destined to be secured in the
gospel. John viii, 32)
SELECTION.-In those days there were
no elections. no votings. but selections.
The mode was by lot Josh. xviii, 81, a
very ancient custom indeed Qev. xvi. 81,
and therefore generally approved prov.
xviii, 81, being accepted as final and deci-
sive. 1t consisted in throwing tablets or in
drawing from a vessel, which it was be-
lieved God instituted and controlled. prov.
xvi, 49, Divine sovereignty was supposed
to unite with human freedom, the former
subordinating the latter-men employing a
method of learning the Divine pleasure, the
result being acceptable 10 both. Plato be-
was a government beloved by God Glib. iv,
De Legibus), showing that the heather de-
cided their public matters in this way. On
this occasion the lot was cast four times
TO learn the tribe. the grand division, the
family and the individual. Josh. vii, 16, I'D.
The choice fell in this order upon Benjamin.
Matri, Kish and Saul. 1t was witnessed
by the ministers of religion and the civil
officers. There might well have been sur
prise at the result. A young man In the
smallest tribe was taken, whereas, 1t was
a matter of prophecy that the king should
come out of Judah tGen. xix, 10), who had
been most prominent In the national his
tory. But no objection was raised, at leasl
none is recorded.
PROCLAMATION.-It now remains to
bring forth, recognize and announce the
chosen king. But ne could not be found
Moved by modesty, or fear, or policy, he
had concealed himself. An old proverb de-
clared, "Whosoever fees don,irior him do
minion follows" duke xiv, ID 1t became
necessary, therefore. TO inquire turtaer %
the Lord. This was done by Trim (Numb
xvii, 21), ordinarily by the high priest. but
as no one filled that office at that time. q
priest officiated. Saups hiding place beins
revealed he was brought forth before tn,
assembly. Samuel Immediately proclaimed
him. calling attention TO his stature. as &
matter particularly pleasing TO the people
who looked with veneration upon a me-
jestic body. Ch. xvii. A. Whom tn
Lord hath chosen" Oeut. xvii. 15). he said
thereby for the time putting all partiei
into harmony-the Almighty, the prophet
the king. the assembly. No one doubted
history thus Oh Sam. xxi. g.. securing Da
vid's respect long after by sin 1t had beer
forfeited Oh Sam. xiv. 81. and the peopl'
proclaimed Saul king. crying. God saw