The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-12-06
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
For December II. The Boy sam
uti." Il Sam. chi, LII.

INTRODTCTION-The book from which
our lesson * taken was doubtless written
lay the eminent prophet Whose name II
bears. or under his direction. He begins
with 4 brief account of his parents. rCh-
i, >, His mother. according 10 the spirit
OF the women Of the age Oien. xvii. lIt,
regarded herself greatly afflicted, because
for u time Chi!dleSS. CSh- i. % on one OF
the annual visits to Shiloh tJosh. XVIII, u.
the national seat OF government ana T.
Iigion. She pcayei earnestly for Il son On.
j.. IL. promising 10 dedicate him To God.
tim Samuel was born: his name signifyins.
asked of God. Faithful to her vow when
IL Was weansd. she took him to Eli. then
the priest and judge Of Israel. with such
offerings as the law required. tDeut- Mi.
- In presenting him she broke forth
och. ii. lib in highly Impassioned wOrda.
time the soIis OF Eli Were grossly immoral.
using, the privileges OF the. sacred, office 10
though he remonstrated., he did not control
them. prov. xiv. E) This scandal called
for speedy reform in the administration of
religious ordinances.
MINIsTHT-When. God undertakes a
child and il mott r. For proof. note the
case OF Moses. the l!berator and itwgiver
IEx. il, 81: of John. the reformer tLlhe l.
40: of jesus. the Christ Matt. l.. III, and OF
Timothy, Pauls assistant. III Tim. ii, l"b
1t is difficult to reform a manic trans
FORM The agent of Satan into an instrument
psalm i. 81 Year by wear adding to their
beauty and strength. they come at last.
poised and symmetrical. to their place and
work able TO summon all their powers. And
50 Samuel. after a p.oGS mCthe: care had
done its utmost. was 10 IL put under further
preparation tor his career. TO meet thu
needs of the time. He had little duties to
perform. such as trimming lamps and open
istry for God And yet til" work signifiet
more To him than to any other. II give
opportunity to mediate and nray. the Two
essentials in building true and stable char
acter Il Tim iv, la.l Under the influence
of the sanctuary Psalm XVII. II. III the
'niis; of its rich and instructiv" symbolism,
the boy might develop into the great re-
former.
~vISION-The time is not less important
than the place in ihe production OF a man:
When on" appears with certain abilities
there must be need OF him or he can do
but little. Many men have seemed 10 come
too late or too early into the worlds his
tory to he largely useful. Even the advent
of Christ was timed. cIal.. iv. - The sea-
son of SamuefS appearance was orportuile-
ready mentioned. another tact.. prepared
him. there was no open vision God had
promised ia raise up men who should
speak for him (Numb. xii. g.. TO whom he
would. give his spirit. But many years had
passed without such men. After the death
OF Moses only here and there one had
been so cnGucd. and he gave only an oc--
casional message. Religion had deSenerated
into, Journalism prov: xix. lsl Good men.
SdIItIfN ~ DItNdlIllS HlLhttlstS~. -
;eemed the word Of the Lord as extremely
precious. and anXiously and praverfuily
waited for one who by open vision should
obtain further knowledge of God. and come
with authority TO his Countrym"n. Their
prayers We're being answered. When Han
mains son is ready the nation will be ready;
When ne speaks. men will listen. He will
be the man for the time.
OCCASIONAL length the time arrived
WHEN God would make his first direct and
formal approach to Samuel. From the first
he had given those gentle influences Of the
spirit. which Were granted to all men. CTi-
tus ii. IL Now he proposes 4 larger and
fuller communication. The boy. who had
been a mere assistant to Eli. must know
what will ultimately render him a princi-
do not know SamuefS precise age. II has
been generally assumed that he had reached
his twelfth year Duke ii. i2. inasInuch
as At that time an IsraelitiSh boy beCam"
the son Of the law. The night season was
chosen for. the divine approach. n most i'm
press!ve time. the general auietness and
munication with its Maker. psalm lxxvii,
81 The lamp OF God. symbol of his pres
cording to the ordinance OF Moses. dev.
XIV. .. - Eli had lain down in his accus-
toned place. The intrniity OF age. indi-
Gated by falling vision. was upon him. and
he had. therefore. gone early to rest. In
IN adjoining room Samuel had also found
his couch as usual. The old man and I'll"
little child. the former servant near his.
end. the new servant about to enter upon
his mission. alone at night in Gods house.
SutU Was the OfcISIOn when II ne" tIldp-
ter was To be opened in the history Of Is
rael.
GaLLING-While lying thus upon his bed
Samuel heard his name spoken. Was il Il
real voice? Did his ear catch the sound
or was it Il spiritual impression, a ON
munication TO the soul. which. had another
been near. he could not have heard? on
this point there has been much unprofitabie
discussion. 1t matters not whether the
word was addressed 10 the inner or the
outer ear. tIsaiah xiii. II II is enough
that it was heard. Once. twice. thrice
Samuel was spoken. and afterwari
Samuel. Samuel" twice uttered. as if to
arouse the more careful attention and Sc
cure the more speedy response. It was God
who spoke. calling his servant. bringing for
ward a new worker in his kingdom. In
this way, by direct appeal, the mighty ones
of all ages have been set apart-N0al Gen.
vii, II. the patriarch of the flood; Ahram
Gen. xii. u. the father of the faithful:
Joshua Josh. i. u. the great captain: the
prophets der. j. .. and the apostles CActs
tx. a. Samuel. given in answer To a moth
to he added to the company Of those who
shall stand for truth and Righteousness. God
selects his workmen. Rom- X. l0) Blessed
is he who is called carly in life.
RfESPONSE~SamuerS answer. Here am
L." bursting forth before leaving his couch.
revealed his character. He was in his place
waiting for q summons. anxious to do.
Those eminent qualities Were in him which
are at the basis of all noble manhood.
Matt. xiv. AZ Supposing that Eli had