The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-13

and formal approach TO Samuel From
the first He had given those gentle In
fluences of the spirit, which were granted
to all men CTitus ii:1D. Now He proposes
larger and fuller communication The
boy, who had been a mere assistant TO
ELI, must know what will ultimately rem
der him IL principal. acting without refer
ence to ELI. We do not know SamueTs
precise age 1t has been generally as
sumed that he had reached his twelfth
year Iuke, ii.i2), inasnuch as at that
time an 1sraelitsh boy became the son
of the law. The night season was chosen
for the Divine approach. a most impress
sive time, the general quietness and the
darkness being favorable to the souls
communion with its Maker psalm.
lxxvii6). The lamp of God, symbol of
His presence. was burning In the taber>
nacle. according to the ordinance OF
Moses G.ev., xxiv:o-3). Eli had laid down
in his accustomed place. The infirmity
of age, indicated by failing vision, was
upon him and he had therefore gone early
to rest. In an adjoining room Samuel
had also found his couch as usual The
old man and the little child, the former
servant near his end. the new servant
about to enter upon his mission. alone Mt
night in Gods house. Such was the oc-
casion when a new chapter was TO be
opened in the history of Israel.
CALLING.-While lying thus upon his
bed, Samuel heard his name spoken. Was
it a real voice? Did his ear catch the
sound? Or was 1t a spiritual impression.
a communication to the soul. which, had
another been near. he could not have
heard? On this point there has been
much Improbable discussion. 1t matters
not whether the word was addressed to
the inner or the outer ear Usa., Xliii:n.
1t is enough that 1t was heard. Once,
twice, thrice, Samuel was spoken. and
afterward, Samuel Samuel" twice
uttered, as If to arouse the more careful
attention and secure the more speedy re-
sponse. 1t was God who spoke, calling
FIis servant, bringing forward u new
worker in His kingdom. In this way by
direct appeal the mighty ones of all ages
have been set apart-Noah Gen, Wild,
tho patriarch of the flood; Ablam Gen.
xii:D, the father of the faithful: Joshua
(Josh., i:D. the great captain; the
prophets DER. i:e) and the apostles (Acts
iX:5). Samuel, given in answer to q
mothers prayer and consecrated before
birth, is to be added to the company of
those who shall stand for truth and
righteousness. God selects His worKmen
(Rom., x:15). Blessed is he who is called
early in life"
RESPONSE.-Samuel's answer, Here
am L. bursting forth before leaving his
couch, revealed his character. He was
in his place waiting for summons
anxious to do. Those eminent qualities
We're in lHm which are at the basis of all
noble manhood (Matt.. XXiv:dD. Suppos-
ing that Eli had spoken Samuel ran
through the apartment, to be informed 10
the contrary, and to be directed TO his
bed. Again the voice came, with like
response and result. A third time he
hos md hn CT wi .o
and emphasis. Thou didst call" Until
this visit, Eli had not understood what
had transpired. He may have supposed
that there was some disturbance in sluin-
Der through disordered vital functions.
Now he perceives that there was a Div
inc manifestation. Perhaps recent COM
munications made to him We're recalled
(Ch., ii:27-35). He therefore directed the
boy to lie down once more, and told him
what to say If called q fourth time. God
intended in this way to teach Samuel
reverence for authority, as Jesus did
Matt, vii:D. Again came the sum-
mons. "Speak, Lord, thy servant hear
eth," was the answer. In that one sem
tence Samuel recognized the person who
spoke, and acknowledged his readiness
to serve. and made it possible for God to
do with him according to his pleasure.
KNOWLEDGE.-The seventh verse of
our lesson sheds light on the conduct Of
Samuel. The marginal rendering is a
better expression than the original. THUS
did Samuel before he knew the Lord and
before the word of the Lord was revealed
unto him." This accounts for his three
visits to Eli, and explains why he did not
recognize the voice-he did not know
God. But, by implication, the verse
shows Samuels state after that night
he did know God. He was brought into
personal acquaintance with Jehovah, a
higher state than that enjoyed by most
men. even the righteous. That state
cannot be described. but it was evidently
one of great blesscdness Uohn., Xvii:3).
1t was undoubtedly the plan of the AL
mighty to bring the entire race into such
intimacy with Himself. Adam began
thus (Gen.. lilo but fell away by trans.
eression tGcn,, iii:S. Subsequently, rs
the centuries passed, here and there men
returned and knew their Maker. Among
the moro illustriOus of these were Enoch
Gen, v:22) and Abram DANES, ii:23), Of
the olden time. Such were the writer's
of Scripture. This direct knowledge of
GOD prepared man to bring purifying
and eevating influences to his fellow
men,
JUDGMENT.--Now that Samuel has
heard, recognized, and answered the call,
what will God say to him? Or, rather
inasmuch as many things will be COM
municated in the course of the years I
Sam, iii:2D, what will God say first? Is
1t prudent to trust weighty subjects to II
child? If he knows God. is he prepared
to receive such messages? When the Div
inc enters the human heart it purtles and
expands. \ child with God is wiser than
man without Him H;ccl., iv:l3). On
that night God made known to Samuel
His proposed judgments upon the house
of Eli. His purpose to remove the priest
hood from his family. lie also disclosed
the reason for this purpose the notorious
immortality of Eli's sons. Why tell this
to Samuel? 1t was very timely lesson
for the boy. He needed 10 know that
Gods ministers must be holy G.ev., XXi:S)
that Hophni and Phineas were rejected on
account of their sins. and he needed
above all 10 adjust his own conduct and
character not according to the loose prac-
tices then prevailing, but according to
the higher standards which God had set
up. Moreover, although there is no rec
ord to that effect, Samuel had reason to
infer that his promotion would follow
Eli's rejection.
TEACHINGS.-Of the many instruct
i've points in the lesson we have room
only for the following: I. The religion
of a people is dependent upon its minis
ters der, v:3D. Their character and ex-
ample are most potent. Licentiousness in
them is a public calamity, Holiness to
the Lord should be their motto (EX
Xxviii:36). Fathers are responsible for
their sons, many of whom become way
ward and fill the land with mourning be-
cause unrestrained and unframed, Eli is
an example of parental failure worthy of
study. g. A pious mother Is Gods best