Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-20

i
time: Probably 1897 3. c. Forty years
has elapsed since the time OF the last
5essnn. Samuel IS now about So Years Old
The people Of Israel have been under the
heel OF the Phiiistincs for about twenty
Years The prophecy made known TO the
youthful Samuel has come to pass: Inc
house of Eli las lost its priesthoodsnlp-
Icphnl and Phinehas the sons OF I'll,
nave been killed in battle. and the ARK
VI TIE covenant has been captured: Israel
,er-!hly defeated; the news so shocked
he aged Ell that he fell from his bench
where he was sitting and broke his neck
The ark proved 3 plague 70 the Phiils-
dnes. and after seven months Trey nao
tent 1t TO its owners.
Place: The ark was now at kirJattl-
'earirn. the city of the woods, q few
niles northwest Of the site OF Jerusalem.
The tabernacle ct Shiloh was probably
in a state Of desolation. No regular wor-
.hir, seems to nave been observed dur
Ing the oppression Of the PhilisttneS
Samuel was prophet during the time
and judge, but probably had to DO
what he did for his people by stealth;
Mizpah was the place where Samuel had
The people 10 assemble in national con-
~ention TO reconsecrate themselves 10
Jehovah It was a central point in the
IGnC, very IllSiI. tttStt ~ s'VsS A~-I' ~ Ni'~'
those VINO assembled there could see
tn any direction the approach Of an enc
my. Mizpafl means watch-tour The cru
saders built a church there, and Saul was
crowned king there.
FACTS OF THE LESSON.
Central Theme: revival OF religion
and 2 divine rescue.
Golden Text: Prepare your hearts unto
the Lord and serve Him only.
All the house Of Israel lamented after
Ishovah, and Samuel spalle, saying: If
ye 90 return unto Jehovah with all your
heart then put away the foreign gods
from among you and direct your hearts
unto Jehovah, and serve Him only: and
He will deliver you out OF the hands OF the
PhiIistines' Then the children OF Israel
did put away Baalim and the AshtaroSh.
and served Jehovah. And Samuel said:
Gather all Israel 10 Mizpah. and will
pray for you unto jehovah. And they
gathered together to MiZpah. and drew
water. and poured il out before JehoNah
and tasted on that day. ana SAID there:
We have sinned against Jehovah. Ana
Samuel Judged the children OF Israel IN
Nina And when the Philistlnes heard
that the children of Israel were gathered
together to Mizpah, the lords of the fhll-
;stires went up against Israel. And when
afraid OF the Philistines, and said to
samuel: Cease not TO cry unto Jeho-
Yah our God for US that he will save us
out OF the hands OF the Philistines. And
Samuel took q sucking lamb, and offered
II for a whole burnt offering unto Jeho-
yah; and Samuel cried unto Jehovah Tor
Israel. and Jehovah answered MIN And
as Samuel was offering UP the burnt Oh
fering, the Philistines drew near to bat
lie against Israel: but Jehovah hundred
with great thunder on that day upon the
Philistlnes and disconnected them; and
they were snitten down before Israel.
RELIGION AND SUPERSTITION.
ANY religious belief not founded on
tact IS superstition. To attribute the POW
ers of God TO dumb and lifeless idol
IS superstition. Both. the lsraelltes IN
their seIni-irreligious condition. ana inc
Philis,ines were superstitious in regard
TO the golden ark OF the covenant Inc
4srae,ites trusted in the presence OF the
ark itself TO bring them victory IN pat