The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-10
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER ~

Subject: The boy Samuel Sam. iii.. lie
Golden Text, Sam. ILL.,, 0-Memory
vsrsss, Z. 1e- Commentary on this
Days Lesson.
l. "The child Samuel" Samuel Is sup.
posed to have been about twelve years old
at this time. His duty in the tabernacle
was to perform those easy services which
his strength would allow, such as opening
the doors, lighting the lamps, etc. He did
not reside in the sanctuary, but in one OF
the tents around it, which were kept for
the use of the priests and Leyitcs. Eli, the
high priest, kept Samuel as his special at.
tendant, not because such an ONCE was
assigned him, but because of the deep in.
terest he felt in him. He was Samueps in
structor. "Was precious" The meaning
il that direct revelations from God had
become exceedingly rare. This was because
Of the sinfulness Of the priesthood and the
people. As sinfulness in the individual
heart drives away the Holy Spirit, 80 In
the Hebrew nation it drove away the
spirit Of prophecy. mo open vision" Lit.
orally. no divine Communication wes
spread; that is. published abroad, made
known. There was no publicly recognized
prophet. whom the people could consult
and from whom they might learn the will
cf God. There must have been. some ways
of receiving messages from heaven, for Eli
knew them, but did not receive them fire.
ouently enough to be called an open vision.
2. "At that time" At the time when
the word Of God was rare and there was
great spiritual darkness. In his place"
In ha usual place of rest. It was in the
night. It is very likely that a. the ark
was q long time ut Shiloh they had built
near to it certain apartments for the high
priest and Others more Immediately EN-.
ployed about the tabernacle.
8. Samuel was laid down to sleep"
Near to Ellis room, ready within calling
distance, il the old man should want any
thing in the night. It would seem that be
went to bed before the branch lamps OF
the candlestick went out, (the main lamps
never went out), probably toward mid.
niaht, At that time Samuel had been en-.
ploying himself in some good exercise or
other, reading or prayer, or perhaps clean:
ing or making ready the holy place, and
then went quietly to bed: =.
L. 1. "The Lord called Samuel" God
called him by his name. Some think the
call came from the most holy place. He
answered, Here am l." Being unac.
ouainted with the visions Of the Almighty
he took that to be only Els call, which
vas really the call Of God.
5. Thou callest me-" Samuel's indus.
try and readiness to wait on Eli arc good
examples to children to come when called.
He hears and runs at every call.
7. did not yet know the Lord" He
knew and worshiped the God OF Israel, but
he did not understand the way in which
He had never even heard that God spoke
in this. way. If the Lord had given him Q
dream or vision he might have more read.
iiy understood it, but God was preparing
him for prophet, and this way Of calling
Samuel was full of meaning. There was
lesson in it for Eli. Many still fail to rec.
ognize Gods call.
5. The third time" The call was re-
peated again and again, for God saw that
Samuel's failure to answer was not from
discbedience, but from lack Of knowledge
as to who called him. In fact the quick
answer to Els supposed call showed that
he was ready to obey God rs soon as he un.
derstoodi it. Obedience to parents and teach.
ers always precedes obedience to God. Eli
perceived" etc. Eli could not but consider
the preference. which the Lord showed t.
a child. before himself and family, as Sc.
he had reason to forebode that the mes.
sage which he was about to receive would
be dcnunciation of judgments on him and
his family, yet, without envy, resentment
or impatience he gave Samuel proper direc.
tions as to how to behave on the occasion.
o. Speak etc. This was the usual way
in which the prophets spoke when they
had intiynations that the Lord was about
to make some special revelation.
10. Game and stood" From verse IS
we learn that Samuel beheld vision as
well as heard q voice, and therefore it is
the most natural to understand the words
'.came and stood as meaning visible ap.
pearance. Samuel was at last satisfied
that it was not Eli but the Lord who was
calling him. God still calls the children,
and II they will obey as Samuel did they
will accomplish much for Christ even in
their young days. "Samue! answered" :"
He was composed this time, and did not
rise, but gave attention, and asked for God
to speak.
IL. "Said to Samuel" Through Samuel.
whom Eli loved, God sent n. terrible mes.
~ sent by holy man Il Sam. 2: N-38),
but which did not have sufficient effect to
enable Eli to compel his sons either to live
n different life, or TO leave the service OF
God. "The ears-shall tingle" With hor.
ror and alarm. As loud, sharp, discord.
ant note thrills ones cars with pain, 50
the bitter tidings of Israefs woe in the
Judgment about to fall on Ellis house would
shock all Israel.
u. "In that day." It is probable that
this message was sent to Eli some years
before his Death, and he and his sons had
abundant time to change their course. Il
will perform" etc. will bring ell the
judgments against the house OF Eli that !
have spoken. The particulars Of this curse
We read in chapter 2: 27-38. Divine threat.
enings. the less they are keeded, the
surer they will come and the heavier they
will fall.
IS. Il have told him." God gave Eli no.
difference. will judge his house forever. -
it is destroyed. God regards it as iniquity
to allow children to choose their own evil
ways. Ellis sons we're wicked. Their faith.
er knew the Lord, but he neither taught
his children not restrained them by paren.
tai authority. Restrained them not. ."
This does not signify that he showed no
sign Of displeasure against their wicked.
ness. for he did chide them. but too gently,
but he did not severely :cprove them, and
when that would not restrain them turn
them out OF their Office.
IA. "Shall not be purged." That is. the
punishment threatened against Eli and his
family shall not be prevented by all their
sacrifices, but shall certainly be executed.
What is spoken here relates to their TEN.
poral death only. Mercy for their souls
salvation was still extended to them, and
il they had repented they might have been
s1vcd. But every effort to restrain these
wicked sons proved unavailing. and their
doom finally came, sudden and irresistible.
House Heated With OIL.
Chief Engineer Parkhurst, OF the Ma.
4;nnaI Mnsenm at Washington, D. e., IS