Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-12-13
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
International Lesson Comments For
December IA.
Subject: The Boy Samuel, Sam. ILL.,, !, IA
Golden Text, Sam. ill.,, 9--Memory
Verses. z, l0-commcntary
on the Days Lesson.

l. The child Samuel Samuel i 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 Is opening
the doors, lighting the lamps, etc lie did
not reside III the sanctuary, but IN one OF
the tents around IT. which were kept Tor
the use of the priests and LcvitcS. Eli. the
high priest, kept Samuel rs his special at
.endant not because such an office was
assigned him, but because OF the deep in
.crest he felt IN him. lie was Samucls in
structor. Was precious. The meaning
is that direct revelations from God had
become exceedingly rare. This was because
of the sinfulness of the priesthood and the
people. As snfuness liz the individual
heart drives away the Holy Spirit, So III
the Hebrew nation it drove away the
spirit of prophecy. No open vision Lit
orally, no divine communication was
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
of God There must have been some ways
OF receiving messages from heaven, for Eli
knew them but did not receive them ire
qucntly enough to be called an open vision.
=. AT that time" AT the time when
the word of God was rare and there was
great spiritual darkness. In his place.
night. 1t is very likely that as the ark
was u long time at Shiloh they had built
near to it certain apartments for the high
priest and others more immediately EN-
ployed about the tabernacle.
3. 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 1t would seem that he
lay somewhere near the holy place. and
went to bed before the branch lamps of
the eandlestick went out (the main lamps
never went QUIT. probably toward mid
night At that time Samuel had been EN-.
ploying himself in some good exercise OF
other, reading or prayer. or perhaps clean
ing or making ready the holy place, and
then went quietly TO bed.
4. The Lord called Samuel God
called him by his name. Some think the
call came from the most holy place. lie
answered, Here am L." Being unac-
auainted with the visions OF the Almighty
he took that to be only Ellis call, which
was really the call of God.
5. Thou callest me- Simuci's indus
try and readiness 10 wait on Eli are good
examples to children to come when called.
lie hears and runs at every call.
I. Did not yet know the Lord" He
knew and worshiped the God OF Israel. but
he did not understand the way III which
God revealed Himself TO His prophets.
ile Hdu never even iedTu titdt cOu spoke
III this way. III the Lord had given him a
dream or vision he might have more read
lily understood it. but God was preparing
him for prophet. and this way of calling
Samuel was full OF meaning. There was a
lesson in it for Eli. Many still fail to rec
ogniZe Gods call.
S. The third time The call was re-
peated again and again. for God saw that
SamueIs failure to answer was not from
disobedience, but from lack OF knowledge
as to who called him. In fact the quick
answer to Ellis supposed call showed that
he was ready to obey God as soon as he un-
derstoodit. 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 to
a child. before himself and family. as a Sc
we're and humiliating rebuke; especially as
he had reason to forebode that the mes
sage which he was about to receive would
be denunciation of judgments on him and
his family, yet, without envy. resentment
OF impatienee he gave Samuel proper direc-
tons as to how to behave on the occasion
.. Speak" etc. This was the usual way
IN which the prophets spoke when they
had ntlmations that the Lord was about
to make some special revelation.
10. Game and stood From verse Is
we learn that Samuel beheld vision "a
well As heard voice, and therefore il is
tHc hhosl natural 10 UNDERSTAND tlle words
came and stood as meaning Il visible an
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 Samuel did they
will accomplish much for Christ even in
their young days. Samuel answered.
He was composed this time. and did not
rise. but gave attention. and asked for God
to speak.
ii. Said to Samuel Through Samuel.
whom Eli loved. God sent terrible mes,
sage. similar to one which he had previous
ly sent by holy man Il Sam. .: 27-36),
hut which did not have sufficient effect TO
enable Eli to compel lis sons either TO live
q. different life. or TO leave the service OF
God. The ears-shall tinglc" With hor-
ror and alarm. As loud. sharp. discord-
ami note thrills ones ears with pain, so
the bitter tidings OF 1sraefs Woe in the
Judgment about TO fall on Ellis house would
shock all Israel.
y. In that day" 1t is probable that
tins message was sent to Eli some wears
before his death. and he and his sons had
will perform. etc. l will bring all the
judgments against the house of Eli that
have spoken. The particulars of this curse
we read in chapter ,: 1916. Divine threat
enings. the less they are needed. the
surer they will come and the heavier they
will fall
IL. Il have told him. God gave Eli no.
tice OF what the end would be of such in
difference. will judge his house forever
L Will continue to eyecate judgments until
it is destroyed. God regards it as iniauity
to allow children to choose their own evil
WAYS. Eli sons were wicked. Their faith
or 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 zeprove them. and
when that would not restrain them turn
them out of their office.
Il: shall not he purged' That Is. the
punishment threatened against Eli aud his
family shall not be prevented By all their
sacrifices, but shall certainly be executed.
What is spoken here relates to their tenn
poral death only. Mercy for their souls
salvation was still extended to them. and
# they had repented they might have been
saved. But every effort to restrain these
wicked sons proved unavailing, and their
lonm finally cama <,Sdan a, 4 :..o-:-.:li.