The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-12-11
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
International Lesson Comments For
December IA.
Subject: The Boy Samuel, I Sam. H., I, IA
Golden Text, sam. H.. 9--Memory
Verses, 7. lo--commentsry
on the Days Lesson.

on the Days Lesson.
/. "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 lsevites. Eli, the
high priest, kept Samuel es his special at
tendant, not because such an office was
assigned him, but because OF the deep in'
terest he felt IN him. He was Samuel's 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 sinfulness in the individual
heart drives away the Holy Spirit, so III
the Hebrew nation it drove away the
spirit OF prophecy. mo 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
aud 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 fire
quently 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"
In his usual place of rest IL was in the
night. 1t is very likely that as the ark
was long time at Shiloh they had built
near TO it certain apartments Tor the high
priest and others more Immediately en-
ployed about the tabernacle.
3. Samuel was laid down to sleep"
Near to Els room, ready within calling
distance, if the old man should want any
thing in the night. Ii would seem that he
lay somewhere near the holy place, and
went to bed before the branch lamps of
the candlestick went out. (the main lamps
never went out). 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 b.
4. "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'
quainted with the visions of the Almighty
he took that to be only Els call, which
was really the call of God.
| 5. Thou callest me" Samuefs indus
try and readiness to wait on Eli are good
| examples to children to come when called.
| He 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 in which
| God revealed Himself to His prophets.
| He had never even heard that God spoke
in this way. Ii the Lord had given him u
! dream or vision he might have more read.
| ily understood it. but God was preparing
him for prophet and this way OF calling
| Samuel was full oil meaning. There was
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
Samuels 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 al he un.
| derstoodit Obedience to parents and teach
| ers always precedes obedience to God. Ell
perceived" etc. Eli could not but consider
the preference, which the Lord showed to
II child, before himself and family, a. Sc.
we're and humiliating rebuke; especially a.
he had reason to forebodc that the mes.
| sage which he was about to receive would
be denunciaton 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 intimations that the Lord was about
to make some special revelation.
10. Game and stood" From verse IL
! we learn that Samuel beheld vision as
| well as heard 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 If they will obey as 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.
H.. Said t, Samuel" Through Samuel,
whom Eli loved, God sent a terrible mes.
sage, similar to one which he had previous.
ly sent by holy man Il Sam. 9: 27-36),
but which did not have sufficient effect to
enable Eli to compel his sons either to live
. 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 ears with pain, so
the bitter tidings of Israels woe in the
Judgment about to fall on Ellis house would
shock all Israel.
u. "In that day." IL 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 all the
judgments against the house of Eli that /
have spoken. The particulars of this curse
we read in chapter 2: 27-36. Divine threat.
enings, the less they are needed, the
sufer they will come and the heavier they
l3. IL have told him." God gave Eli no.
tice OF what the end would be of such in.
difference. ''Wil Judge his house forever"
| will continue to execute judgments until
it is destroyed God regards it as iniquity
to ALLOW children to choose their own evil
ways Ellis sons were wicked. Their faith.
er knew the Lord, but lie neither taught
his children not restrained them by paren.
tai authority. Restrained them not"
This does not signify that he showed no
sign of displeasurc against their wicked.
ness. for he did chide them, but too gently.
but he did not severely reprove 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 tenn
poral death only. Mercy for their souls
salvation was still extended TO them. and
il they had repented they might have been
saved. But every effort to restrain these
wicked sons proved unavalling, and their
doom hnally osme, sudden and irresistible.