Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-12-11
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
International Lesson Comments For
December IA.
Subject: The Boy Samuel, I Sam. ILL.,, |, A.
Golden Text, Sam. ILL.,, 9-Memory
Verses, Z, l0--Commentary
on the Days Lesson.


l. "The child Samuel" Samuel is sup.
posed to have been about twelve years ola
at this time. His duty in the tabernacle
was to perform those easy services when
his strength would allow, such as opening
the doors, lighting the lamps, etc. lie dll
not reside in the sanctuary, but in one OF
the tents around it, which were kept Tor
the use of the priests and Levites. Ell, the
high priest, kept Samuel as 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 Samuels IN
structor. WAS precious" The meaning
is that direct revelations from God had
become exceedingly rare This was because
of the sinfulncss OF the priesthood ana the
people As sinfulness in the individual
heart drives away the Holy Spirit, so in
the Hebrew nation it drove away the
spirit of prophecy mo open vision. Lat
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 VIII
of God There must have been some ways
of receiving messages from heaven, tor Ell
knew them, but did not receive them ire
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. 'ln his place
In his usual place of rest. 1t was in the
night. 1t is very likely that as the ark
was a long time at Shiloh they had built
near to it certain apartments tor the hlgh
priest and others more Immediately EN-
p!oyed about the tabernacle. :,
3. Samuel was laid down to sleep
Near to Ellis room, ready within calling
distance, if the old man should want any
thing in the night. 1t would seem that he
Law somewhere near the holy place, and
wcnt to bed before the branch lamps OF
the candestick went out, 1.-THE main lamps
never went OUT, probably toward md
night. At that time Samuel had been EN-
ploying himself in some good exercise or
other, reading OF prayer, or perhaps clean.
ing or making ready the holy place, ana
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. He
answered Here am H. Being unac.
uuainted with the visions of the Almighty
he took that to be only Els call, which
was really the call of God.
s. Thou callest me- SamuePs indus.
try and readiness to wait on Eli are good
examples to children to come when called
He hears and runs at every call.
:. Did not yet know the Lord. He
knew and worshiped the God of Israel, but
he did not I'm 1erstand the way in which
God revealed Himself to His prophets.
He had never even heard that God spoke
in this way. If the Lord had given him
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
lesson IN it for Eli Many still fail TO rec
ognizc 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
disobedencc, 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 as soon al he un'
derstoodit. Obedience to parents and teach.
crs always precedes obedience to God. Eli
perceived" etc. Eli could not but consider
the preference, which the Lord showed to
child before himself and family, as a Sc
we're and humiliating rehuke; especially az
he had reason to forebode 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 Impotence he gave Samuel proper dlrec'
tions as to how to behave on the occasion,
.. Speak" etc, This was the usual way
in which the prophets spoke when they
to make some special revelatiot.
10. Game and stood" From verse II
we learn that Samuel behcld vision as
well as heard voice, and therefore ii is
the most natural to understand the words
came and stood as meaning a visible APP.
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
,ltpl, f,,, 'httpt ,,,
their young days. Samuel answered.
lie was composed this time. and did not
rise, but gave attention, and asked for God
to speak.
H. "Sad to 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, @ 1856,
but which did not have sufficient effect to
enable Eli to compel his sons either to live
God. The ears-shall Jingle With hor.
ror and alarm. As a loud, sharp, diseord'
ant note thrills ones ears with pain, so
the bitter tidngs of Israeps woe in the
Judgment about to fall on Els house would
shock all Israel.
r. in that day" 1t 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
VIII perform, etc. 1 VIII Dflng all Ine
judgments against the house of Eli that ]
have spoken. The particulars of this curse
we read in chapter 2: 2736. Divine threat
enings, the less they are needed the
surer they will come and the heavier they
will fall
10. II have told him." God gave Eli no,
tice of what the end would be of such in.
difference. will 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 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 reprove them, and
when that would not restrain them turn
them out of their office.
IA. "Shall not be purged." That -, 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
if they had repented they might have been
saved But every effort to restrain these
wicked sons proved unavaIling, and their
doom finally came, sudden and irresistible.