The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-13

oul lesson is taken was DOUBTLESS "fleeel
by the eminent prophet whose lHt1ne y
l'ears, or under MS CIR on. ifc 49,
with a brief account of Ills parents. VI
i: y His mother, according TO tle ainat'
Of the women OF the age Nien XVI A''
regarded her self greatly s.t'icteG because
for a Time childIess (Ch.. i. % On one
IF the annual visits TO Shiloh tJosnua.
xviii: y. the national seat OF government
and religion, she prayed earnestly LOT
son (Ch., i: ID, promising 20 dedicate sll'''
to God. Her prayer WIS answered III inc
course OF time Samuel was born his name
ISignifyinS asked of God Faithful TO hei
vow when he was weaned she took him 10
Iii then the priest and judge OF lscaci'
with such offerings as the law reqUife',-
Qieut.. xii: SD In presenting ann she
broke forth (Ch ii: lid in highly I'M
FASHIONED words prompted by the spirit
| Of God At that time the sons OF Ell
vera grossly immoral, using the priViie2es
| Of the sacred office to crafty Their I'M
holy impulses (Ch., ii: 22), bringing sor-
| row to their father who, though he re
/ nonstrated, did not control them lfroF..
J xix: 13) This scandal called for speedy
/ reform IL the administra ton of religious
| ordinances.
AIlNISTRY-When God undertakes a
great work, He usually begins with q
| little child and its mother. For proof note
/ TIE case of Moses the iiberatOr and law
! ,iver CEN, ii: 3; of John. the forerunnei
| G-nke, i; 76); of Jesus the Christ CMatt..
| i: :D, and OF Timothy, Paul S assistant
| g Tim, ii: 15l. It is difficult to reform
4 r,an--to transform the agent of Satan
into an instrument Of Righteousness. The
best men are grown. (E7salms. i: 81 Year
by year. adding to their beauty and
strength. they come at last, poised anC
symmetrical, to their place and work.
able TO summon all their powers. And 50
Samuel, after 4 pious mothers care nae
done its utmost was to be put under fur
ther preparation for his career, to meet
the needs OF the time. He had little du-
ties to perform. sue has trimming lamps
AID opening and closing doors, in one
sense q ministry for God. And yet the
work signifed more to him than TO any
other. It gave opportunity to mediate
and pray, the two essentials in building
true and stable character q Tim. iy: I'D
Under the influence Of the sanctuary
CPsalmS, xvii: u. in the midst of its
rich and instructive symbolism. the boy
rught develop into the great rcfornlcr.
y-ISION-The time is not less important
than the place in the production Of a man.
When one appears with certain abilities
there must be need Of him. or he cay do
b'3t little. Many men have seemed 10
core too late or too early into the worlds
history to be largely useful. Even the
advent of Christ was timed (Gal., iv: -
The season of Sanuel'6 appearance vas
o:l,ortune Besides tie immortality among
officials, already mentioned another fact
prepared for him. there was no open
vision" God had promised u raise up
:oen who should speak for Him tNumbers,
xii g, to whom He would give His spirit /
1;5lt many years had passed without such
Mon. After the death of Moses, only here !
aud there one had been so enducd and lie
gave only an occasional message. Reli- !
,,fg =. tod r7rl
;r-ov XIX: 1SD Good men, saddened ty
prevailing wickedness, esteemed the word |
of the Lord as extremely precious, and |
anXiousiy and prayerfully awaited for one |
vino by open vision should obtain fur
cher knowledge of God and come with |
authority to his countr%men IAsir |
prayers We're being answered. When Han
nahs son is ready the nation viii he t
ready When he speaks men val listen.
lie will be the man for the time
OCCASION. At last the time arrived |
when God would make his first direct |
and formal approach TO Samuel, From
the first He had given these gentle influ-
ences of the split, which were granted |
to all men (Titus. it'll Now he proposes
2 larger ana fuller communication. The
boy WIG had been a mere assistant to
Eli. must know what Will ultimately rem
der him a principal, acting without refer
ence to Eli. We do not know Samuei's
precise age. It has been generally as
sumed that he had reached his twelfth
year, duke, ii:42}, inasmUch as a that
time an Israelitish boy became the son
OF the law. The night season was chosen
for the Divine approach, q most impress
sive time the general quietness and
the darkness being favora bic to the souls
with its Maker. psalm,
Xvii: 60 The lamp Of God, symbol of
his presence. was burning in the taber-
nacIe, according to the ordinance of
Moses, Gev.. yxv:2.5) Eli had laid down
IN his accustomed place. The infirmty
Of age indicated by failing vision. was
upon him, and he had therefore gone
early to rest. In an adjoining room.
Samuel had also found his couch as
usual The old man and the little
,hild. the former servant near his end,
he new servant about to enter upon his
mission. alone at night in Gods house!
such was lie occasion when a new chap
er was to be opened in the history Of ;
israel
CALLING While lying thus upon his
led, Samuel heard his name spoken. Was {
t a real voice? Did his ear catch the
sound? Or was it a spritua! impression. i
communication to the sout, which /
lad another been near. he could not have I
.eard? On this point there has been much {
discussion. It matters not {
whether the word was adressed to the !
nner or the outet ear. lisa, Nlii:1.) 1t is {
nough that it was heard. Once. twice,
hrice, Samuel" was spoken, and after
Yard Samuel, Samuel" twice uttered
S If to arouse the more careful attention 1
I'D secure the more speedy response 1t !
vas He who spoke. calling His servant I
ringing forward q new worker into His =
Kingdom In this way by direct appeal,
he mighty ones of all ages have been
ct apart-Noah (Gien.. vi:D. the pa d
rarch Of the flood; Abram Gen, xii:D. t
he father Of the faithful; Joshua Gosh. j
ID. the great captain; the propf1ets Ger, c
-, and the apostles (Act5, iX:5) Samuel. e
iven in answer to a mothers prayer and !;
onsecrated before birth. is to be added Il
D the company of those who shall stand 4
or truth and Righteousness. God selects {
lis Workmen, (Roin., NIB Blessed is g
e who is called early in life. Is
RESPONSE. Samuei's answer, Here !:
N +" bursting forth before leaving his [
ouch. revealed his character Re was in a
is Mace waiting for a summons. anxious .
, Go. Those eminent qualities were in :
i'm which are at the basis OF all noble