The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-07-15
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
July l9.
Subj:ei: Sanusl's Farewell Address, Sam.
XII, i3.25-GolIcn Text. sam, xii, "a
M:mory Verses, 1855 - Comm :ntary
on the Days Lesson.

Connecting Links. The attempt of the
Ammonites to avenge themselves on ac
count of the defeat they had suffered at
the hand of Jephthah (Jud. ll:33) gave
to Saul an opportunity to secure for him
self recognition. The army, flushed with
the glory of their splendid triumph, highly
extoled their king and actually proposed
to put to death any who refused to recog
nize his authority. Samuel, who was with
the army ". y, deemed this a most op.
portune time to establish Saul in the gov
ernment and secure for him national recog
milton. Accordingly he called the people
together to Gilgal, and, with impressive
ceremonies, ratified the election at Miz
peh and formally inaugurated Saul into
his regal office. Ii Is quite probable that
Saul was publicly anointed at this time.
!. Samue5s integrity Tvs. l.5) Samuel,
though he was still to retain his influence
and authority as prophet, now decides that
the time has come for the public surrender
OF his office as judge, or ruler. There must
have been mighty struggle in his bosom
when he uttered this valedictory to the
people whose interests had been the bur
den of his heart and prayers for so many
years. The nation had now reached a
new era in its development, and its future
veal or woe depended on the peoples
obedience to the commandments of God.
This impressive truth the venerable
prophet seeks, throughout his entire adj
dress, to tasten indelib.y upon their minds.
He begins by challenging them to impeach
his official purity and Is answered by thl
unanimous confirmation of his integrity.
1t is not unlikely that shadow had fallen
over Samuels career because OF the per
verse course his sons had taken, and this
naturally suggests the reason why tho
aged seer ar this time 50 urgently calls
upon them for n complete vindcation OF
bts mr. NJ tya1l a his official life
ii. Israe's ngratitude Tvs. 6-l2). In
these verses Samuel recalls Jehovlh's
past mnrcies and upbradn them with un.
belief and. nsratitude for demanding a
king" He shows them how impious it wa1
to establish kingdom ike the heather
nations around them. Jehovah had never
failed them when they obeyed His word
and cried unto Him.. why. then, should
they desire human king" After refer
ring to the manner in which God had de.
lvered them from Egyptian bondage. Sam.
uel calls attention to the three chief op'
pressors OF Israel during the period OF the
judges l. The Canaanites who were led
by Sisera, the general of the army of King
.Iabn CJud. i:5l. .. The Phi,istines tJud.
3:3l; l0:7). 3. The Moabites under Eg,on
(Jud >: l230l. He then mentions foui
deiiverers OF the nation: |. ,Ierubbaal, or
ably Barak is meant (Jud. 4:6l. 3. Jeph.
thah. the Gilendite (Jud. IL. 1. Samuel
III. Samucl's words confirmed Tvs. l3-
lSl.
1915 aye have chosen" Though God
chose Saul, vet the people are said ia
choose him, either because they chose that
form OF government, or because they con.
firmed Gods choice. ''lf we will fear"
With whom or against whom is the hand
of the Lord? The answer to this question
depends on whether one has given him.
self to be the Lords with his whole heart
and has submitted fully to the divine will.
See Jer. lS:7-l0. "Ye and also the king"
There was no necessary evil in their hav.
ing a king, and if both king and subjects
reverence God. the nation shall "a az
prosperous and happy as ever Some other
form OF government might have been bet
ter, but ii the king and people will meet
the true conditions of national permanencc,
the monarchy shall be blessed and honored.
A failure to recognize and observe tho
commandments OF God will sooner or later
ruin any nation, no matter what its form
OF government.
1918. Wheat harvest" That season
in Palestine occurs at the end OF June or
the beginning of july, when it seldom or
never rains and the sky is cloudless. There
could not, therefore. have been a stronger
or more appropriate proof OF SamueTs
divine mission than the phenomenon OF
rain and thunder happening. without any
sign OF its app oach, upon the mere pre-.
Samuel was led to do this in order to i'm.
press upon them the truthfulness OF his
utterances and arouse them to a conscious.
ness of their great wickedness.. Feared
the Lord" The people regarded this as a
miraculous display OF divine power. The
elements are exclusively under the con-
troll OF the Creator, and He alone can say
what shall be in relation to the clouds;
yet for special ends-renerllly moral ends
they have occasionally been paced for a
season at the service of men. This in.
stance is a parallel to that which occurred
in Egypt (Ex. 9:22).
". Israel comforted Tvs: 1921. 1921.
'Pray-that we die not" They felt chat
somuers thoughts and feelings and those
OF Jehovah were the same. Jehovah's
true representative was among them.
"Fear not" Do not be desDondent az
though there was no hone. Turn We nor
aside" Samuel warns them against turn.
ing aside to ido.s, as they had often done
before, and "a they often did afterwards.
"Nain things" An idol is a mere nothing,
having no influence or power.
%. For His great names sake" ,le'
hovah is jealous of His glory: and all it's
sublime manifestations in defense OF His
people He could not we'll forget. God
forbid that ]" The conduct OF Samuel in
this whole affair of the kings appointment
shows him to have been a great and good
man who sank all private and personal
considerations in diSinterested zeal Tor his
country's good; and whose last words in
pubic were to warn the people and their
king OF the danger Of aDostasy in dis
obedience to God. "To pray" Though
rejected by this ungrateful people, the
prophet considers that it would he a sin
to cease praying for them. What excel.
lency OF character and heart is revealed in
this declaration 81 will teach you"
Samuel does not Withdraw from public
life; he rather promises the continuance
OF his intercession and prophetic labors in
respect to the whole people. 1t is well
to notice that in some sense he also con.
tinued as Judge. for in chap. 7:l5 we read
that he Judged Israel all the davs of his
life" and we know that repeatedly he found
it necessary to interfere with Saurs gov.
ernment. "Shall be consumed" BY dis.
obedience and sin even the Lords anoint.
ed, as well as the chosen people. shall most
certainly perish. With this most impres.
sive warning the prophet closed his last
public address to the assembled nation.