Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-07-02
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
July 5.
Subject: Israel Asking Por King, Sam
Will, l.l0-Go!den Text, | Sam. VIII. j.
Study Verses, l.22-Memory Verses,
4.7-.Commentary on tho Days
Lesson

l. The Israelitcs desire king Tvs. l-5).
|. Samuel" Samuel was both prophet
and a Judge in Israel. He was brought to
the tabernacle when very young and put
under the care of Eli. the high priest.
Samuel was the last and best of the He.
brew judges when he assumed charge
of Israel, the twelve tribes were in a low
condition both morally and politically. He
induced them to abandon their idoatry,
freed them from the Phlistine yoke, ad.
ministered justice with ,vigor and Impair
TALLY, promoted education and true reli.
gon g Chron. 1918, united the tribes
and raised them higher in the scale, of
civilization. "Was old" His age has
been placed all the way from iifty-four
to seventy years, but the consensus OF
years old at this time. Sons judges"
They were not given authority. equal to
his own, for Samuel was the last judge
in Israel and he exercised his office until
the day of his death; but they were his
assistants who attended to judicial matters
.. Joel" The meaning of the names
Of Samucl's sons may be takenr! as indica-
tons of the fathers piious, feelings. Joel,
fat f@S "Beer gi "Tiheir chief seat
Vas there, as Samuel's was at Ramah:
Probably the recovery under Samuel of
many cities from the Philistines (chap.
7:l4) made it expedient to have some kind
of magistrates appointed in the southern
part of the country
8. "Not in his ways Samuels sons
did not follow in the footsteps of their
godlv father, but were bad men who dis.
graced his name by dishonest proceedings.
"After lucre, etc." "The three evils here
mentioned cannot be too strongly repro.
batcd in Judge. The Hebrew word trans.
! lated lucre, means properly illgotten gains
that which is obtained by violence or
! fraud. The judge who generously puts
his hand on ill.gotten gain will be easily
overcome with bribery, and he who takes
| and truth"
4. Elders of Israel" Before the ex::
odus Israel possessed an organization of
! elders to whom Moses was directed to de.
liver his message lex. 3:lG). The title
gradually acquired an official Specification;
in the wilderness Moses appointed coun'
Gil of seventy to represent the whole body.
After the occupation OF Canaan we ma
mention Of N) elders of cities, who acted
as civil magistrates: (2) elders of tribes,
or districts; l3l the elders of Israel, or
united body of the elders of the tribes.
5. Thou art old" Although not so
greatly advanced in years, yet Samuel APP
| pears to have been worn out, having spent
his strength in the cares and burdens, OF
public business. Make us king" What
| higher tribute Of esteem and confidence
could A peopIe show their governor than
70 submit entirely 70 his hands the reor.
e oo ;rro Of tbe;r government. and the
selection and appointment OF king! But
! this action seems to have been attcpded
! with camorous and mandatory spirit
which was displeasing in the sight of God
Rut God had cautioned them against fol.
iowino the EXAMPLE OF other nations and
his was a bold step in the wrong direction,
! IKE shor,d he a warning 10 the church
ut the present time. When Gods people
undertake to blend with worldlings and
Tins lose their distinctive characteristics
n, tme Christians tLoy will invariably lose
thcir snir;tnol life and mower, While the
cFnrt with ~ sLouiI not be to be unlike
others merely for the sake of being pc
cular, vet the saint Of God lives a separ.
oteJ i;fn mike tho world. forsaking all
;ts rustoms to n great extent and opposing
;ts sinful and selfish practices, The Chris.
IAN CON forms his lie to thc lie OF Christ.
n God's answer to The request Tvs.
CO., G. "Displeascd Samuel" Because,
! Samuel saw that they were about to
reject the divine government of God. >,
~ II va M afTront IN Samuel their aged
ico6or who Ind snent his life in untirinc
Icyot '' 70 70 Their Interests, 3, 1t was a
d;s,nnoiutment TO Samuel that the people
.hnnlG reject God and choose another
leaJcr Tho demand for king was the
Mroct o,',ronn of iaithIessncss' 1t was
", lofo,t;on FRAN God "praycd." Samuel
tnnw where to 20 for direction. He did
MY H., own Iorsoral feelings decide,
h 'Ut hn ,xisLod to Know the mind of God
~ ,h m ,,,,ttnr
II" Wv "ii'a,l.ar Cod was 1isnlco .ed with
.hon, 49, ,IIn,yod hon, to hayr Their way.
God grants That in lis Jispicasure which
tIo v.t,Li'nIde in His mercy "Not rejected
thoo Trom this wc iudrc that Samuel
j., h., ,r,vor Ind comnlo;nGd that the peo-
,Io h,1 rc;octnI him and we're dissatisfied
p. tt ~ IA. aj,n;n;ttrat;om "l,nt-mc." They
NY KY "'o ,nroI. rc;octcd Somnol Int they
h lo,i ~" re;crtcd God as their ruler. They
fn;Ied - SEQ that their misfortunes came
, nnt iron ioc,, Of care on thc mart of Je.
ho,,h Lut hcc,use of their own sins.
la, ~" ,bav bnmhlv opd devontN incurred
t i"" u. III Of GoI !, thr matter and asked
snc VIZ VI "U a e, ,' UiS OVEN bcort and
n"t asta, ~ ,roIai IF Tho Leotbnn movers.
nov az, .',G o,,nrco ,,,;%bt hare heen
a!ao,e r, ithn;r fo,,, nf rov"rnmant
o IIo ron"aio, IL All Tho Gins
~ idanc ~, SAM, ni' tho,, Iaft Ervnt
, ,. n,i i ost" HnJ "I-nto hoo Samuel
,,.o, $500 @E|, M rorso thon GoI Himself
NJ W. i H. !sa ~ foU 10 mrnoso ~ comfort.
IA; Inns ~ 'l"Hi li Wv Gnnimol "prntast
sE ",u ''I II thc~ ,orsi"tcd in their 70.
SSoimI;;'''i.s , rmes ~ 10 co WIKI thair
DtIll'us t'u'N' 'h'S ll"'' Wv ~ WIN