The Tupelo journal., 1903-07-17
H SUNDAY cHo
f3r July 10, 10O3-Samuels
Farewell Address.
TyIE LESSON TEXT.

-NN" y ~ tifk 1,~
desired; and, behold, the Lord hath set a
king over you.
IA. If We will fear the Lord. and serve
Him. and obey His voice, and. not rebel
against the commandment OF the Lord.
then shall both we and also the king that
reigneth over you continue following the
Lord our God;
Is. But If We will not obey the voice of
the Lord, but rebel against the command
ment of the Lord, then shall the hand of
the Lord be against you, as 1t was'against
your fathers.
16. Now, therefore, stand and see this
great thing, which the Lord will do before
your eyes.
II. Is it not wheat harvest to-day? I
Will call unto the Lord, and He shall send
thunder and rain; that ye may perceive
see that our wickedness is great,
which we nave lone in the sight of the Lord.
In asking you a king.
is. So Samuel called unto the Lord; and
the Lord sent thunder and rain that day;
and a. the people greatly feared the Lord
and Samuel.
10. And all the people said unto Samuel:
Pray for thy %rvant unto the Lord thy
God, that we die not; for we have added
unto all our sins this evil, to ask US a
king.
20. And Samuel said unto the people:
Fear not; ye "a done all this wicked
ness; yet turn not aside from following
the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your
heart;
Il. And turn we not aside; for then
should We go after vain things, which car
not profit nor deliver; for they are ain.
2. For the Lord will not forsake His
people, for His great names sake; because
1t hath pleased the Lord to make you His
people.
%. Moreover, as for me, God forbid
that | should sin against the Lord in
ceasing to pray for you; but l will teach
you the good and the right way:
"a. Only fear the Lord, and serve Him
in truth with all your heart; for consider
how great things He hath done for you,
%. But if We shall still do wickedly, ye
shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
GOLDEN TEXT-OnIy fear the Lord,
and serve Him in truth with all your
heart.-1 Sam. 12:24.
OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURESECTION.
Saul defeats the Ammonites.. i Sam. HILL.
Kingdom firmly established. i Sam. 11:12-15.
SamuePs integrity ..............1 Sam 2:1-6.
How God deals with His people..........
Sam. 12:7-15.
A promise and a warning.....1 Sam. l2:l6-25.
Saul Defeats the Ammonites.-It
appears that Saul did not immedi-
ately take upon himself either the
duties or the responsibilities of king
ship. 1t seems to have happened"
that when the Ammonites threat
ened the people of Jabesh-Gilead,
the report came to the town where
Saul lived. Saul still, in spite of his
new dignity. acted as the herdsman.
Coming up after his herd, he learned
the news, and, like the man he was,
he was filed with patriotic anger.
Jabesh-Gilead had just a week to get
ready for the struggle. Saul had
practically no following, and some
thing had to be done, and done quickly.
In this emergency the untried king
sent his faithful few among the peo-
pie to say that destruction would
come upon those who refused to heed
the call of the king. The loyalty of
the few, and the fear of the many
brought to the front 300, 900 men, and
the Ammonites met with utter de-
feat.
The Kingdom Firmly Established.
The quick action of Saul, and the
great victory resulting made the ma
ton willing to accept the new king
as ruler in deed, as well as in name,
and where as before the refusal of
some to accept Saul as king, went
~unheeded, now the enthusiastic crowd
wanted to put them to death. But
Saul was magnanimous, and prevent
ed the threatened slaughter. Saul
now having shown himself capable of
being king, Samuel again called the
nation together, that the kingdom
might be firmly established, and fur
Their took occasion to say some need
full things to the people of Israel.
Samuel's Integrity.-First Samuel
called upon the people to testify to
his own integrity of character. Sam
uel, like the other prophets, could
perform miracles, one of which we
have recorded in the latter part of
the Scripture section which we are
studying, but the ability to perform
miracles is not the greatest testimo-
NAL t. his prophetic mission. but
that. in what we term those unen-
llSllelitu llHieS. uC Shouio haNC ihuli-
tanned the integrity of character to
refuse to receive any bride to
bind mine eyes herewith" as he him.
self publicly declared. and to the
truth of which statement all gave as
sent. This more than all shows him
a man of God.
A Promise and Warning.-The mir
acle above referred to was the bring
ing of rain in the harvest time dur
ing which season rain never comes
in Palestine. Seeing this, great fear
fell upon the people, and they began
to repent that they had demanded a
king. Samuel told them to fear not,
but to turn from their wickedness
and serve God. If they should serve
| God all would be well. but "if you
shall still do wickedly, We shall be
consumed" This truth was borne
out in after history. and, indeed, such
is the common experience to-day. In
ldividuals or nations rush to destruc-
ton and decay. if God is forgotten,
but blessing crowns the leading OF
Divine counsels.
Rams Horn Blasts.
A prejudice cannot be a principle.
The light of God cures the lust OF
gold.
Love cannot be limited by latitude
o- lonUituda