The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-07-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY S.

Subject: Israel Asking For King, Sam.
will, 1-10-Golden Text, Sam. VIII, 3
- STUDY Verses, 1-22-Memory Verses
4-7-Commentary on the Days Lesson
4. The Israelites desire king Tvs. l-5),
l. Samuel" Samuel was both a prophet
and 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 o low
condition both morally and politically. He
induced them to abandon their idolatry,
freed them from the Philistine yoke, ad.
ministered 5!. JUSTICE With vigor and impair. par
gion e Chron. 35:lsl, united the tribes!
and raised them higher in tie scale. of
civilization. "Was old" His age has
been placed all the way from fifty-four
to seventy years, but the consensus of
opinion is that he was not far from sixty
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
.. Joel" The meaning of the names
of Samuel's sons may be taken as indica-
tions of the fathers pious, feelings. Joel,
father.Si "Beer.sheba." siTi 'Tiheir chief seat
was there, as SamuePs 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"
g. "Not in his ways" Samuels sons
did not follow in the footsteps Of their
sfea After s luere as etc., y i TRe three evils here
mentioned cannot be too strongly. repro
bated in Judge. The Hebrew word trans.
lated lucre, means properly ill-gotten gains
that which is obtained by violence or
fraud. The Judge who covetously puts
his hand on ill-gotten gain will be easily
overcome with bribery, and he who takes
bribes will, necessarily pervert judgment
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, (Ex. S:le). The title
gradually acquired an official signifcation;
in the wilderness Moses appointed a coun-
Gil of seventy to represent the whole body:
After the occupation of Canaan we lind
mention of Qj elders of cities, who acted
as civil magistrates; ~. elders of tribes,
or districts; (3) the elders of Israel, or
united body of the elders of the tribes.
5. "Thou art DID," Although not so
greatly advanced in years, yet Samuel ap-
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
&hoir
to submit entirely to his hands the .reor-
ganization of their government. and the
selection and appointment of king! But
this action seems to have been attended
with a clatnorous and mandatory spirit
which was displeasing in the sight Of God
and of Samuel. Like all the nations"
But God had cautioned them against fol.
lowing the example of other nations, and
this was bold step in the wrong, direction.
This should be warning to the church
at the present time. When Gods people
undertake to blend with worldlings and
thus lose, their distinctive eharaeterlsties tics
their spiritual life and power. While the
effort with us should not be to be unlike
others merely for the sake of being pc
culiar, yet the saint of God lives separ,,
ated life, unlike the world, forsaking all
its customs to a great extent and opposing
it's sinful and selfish practices. The Chris
tian conforms his life to the life of Christ
II. Gods answer to the request Tvs.
69). 6. "Displeased Samuel" Because,
/. Samuel saw that they were about to
reject the divine government OF God. z;
It was an affront to Samuel, their aged
leader, who had spent his life in untlrlng
devotion to their interests, 8. 1t was
disappointment TO Samuel that the people
Id nhnnop another
leader. The demand for king was the
direct outcome of faithlessness:. It was
a detection from God. prayed" Samuel
knew where to 70 for direction. be did
not let his own personal feelings decide,
but he wished to know the mind OF Goo
in the matter. ,., -,
them, but allowed them to have their way.
God grants that in His displeasure which
He withholds in His mercy. Not rejected
thee" From this we Judge that Samuel
in his prayer had complained that the peo,,
pie had rejected him and we're dlsSatlsilea Gh
had not merely rejected Samuel, but they
had rejected God as their ruler. They
failed to see that their misfortunes came
not from lack of care on the part o! Je-
hoyah. but because of their oFn 1ins:
Had they humbly and devoutiy inquired
the will of God in the matter, aid ssked
for a Governor after His OWE heart, and
not after the model of the heather powers,
a most propitious change might have heen
effected in their form of government.
SO. Have forsaken Me-" All the sins
were against God. Unto thee" Samuel
was faring no worse than God Himself.
This He speaks for the purpose of comfort.
ing and vindicating Samuel. Protest
soIemniy." If they persisted in their, re-
bellious course they must do so with their
eyes wide open to the consequences. God
still warns sinners, but they have It IN
their power to persist in their wickedness
and 20 to destruction. Manner OF the
king Show them what they may expect
from an earthly king. 1t was great mis-;
take for the people to forsake God ana
choose another king; but many to-day
with much greater light than Israel had
are making the same mistake. such tor.
get that the service of God is the easiest
and best to be found.
III. The rights of a king Tvs. 1919.
10. Words of the Lord" Samuel did not
speak his own words OF give his own opin-
ions. He told the people plainly What they
might expect if they persisted in their
determination to have king similar to
the nations around them.
". The reply of the people (vs. 1922.
TIE people refused to listen to the voice
OF Samuel. They were determined to be
like the nations around them, and we're
willing to submit to the. demands which a
king might make upon them: Samuel then
took the matter again to the Lord, after
which "he sorrowfully dismissed them to
their homes. that he might have time to
take the necessary measures for effecting
this great change" :" God still let's people
have their own way and permits them to
lean to their own Understandings; but not
until He has warned them of the great
danger of taking such Course.