The Chanute times., 1903-07-17
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON H., JULY 1e-SAMUEL'S
FAREWELL ADDRESS.
Golden Text-"Ony Fear the Lord,
and Serve Him In Truth With All
Your Heart Samuel 12:24-
Sau's Victory over the Ammonites.

1. saul Confirmed as King. II Sam.
II; IA, 10. After his victory over the Am
monites, Sauls popularity among the
people was very great, and Samuel saw
that the time was ripe for hearty ma
tional confirmation of the step taken at
Mizpah by the national assembly. The
prophet therefore called the people to-
gether at Gilgal, between Jericho and the
Jordan.
II. 1.-The People Testify to Samueps s
Uprightness."-1 Sam. II: 10. 1t was at
this gathering, which closed in a conspic-
uous and definite manner his service as
judge Uhough not his work as propheD,
that Samuel made the valedictory ad-
dress which we study in the present les
SON. Samuel challenged the thousands
before him to name, in the presence of
. God and the king, any wrongful act of
which he had been guilty. And with one
voice the people took solemn oath that
he had governed with absolute purity.
III. Samuel Testihes to Gods Faith
fulness."-1 Sam 12: 6-12. After receiv-
ing this testimony to his own faithful
ness, Samuel turned on the people with
clear testimony to a faithful God. He
reviewed their history, their wonderful
rescue from Egyptian slavery, and later,
under Gideon, Barak, Jephthah, and him
self, their deliverance from Sisera, the
Philistines, the Moabites, and the Am
monites. All these triumphs were due to
God and yet they had foolishly and un-
gratefully desired mortal king!
w. 1.-The Service God Requires from his
People VS. 1915. Samuel had traced
the history of Gods dealing with the
Hebrews down to the time when they
ungratefully asked for king. And
even now that you have a king" the
prophet went on to say, God will not
forsake you, II you will continue to obey
him. He will deal with you and your
king just as he dealt with you without
your king"
IA. IF ye will fear the Lord" etc Sam
uel proceeds to name five things the king
and nation must do, if they would win
Gods favor and maintain their own
safety: they must Q) fear the Lord; (9
serve him; (3) obey his voice; (D not
rebel against his commandments (5) con-
tinue persevere) in following the Lord.
Then shall both ye," etc. The conclu-
sion, perhaps 1T shall be well with you"
Is to be supplied as in EX. 80: 32
Is. But If ye will not obey, then shall
the hand of the Lord be against you"
not from hatred but of necessity. LAS
it was against your fathers"
V. 1.-THE Requirement of Service En-
phasized by a Miracle."-Vs. 1919. Sam
uel had plainly stated Gods unchanged
and Interchangeable sovereignty, and the
service it called on the people to render.
But the nation was slow to understand
and quick to forget. They would be more
likely to remember an object lesson, es-
pecially If 1t was startling and stern.
Such an object lesson Samuel now OBJ
tains from Jehovah.
IS. Now therefore" In order that you
(Which the Lord will do
II. rs it not wheat harvest to-day?'
Wheat harvest began in May or June,
and lasted about seven weeks. "Vhe
Lord shall send thunder and
rain" 1t meant the ruin, perhaps in an
hour, of the crops on which they had
spent months of toll. THAT ye may per-
ceive and see that your wickedness Is
great" All Bible miracles have a moral
purpose, and thus are distinctly different
from the miracles of false religions.
IS. so the Lord sent thunder
and rain that day, and all the people
greatly feared the Lord"
10. The people said unto Samuel, Pray
for thy servants, for We have added unto
all our sins this evil" The penitent peo-
pie thus confessed not only their sin in
asking for king, but their previous sin
fulness.
W. Liz Nluu VI lNcquihNt'
VS.. 20, 21. 1t Is to be % hearty-v. 20;
and (O single-v. 21.
90 And Samuel said unto the people,
Fear not ye have done all this wicked
ness" but God will forgive you. and Will
still accept your service But serve the
Lord with all your heart" This is the
first requirement of service. that 1t be
hearty, enthusiastic, whole-souled Mark
12: 800.
Ava tttr,, oSi1 10
ond requirement of service, that 1t be
single, unmixed with service of any idol.
For then should ye go after vain
things"
VII. Helps to the Required Service. =
VS.. ~, %. They are divine w. 22) and
human ". 23.
%. For the Lord will not forsake his
people, for his great names sake. be-
cause 1t hath pleased the Lord to make
you his people" Just such a comfort
may come to any Christian in the assur-
ance that God has chosen him.
23 LAS for me-" This is the second,
the human, element in the help Samuel is
offering. He offers to help in two ways:
/. BY prayer God forbid that l should
sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray
for you"
g. Samuels second way of helping the
people is by instruction: Il will teach
you the good and the right way" Sam
uel is laying down his authority, but not
his office as a prophet. He will not lon
ger rule, but he will teach.
VIII. Motives for the Required Ser
vice. VS.. "a, 25. Two motives are urged:
ID that of love, gratitude ". pa; (2) that
of fear, prompted by self-interest ". 25).
"a. "Only fear the Lord" But In verse
20 Samuel had said, Fear not" Bishop
Hall, therefore, distinguished between
two fears. one savish or hostile. the
other filial. They were to fear God as
children revere a father, not as enemies
fear a powerful foe. And serve him in
truth with all your heart" The service
must be sincere. For consider how
great things he hath done for you" Lit
orally, with you"
Is But" Here comes in the second
motive to service,-fear. self-interest. IF
We shall still do wickedly. ye shall be
consumed, both ye and your king" Rul-
ers and people are closely bound to-
gether. A country whether governed by
a king or a president, depends for its
welfare upon virtue, that OF its citizens
and rulers. Sin. as Jay insists. violates
all the duties of civic life 1T destroys
subordination: II relaXes the ties which
bind mankind together. and makes them
selfish and mean; 1t renders men enemies
to cath other" Sunday schools and
churches, In making men better. are per-
forming services as patriotic as those of
any statesman.