The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-07-10
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON u, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES. JULY ~.
Text of the Lesson. 1 Sam. \. 1927.
Memory Verses. -. 25-GoIden Text,
lisa. xxxiii. 22-COmmentary Pre-
pared by Rev. ID. VI. Stearns.

ne people ltIslSllllS III uclhd uulhS
n king that they might be like other
nations, God selected the man and
brought him TO Samuel in a remark
able way, and Samuel, having enter
tanned him and kept him over night,
anointed him the next morning and
sent him on his way. This lesson tells
Of the Lords public election of him TO
be Israers king The story of how
God led him TO Samuel, as recorded in
chapter tx. is one Of the most interest
ing of all Bible stories. The weary,
disappointed. hungry man going to the
prophet to inquire about the lost asses
and finding an unexpected welcome
and feast and communion and rest for
body and mind and then TO be told
that he was chosen TO be a king-who
ever heard of such surprises? And yet
il is all foreshadowing of the way by
which every child of God is led in I'M
expected ways to share with Christ
His glory.
Is. 49, We have this day rejected your
God. who Himself saved you out of all
your adversities and your tribulations,
and We have said unto Him. Nay, but set
a king over us.
They are reminded OF all the Lord
had done for them in the great deliv
erance from Egypt and in all His Won
drous care of them and are told plainly
that their present conduct is a delib
crate rejection of Him notwithstand-
a short time before the events of our
lesson that they were gathered at this
same Mizpeh entreating Samuel to
cease not 10 cry unto the Lord for them
that He would deliver them from the
Philistines, and. being delivered, they
set mp the Ebenezer stone saying,
Hitherto hath the Lord helped us"
chapter vii, s. 10.
2O-22 When they sought him he could
not be found. Therefore they inquired Of
the Lord further If the man should yet
come thither and the Lord answered,
Behold, he hath hid himself among the
stuff.
All Israel presented themselves be-
fore the Lord by their tribes, and the
lot was cast for the tribe and for the
family and for the man. with the re-
suit that Saul. the son of Kish, of the
tribe of Benjamin. was chosen. But he
could not be found God knew the
kind Of man whom they would like,
and He was going TO give them a man
after their own heart, and now He
guided the lot to bring him before
them. for 1.-THE lot is cast into the lap,
but the whole disposing thereof is of
the Lord" prov. xvi. 33). Saul knew
through Samuel that God had selected
him tx. u, and. knowing this, ii was
becoming thing not to put himself for
ward. but let all see that he had no
hand in the election.
%, "a And they ran and fetched him
thence, and when he stood among the peo-
pie he was higher than any of the people,
from his shoulders and upward, and Sam
uel said 10 all the people, See ye him
whom the Lord hath chosen.
In chapter tx, .. we read that he was
a choice young man and not goodier
person in all Israel. Flesh and blood,
and plenty Of it, even of good quality,
is not everything. else Goliath and 9th
or giants might be envied. Neither is
outward appearance everything-that
which people call presence-as Samuel
afterward learned when he appointed
a man after Gods heart instead Of one
to please the people chapter xvi, g. -.
Contrast the youth and probable slight
figure Of David xvii, 33): also that
which is written Of another Saul of the
tribe of Benjamin QI Cor. y, 10). The
people are pleased with their visible
king. a choice man and one Of noble
appearance.
%. Then Samuel told the people the
manner of the kingdom and wrote ii in
book and laid il up before the Lord. and
Samuel sent all the people away, every
man to his house.
He would doubtless write Deut. xvii
1920, with perhaps additions. If the
king would consider himself the Lords
representative and act for the Lord to-
ward the people. in all things consult
ing Him. obeying and honoring Him,
all might yet be well by the mercy of
God: but if he. like the people. turns
away from God. lives TO please himself
or the people and relies on human wis
dom or strength all will be lost. The
Lord alone must be exalted lisa. ii,
IL, IL.
&c And Saul also went home to Gibeah,
and there went with him a band of men
whose hearts God had touched
God would help him by giving him
helpers and friends. He does every
thing TO make il easy for us TO do
right if we are only willing to serve
Him in sincerity and truth. He is the
same God who saw that ii was not
good for Adam to be alone Gen. ii,
49,, who also sent the disciples out by
twos luke Y, ~. and He always in
due time provides helpers for such as
are willing 10 dwell with Him for His
work q Chron. iv, %; lisa. XII. 10.
81 But the children Of Beial said. How
shall this man save us? And they de-
spised him and brought him no presents,
but he held his peace.
When God works, the adversary also
works. and If we are on the Lords
side. while we are sure to have friends,
we will also have many to despise us.
When such rise up against us. ii Is