Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-07-03
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
July 5.
Subject: Israel Asking For a King. sam
Will, l.I0-GoIden Text, Sam. VII, 3--
Study Verses, l.22-Memory Verses,
4.7-,Commentary on the Days
Lesson.


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 low
condition both morally and politically; lie
induced them to abandon their ldolatry'
freed them from the Philistine yoke, ad'
ministered justice with .yigor ana impair
TALLY, promoted education ana true feoi,
gion q Chron. 1918, united the t[loes
a anf raiSuu ' Twas DID," His age has
been placed all the way from ffty-fourr
to seventy years, but the consensus. OF
oninion is that he was not far from sixty
wears 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
in distant places,
of Samuel s sons may be taken! as indica-
tions of the fathers pious feelings. Joel,
fa Tf@pts "Beersheba8 %Tiheir chief seat
was there, as Samueps was at Ramah:
Probably the recovery under Samuel OF
many cities from the Philistines (chap.
7:l45 made it expedient to have some kind
of magistrates appointed in the southern
part of the country"
8. mot in his ways" Samuel's sons
did not follow in the footsteps of their
godly father, but were bad men who. dis
graced his name by dishonest dish proceedings:
after lucre, etc" "The three evils here
| 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 GENEROUSLY puts
his hand on ill-gotten gain will be easily
| overcome with bribery, and he who takes
brides will necessarily pervert Judgment
and truth"
L. "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:l6). The title
gradually acquired an official slgnihcatlon;
in the wilderness Moses appointed coun'
! ell of seventy to represent the whole body:
After the occupation of Canaan we find
mention of On elders of cities, who acted
as civil magistrates; (2) elders of tribes,
or districts; 81 the elders of Israel, or
united body of the elders of the tribes.
S. "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
|
could a people show their governor than
to submit entirely to his hands the reor'
ganzation of their government, and the
selection and appointment of king! But
this action seems to have been attended
with a clamorous and mandatory spirit
which was displeasing in the sight of God
and of Samuel. "Like all the nations,
But God had cautioned them against tol,
lowing the example of other nations, ana
this was bold step in the wrong, direction,
This should be a warning to the churcn
undertake to blend with worldlings and
thus lose their distinctive characteristics
as true Christians they will invariably lose
their spiritual life and power. While II, the
effort with us should not be to be. unlike
others merely for the sake of being Pc
cul;ar. vet the saint of God lives a separr,,
ated life, unlike the world, forsaking all
its customs to great extent and opposing
its sinful and selfish practices. The e, Chris.
tian conforms his life to the life OF Christ.
III. Gods answer to the request VS.
COY. 6. 'Displeased Samuel" Because,
/. Samuel saw that they were about to
reject the divine government of God. z;
II was an affront to Samuel, their aged
leader, who had spent his life in untirlns
devotion to their interests. g. 1t was a
disappointment to Samuel that the people
should reject God and choose another
leader. The demand for king was the
direct outcome of faithessness;, It was
a detection from God. Prayed" Samuel
knew where to 60 for direction. he dla
not let his own personal feelings dec 60
hut he wished to know the mind of God
in the matter.
7. "Hearken" God was displeased with
them, but allowed them to have their way.
Cod 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,,
ple had rejected him and were dissatisfied
with his administration. "But-me. Iney
had not merely rejected Samuel, but they
had rejected God as their ruler. Ihey
failed to see that their misfortunes game
not from lack of care on the part OF s; ne
hovah, but because of their own SINS;
Had they humbly and devoutE inquired
the will of God in the matter, and asked
for a Governor after His own heart, and
not after the model of the heather powers,
a most propitious change might have been
effected in their form of government.
g.. 9. "Have forsaken Me-" All the sins
they had committee since they lett EgypI
were against God. unto thee Samuel
This He speaks for the purpose of comfort,
ing and indicating Samuel. Protest
soTemnly." If they persisted in their, re-
bellious course they must do SO with their
ewes wide open to the consequences. God
still warns sinners, but they have 1t In
their power to persist in their wickedness
and 90 to destruction. Manner of the
king Show them what they may expect
from an earthly king. 1t was a great mis-,
take for the people to forsake God ano
choose another king; but many to-day
with much greater light than Israel hac
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 king Tvs. 1919
10. "Words of the Lord" Samuel did moi
speak his own words or give his own opin
ions. He told the people plainly what they
might expect if they persisted in, theil
determination to have a king similar tt
The nations around them.
w. The reply of the people Tvs. 1922
The people refused to listen to the voic'
of Samuel. They were determined. to b'
like the nations around them, and wer'
willing to submit to the demands which ;
king might make upon them; Samuel thel
took the matter again to the Lord, ate
which che sorrowfully dismissed them t.
their homes, that he might have time t.
take the necessary measures for etfectin
this great change" God still lets peopl
have their own way and permits them t.
lean to their own understanding; but no
until He has warned them of the grea
| I