The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-07-01
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
July 5.
subject: Israel Asking For O King, I Sam
will. l.I0-Golden Text, I Sam. yii., D
Study Verses, l.z1--Mcmory Verses.
4.7-commeniary on the Days
Lesson.

ff-tommentafy on INC Days
Lesson.
i. The Israelites desire a king Tvs. l.5).
j. Samuel" Samuel was both prophet
and a judge in Israel. He was brought to
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 a low
condition both morally and politically. He
induced them to ?bandon their idolatry,
freed them from the Philstine yoke, ad.
ministered justice with vigor and impair.
tiality, promoted education and true reli-
gion (2 Chron. 35: :lSl, united the tribes
and raised them higher in the scale OF
civilization. WAS old" His age has
been placed all the way from ffty-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; hut thev were his
assistants who attended to judicial matters
in distant places.
.. Joel" The meaning of the names
OF Samuel's sons may be taken as indica-
tlons OF the fathers pous feelings. Joel,
Jehovah is God" Abiah, Jehovah is
father" "Beer.sheba." Their chief seat
was there, as Samueis was at Ramah.
Probably the recovery under Samuel OF
many cites IRON the Philistines (ch1p.
I:l4) made 1t expedient to have some kind
OF magistrates appointed in the southern
part OF the country"
3. "Not in his waya." Samuels s,ns
did not follow in the footsteps of their
cody father, but were bad men who dis
graced his name by dishonest proceedings.
After lucre. etc. The three evils here
yrn npF hn FOR afp 20
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 covetousiy puts
his hand on ill.gotten gain will be easily
overcome with bribery, and he who takes
brihes viii. necessarily pervert judgment
and truth"
4. Elders of Israe!" Before the ey.
odus Israel possessed an organization OF
elders to whom Moses was directed TO de-
liver his message (Ex. 3:l6). The tit.e
gradually acquired an official signihcatioa;
in the wilderness Moses appointed cou1-
Gil OF seventy to represent the whole boiH.
After the occupation OF Canaan we find
mention OF tlD elders of cities. VINO acted
as civil magistrates; (2D elders OF tribes,
or districts; (3l the elders OF Israe,, OF
united body of the elders OF the tribes.
8. Thou art old" Although not so
greatly advanced in years, yet Samuel ~.
his strength in the cares and burdens of
public business. Make us king" What
higher tribute Of esteem and confidence
could peOD'e show their governor than
to submit entirely to his hands the reor'
ranlzaton OF their government, and the
selection and appointment OF a king! But
this action seems to have been attended
with a c.amorOus and mandatory spirit
which was disnleasing in the sight OF God
and OF Samuel. Like all the nationss'
But God had cautioned them against fo'.
lowing the example OF other nations, and
this was bold step in the wrong direction.
This should be a warning to the church
at the present time. When Gods people
undertake to blend with worldiings and
thus lose their distinctive characteristics
as true Christians they will invariably lose
their spiritual life and power. While the
effort with us should not be to be unlike
others merely for the sake OF being pc.
ated life, unlike the world, forsaklng all
its customs TO a great extent and opposing
its sinful and selfish practices. The Chris
tian conforms his life to the life OF Christ.
III. Gods answer to the request Tvs.
G-9). @. "Displeased Samuel" Because,
l. Samuel saw that they were about to
reject the divine government of God. 2:
1t was an aifront to Samuel, their aged
leader, who had spent his life in untiring
devotion to their interests. }. II 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. IL was
a detection from God. Prayed" Samuel
knew where to go for direction. He did
not let his own personal feelings decide,
but he wished to know the mind OF God
in the matter.
l. "Hearkcn." God was dispeased with
them, out allowed chem to have their way.
cnI - hot in Ia an % "
He withho.ds 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 were dissatisfied
with his administration. "But--me.' They
had not merely rejected Samuel, but they
had rejected God as their ruler They
failed to see that their msfOrtunes came
not from lack OF care on the part OF 'Ie'
hoyah, but because of their own sins.
Had they humb,v and deyoutiy inquired
the will Of God in the matter, and asked
for q Governor after His own heart, and
not after the model OF the heathen powers,
a most propltious change might nave been
effected in their form OF government
SO Have forsaken Me-" All the sins
they had committ.,. since they lett Egypt
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
bellous 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 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 and
! choose another king; but many to-day
with much greater light than Israel haC
| are making the same mistake. Such for
get that the service OF God is the easiest
! and best to be found.
| III. The rights OF king Tvs 1918
| 10. Words OF the Lord" Samuel did MOI
speak his own words or give his own opn
ions He told the people plainly what they
might expect If they persisted in theil
determination to have king similar Il
the nations around them.
". The reply Of the people Tvs. 1922
The peop'e refused to listen to the voic,
oi Samuel. They were determined to bt
like the nations around them, and wer'
willing to submit to the demands which
king might make upon them. Samuel thei
took the matter again to the Lord, afte
which "he sorrowfully dismissed them Il
their homes that he might have time Il
take the necessary measures for eifectin
this great change" God still let's peopl
have their own way and permits them l.
lean to their own understanding; but no
until He has warned them OF the grea