Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-07-04
HI caDDA1aa JNliUUL
International Lesson Comments For
July 5.
subj,e: Israel Asking For a King. ! sam
vii, 10 Go'ten Text. Sam. vii, g.
Study Verses. l.72-Memory Verses.
III Commentary on :h4 Days
Lesson

/. The i>racHtes desire a king Tvs. Id.
|. Samuel Samuel was both prophet
and Judge in israel. lie was brought 10
the tabernacle when very Young and put
under the care OF Eli. the high priest.
Samuel was the last and best oI the lie
brew judges. When he assumed charge
OF Israel, the twelve tribes We're IN low
condition both morally and politically. He
induced them TO abandon their idolatry,
freed them from the Phli>tinc yoke. adj
ministered justice with visor and impair
TALLY. promoted education and true rell-
gioa y Chron. 35:lSi united the tribes
CIVILIZATION. Was old. His age has
been placed al the way from tifty-four
t. seventy years. but the consensus OF
opinion Is that ne was not far from sixty
years old at this time. sons judlcs."
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 atteaded to julicia! matters
in distant places
>. joel" The meaning OF the names
OF Samucl's sons may he taken as indica-
tionS OF the fathers pious feelings. Joel,
".lehoy9h is Sod Aoi ..., Jehovah l., IS
was there, as Samueis was at Ramah:
Probably the recovery under Samuel OF
many cities from the Phiistines (chap.
I'D made it eNpedient to have some kind
OF magistrates appointed III the southern
part OF the country.
3. Not in his WAYS SamuePs sons
did not follow in the footsteps OF their
cody father. but were bad men who dis
graced his name by dishonest proceedings.
After lucrc. etc. The three evils here
mentioned cannot be too strongly repro
hated 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-cotten gain will be easily
overcome with bribery. and he who takes
hrihes will necessarily pervert judgment
and truth
l. Elders OF Israel" Before the ex:
odus Israel possessed an organization or
elders TO whom Moses was directed to de.
liver his message lex. 3:l6l. The title
gradually acquired an official signitication;
in the wilderness Moses appointed coun-
Gil of seventy 10 represent the whole body.
After the occupation OF Canaan we ind
mention OF Cd elders ot cities. who acted
as civil magistrates: t2l elders OF tribes,
or districts: l3) the elders of Israel. or
united body OF the elders OF the tribes.
). "Thou art old. Although not so
greatly advanced in wears. yet Samuel APP
pears to have been worn out, having spent
his strength III the cares and burdens of
public business. Make us a king" What
higher tribute Of esteem and confidence
could a reop.e show their governor than
to submit entirely TO his hands the reor,
ganzation OF their government. and tho
selection and appointment OF a king: But
this action seems 10 have been attended
with a c.amorous and mandatory spirit
which was di>ileasing in the sight OF God
and OF Samuel. Like all the nations
Eut God had cautioned them against FOL.
ha nj
this was a bold step in the wrong direction.
This should he 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 losd
their spiritual life and power. While the
effort with us should not he to be unlike
others merely Tor the sake OF being pc
culiar vet the saint of God lives n separ-
ated lie. unlike the world. forsaking all
lis customs TO a great extent and opposing
its sinful and selfish practices. The Chris
tian conforms his life to the life of Christ.
ii. Gods answer TO the request Tvs.
co. 6. "Disp.eased Samuel Because,
!. Samuel saw that they were about to
reject the divine government OF God >.
It was an affront to Samuel. their aged
leader who had spent his lie in untirinc
devotion TO their interests, ,. 1t was a
disappointment TO Samuel that the people
should reject God and choose another
leader The demand Tor a king was the
direct outcome OF faithicssness. Ii was
a detection. from God Prayed" Samuel
knew where to go Tor direction. lie did
not let his own PERSONAL feelings de:ldc.
but he wished to know the mind OF God
in the matter.
:. "IIearken" Cod was disp.eased with
them out allowed chem to have Their way.
God grants that in His disp.casure which
He withholds N Ills mercy. Not rejected
thee" FROM this we judge that Samuel
in his PRAYER he'd complained that the PEG.
ple had rejected him and were dissatisfied
with his administration. "3u;-,ne. 1heX
had not merely rejected Samuel. but 'hey
Rad rejected God as their ruler. They
failed 10 see that their misfortunes came
not from lack OF care on the part OF 'Ie-
hovah. bet because OF their own sins:
Had they humb,v aud devouty inquired
the viii OF God in the matter, and asked
Tor a Governor after His own heart. and
not after the model OF the heather powers,
a moss propilous change might have been
effected in their form OF government.
s. Have forsaken Me" All the sins
they had commute. 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. ,Protes.
so,emn.y" Ii they persisted in their re-
hellious course they must do so with their
eyes wide open to the consequences. God
still warns sinners. but they have 1t in
their power TO persist in their wickedncss
ana 90 10 destruction Manner Of the
king" Show them what they may expect
from m earthly king. 1t was great mis-
take for the people to forsake God and
/ choose another king: but many to-day
with much greater light than Israel had
are making the same mistake. Such for
get that the service of God is the easiest
and Rest - be found
III The rights OF a king Tvs. l0-lSl.
10. Words OF the Lord Samuel did not
! speak his own words or give his own opin-
ions He told the people plainly what they
might expect il the: persisted in their
determination 10 have Il king similar TO
The nations around them.
~. The rep.v OF the people Tvs. 1927.
The people refused to listen to the voice
! OF Samuel. They were determined to be
! like the nations around them, and we're
willing 10 submit TO the demands which a
i king might make upon them. Samuel then
took the matter again to che Lord, after
which The sorrowfully dismissed them TO
| their homes that he might have time to
| take the necessary measures for etfectine
! this great change" God still lets people
/ have their own way and permits them to
! lean 10 their own understanding; but not
| until He has warned them of the great
| danger OF taking such course.
rs