Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-07-09

International Lesson Comments Fos
July Il.
Subject: Saul Chosen King, SGcl. ", l7.G-
Golden Text, lisa. xxxiii.. 22-Memory
Verses, "A, 25-Read Chapters Xxx
Commentary on the Days
Lesson.

I7,l9). II. Samuel" In this lesson the
prophet-judge appears in unique attitude,
as one who assists in the revolution which
is to take from himself the supreme power
and bestow it upon another. What un.
selfish and noble conduct! Though evi.
| IDENTIFY much panied, yet, at the command
of God, he sank all personal feelings and
set himself to the work of finding the best
man for king. And after Saul was chosen
| Samuel proved his best and most faithful
friend end adviser. Most men would have
wished the experiment TO fail; Samuel did
his best to make it successful. Called
the people," The assembly was evidently
partly representative, made up of elders
and heads of tribes; and partly popular,
many of the people being present, en-
camped and to some extent armed. Unto
sarily imply that the ark was present.
Samuel publicly invokes the Divine pres.
ence and blessing and has everything done
as in the presence of Jehovah. "To Miz-
peh." The location is uncertain, but is
supposed to be high hill not far from
Ramah, Samuel's home. Several other i'm
portant meetings were held at Mizpeh,
Is. "And said" Samuel first points out
to the assembled people that Jehovah had
which they desired king. He had de:
livered them from all kingdoms that had
oppressed them. But this deliverance had
been made to depend upon their own con.
duct; they were always required to repent
of sin and purge the land from idoatrH
before victory could be theirs. What
they wanted now was national independ-
ence, freed from this condition, and Sc
cured by an organization OF their military
resources. SamuePs discourse sets before
them in vigorous style the mighty deeds
which God had done for them.
10. "Reiectcd.' Samuel charged them
with :ngrattude and unfaithiulness, as
expressed in the demand for a king. God,
in the character of king, had governed
the Israclites for 400 years. lie ruled
on terms which lie Himself, through the
viz. that il they observed their allegiance
to Him. they should be prosperous; If not
adversely and misery should be the con
sequence We learn from the whole hook
Of Judges. and from the first eight chap
ters of Samuel, how exactly the result,
from Joshua to Samuel, agreed with these
conditions. God had always faithfully
kept the promises made them. Set
king Their fault consisted not in the
simple desire for king. but in the CON
tempt they manifested for jehovah. They
were not satisfied with God, but desired
n vis;h1e linp clothed in purple robes,
with b;s rnords and officers, who should
rule with great pomp like the nations
around them. present yourselves, Ar
range yourselves in systematic order tor
Pnrresented hv twelve nrinces. "Your
,i'dms,ndso ,rLis r,eana the same rs fam
;,os 'rbe nnr,hor Of heads Of houses in
,ho so,.or,, f,,n;lies of trihe might easily
rnooh oo , thonsond So,nnel knew the pcev-
lshness of that pcoD,c, and that there were
those tIeST who TI @ would not be satisfied with the
choice # it Irpended on his single testi
navy hmt hv his method the people would
n.o"n, u"T cd oS im,i LoG anpn;nted Snul for "the
s Jisnosoi tri, Of the lot 'i WAS with tho Lord"
This worId nrcyent disputes.
IT II Saul rbosen k;nq vs. 90 oD. %.
., "Ren;amin was tnten," We are not
taii1 ovnressI, hv what process the selec.
t;nM WAS made but il was probably by
,ost;rr lots 4 be lot was in common use
on's o"soS al III nations Of antiouty, It is re.
marJnd in Scrinturc not as n chance de-
safnou nt III ,,s' -, ,c"r;tratc method Of ascer.
.;,T,r' tn;n;nr w t%o D;vinn VIII The lot among
~ ,sl,oa fon an thn tr;hc of BENJAMIN
,,m;oS, unv ,.os tho smallest Of the tribes.
"Fnm;,, "F," "n' of Nntri The heads Of the tribe
fIWn,E Wn ,;n ~; I",x noxt ,nnenreJ and the family
VI " nL%',, Matr; was tnl,en Tho successive steps
oro VI -'t%c t%cn nassod over At last Saul of the
b,usobnl1 of X iSh was taken. 'COuld not
o fo,ua ;, "fIo withdrew in homes they
W III ,T1l ,,nooood 70 = now election. We NAV
@ M@ou'u p' tLat ~ this timo hc was really
sul"'e '4"I az nmnn ,,'' h;mself the govern.
Ntlao r =" 1910 Ia was conscinus of IN.
naI, mcn., ptv"ua,' f. ~o ,roat trust 9 II would
nlhcss nl iGi i ~ no on,.v of his nciphbors,
cNrqse ciq do'stond ,nnL ~. th,i the ncop;c had
.: ne u,',eIS," ~ nsIs;n% l,;n~ d Thc affairs of
Sln'ie' il "sN."G NJ Gthis +;r,a in a had coodi.
lsr"yi "eio "' '''''
ton c., ,..,oo, ,.;,,. l.s ooo7> %
no IL. d. o.ua ro aerat'o ',nt mar Thrv injured
20, ls 'EerI EnI .as " resent or VAS to be
whether Sa1l ohrdp Mhs p''"'H, Among the stuff"
S0ugiit lor eiseTi,J,e hnh ,,. ,l,,al7v nIoccd in
ne Dags'se M MlIrn oa,,,, was Pan % Etc." There
the celllrt '"b bora r Zoo, mmch haste and
appears 10 pc c1n;ah,, nalr thar nnvn Sonl was
eNH'tell1ei,o n no,,,r,,ninr in ncrson, 1t is sup.
ta'l aug .hI hn ,ras at least seven feet in
P. POSI- ''at ~ ,"os "o M ,rc when leaders stood
heisht ofrnn+ ~ WA, OF of no hattie and a giant
IN llI lle ;Ia loiIllV,av .n,.,or ", -, h;s fors
W0nlu 81 strlHe "o' va - b;n, Saul's distin-
"a; o. ,n"a Hp oynd rrnat strength helped
gulsheu s'"o",u "a,,,nend "nn him to he people.
l, mucn W ,n Gi.n him in majesty of ap-
lhere was n9'ic 'iMu ooa,n ',r ,nnnlar Instantly.
pearahce' ann ne p1e",,, "hn,, PM God had.
Inc Ioru noln e''p'o u'o;r demands AGAINST
IN TINS, Elel!9lea " .nS,i ;sdon' "NI,nmcr OF
il's own W'l! a1St To ",'t, cnnSt'tution and laws
the Kingdom. hae ro''' 'r;th the resnect.
ot the new government, ~ W. tor.rds ,m. noch
I'VE duties Oh dl kamg anu cnd pe1p'' Wrote it."
oaToi Ih,t a. tbo charter Of this constitutional