Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-14
for SUNDAY Schools.
STAR LESSON FOR DECEMBER Is.
By Rev. J. E. Gilbert, DID,,
SECRETARY AMERICAN SOCIETY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
THE SAMUEL Samuel, 12l

workmen kom.. N:15l. Blessed is he
VINO Is called early In life
RESPONSE Samuers answer.
Here am L. bursting forth before leay-
ing his couch. revealed his character He
was in his place. waiting for summons,
anxious to do. Those eminent qualities
were in him which lie at the basis of all
noble manhood Matt. Axiv A.. Sup
posing that Eli had spoken, Samuel
ran through the apartment 10 bo
informed to the contrary. and to he
directed to his bed. Again the voice came.
with like response and result. third
time he heard and fastened saying wi n
surprise and emphasis. Thou didst call
Until this visit Eli had not understood
what had transpired. He may have sup
posed that there had been some disturb
ancc in slumhcr through dsordered vital
functions. Now he perceives that there
was Divine manifestation. Perhaps re-
cent communicat ionS made 20 him were
recalled on, ii:21-.}5). He therefore di-
rected the boy to lie down once more and
told him what to say If called fourth
time God intended In this way to teach
Samuel reverence for authority as Jesus
did Matt. vii:4. Again came the sum-
mons. Speak, Lord, thy servant hear
eth. was the answer. In tl.at one sem
tence Samuel recognized the person who
spoke, and acknowledged his readiness to
serve. and made ii possible for God to do
with him according to His pleasure.
kNQWLEDGE.-Th seventh verse
of our lesson sheds light on the conduct
OF Samuel. The marginal rendering Is a
better expression of the original. Thus
did Samuel before he knew the Lord and
before the word of the Lord was revealed
unto him." This accounts for his three
VISITS TO Eli, and explains why he did not
recognize the voice-he did not know
God. But, ~ implication. the verse
SHOWS Samuels state after that nlght-he
did know God. He was brought into per-
soral acquaintance with Jehovah, a high
ef state than that enjoyed by most men,
even the righteous. That state cannot be
oescrlbed but 1t was evidently one of
great blessedness John, xvii:3) 1t was
tuhdoubtedly the plan of the Almighty to
prlnS the entire race into such intimacy
with Himself. Adam began thus Gen,
n:lb, but fell away by transgression
Gen, ii:s). Subsequently. as the CEN
turtles passed. here and there men re-
turned and knew their Maker. Among
tne more illustrious of these We're Enoch
| Gen, v:22) and Abraham James. ii:2N.
| OF the olden times. Such were the writer's
Of Scripture. This direct knowledge of
Goa prepared man to bring purifying
and elevating influences to his fellow-men
JCDGMENT.-Now that Samuel has
neard, recognized and answered the call.
what Will God say to him? Or rather in
asmuch as many things will be communi-
Gated in the course of the years Il Sam,
ili:2l, what will God say first? ID II pru-
dent to intrust weighty subjects to a
enid? If he knows God is he prepared
TO receive such messages? When the Dr.
vine enters the human it puriies and ex-
pands. A child with God Is wiser than a
man without Him (Eccl.. iv:13). On that
night God made known to Samuel his
proposed judgments upon the house OF
Eli, his purpose to remove the priesthood
from mis- family. He also disclosed the
reason for this purpose, the notorious
immortality of Ellis sons. Why tell this
10 10 samuel? 1t was very timely lesson
for the boy. He needed to know that
Gods ministers must be holy Qev., xxi ~,
that Hophni and Phineas were rejected ON
account of their sins, and he neeued above
all to adjust his own conduct and char
acter not according to the loose prac-
tees then prevailing, but according TO
the higher standards which God had set
up. Moreover, although there Is no record
to that effect, Samuel had reason to in
fer that his promotion would follow Els
rejection.
TEACHING.-Of the many instrAc-
tive points in the lesson we have room
a people is dependent upon it's ministers
| Ger. v:3D. Their character and ex-
ample are most potent. Holiness to tho
Lord should be their motto. eek,
their sons many of whom become way
ward and fill the land with mourning be-
cause unrestrained and unframed. Eli il
| an example of parental failure worthy Of
study. 3. piouS mother is Gods hest
gift to man, generation or q nation.
Her prayers bring down showers of bless
ing. She transmits herself to her Off
spring and lives in them. The world
needs more Hannahs. No woman need
desire a larger mission than her. 4. The
hopes of better days center in the chill
dren. A boy-desired before birth, well
coined at birth. nurtured after birth, con-
secrated to God. trained in Gods house.
called by Gods voice instructed in Gods
purpose-wll make a man who can be
used for Gods glory. All along the CEN
turtles the infirm and the incompetent who
fail give way for the prepared youth
who succeeds.