The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-12-10
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson xI.-Fourth Quarter, For
Dec. Is, 1907.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, | Sam. iii, 1-21.
Memory Verses, S-1C-colden Text,
Sam. iii, e-comment2ry Prepared by
Rev. D, M. Stearns.
copyright, 1907, by American Press Association
We have come to the last and the
best of all the judges. The record in
Acts xiii. 90. is. HE gave unto them
judges about the space Of 450 years
until Samuel the prophet" He is one
of the men Of faith Of Heb. ri and in
Jer. XIV, /, is associated with Moses as
a prevailing intercessor. In Ps. xciX,
8, he is also mentioned as one who OBJ
tanned answers to prayer. He was
himself an answer to prayer, tirstborn |
of Hannah. to whom the Lord after
ward gave three sons and two daugh-
tiers because she gave Samuel up to
Him iii, 90. 2D, an abundant recon- |
pense. The condition of affairs In |
Hannah's home is suggestive Of many |
a home and many life in the matter
VI al huh SAsois " piNhohC anu h"hS
to fret q. g.. If there is no such adj
versary visible, the great adversary
seems to have thousand ways of pro-
ducng fretfulness. and not many seem
to know Hannah's way Of taking the
trouble to the Lord in prayer. Not
withstanGing the threefOld command
in Ps. xxxvii, /, 7. 8, to fret not" 1t
is a most common sin. How beautiful
the saying of Hannah in !, 2S, las long
as he liveth he shall be lent to the
Lord" Have we said it about our
selves or any one or anything belong
Ing to us? Then the prayer or song in
u, Ito, in which the Messiah is first
mentioned and the throne Of glory, one
cannot but wonder IL Mary was affect
ed by it when she uttered her mag
niicat" duke II, 1850. Our lesson
chapter opens with land the child
Samuel ministered to the Lord before
Eli" (see also II. 49,. A fine oppor-
tunlty for the teachers to explain how
even a child may minister unto the
Lord. referring also to Jesus. who, at
the age of twelve, said. II must be
about My Fathers business" II a
special lesson for girls is needed. let
the little maid of Israel of ii Kings v
be used. who ministered to the Lord
by telling of His prophet in Israel.
One night or very early morning
Samuel heard some one call him by
name. and. running to Eli. he said
"Here am l. for thou calledst me-
Eli assured him that he had not called
and babe him lie down again. Not TN.
ill this happened three times and Sam.
uel for the third time ran to Eli did
Eli seem to understand that the Lord
was calling the child. Then he told
him to lie down again and IL called Il
say, Speak, Lord, for thy servant
heareth" oversees 2-9). Ell was not II
touch with God as he might have been
for he was honoring his sons (whC
were both bad men. although otIiciatin:
as PRIESTS above the Lord. inasmucl
as they made themselves vile. and HI
restrained them not 0i. 10. %: III. 49,
The veriest mite In ones eye affect'
our vision. and the least sin may af
feet our hearing. The priests Of tn
Lord should. Of all men. be holy. Al
believers are priests. and It become
us as such to recognize ourselves a
wholly the Lords for His service. Civ
Ing Him pre-eminence over all peopl
and In all things Cfatt. Y. 81.
The Lori called for the fourth time
Samuel. Samuel and then the DO,
answered. Speak. for thy servan
heareth." This was Samuel's first PS
perience Of direct communication wit
GOd'(versc =. and yet we do not infe
that he seemed at all startled or oveI
come. From this time on Samuel Ia,
an ear for God. and God could tell hin
In his ear (rhapter tx. 1j,. while man
Christians would need shaking I
make them hear the voice Of God. L.
Us trust him for anoiu:ed eyes an
ears that we may quickly sec and hen
all He would like TO show or tell u,
May lie tp able 10 say 70 us. "Blesse
| uEt ttttE VS. tVl ttAtN FcGs anu = va
ears. for they hear Matt. xiii. 16D.
Tie message concerning Ell Is foun
in verses lila. and the Judgment
which were TO overtake him aud III
house were because Of ini1ujty whic
he knew and did not restrain. Som,
times we are powerless to do augl
but sigh and cry 20 God. but in tbd
4 case lie puts a mark Of approval upo
e us 0szek. tx. A.. Ell had the powe
Y TO put a stop TO the iniGulty Of hi
, house II he had only the heart TO do I
e but according to the law It might hay
l. meant the putting 10 death Of his son
= Mum. ". 81. 81: Tx. xxi. Ia. II "
: ever find little comfort in God or III
wori. we may he sure that there
= some secret sin or desire or somethin
that our eyes wink at dob. Nv. II. Il
& Let us pray God TO search us r'
K cxxxix. ~.
y In the morning Ell. who probahl
. had not slept much after Samuel
night call rron him, insisted on know