The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-12-11
C. Is The Boy Samuel 1, Sam.

Denison Missionary MissSadie Medley. Manila.
: Dec. Is The Boy Samuel 1, Sam.
8: 1-2l.
We are introduced this week to the
early history OF the. great prophet
Samuel. In his day he welded most
powerful influence over the children
of Israel. and it is we'll to note his
early surroudings.Like Sampson. John
the Baptist. and the blessed Jesus.
Samuel was child of promise. We
find his mother. Hannah praying
earnestly in the temple at Shiloh. de-
string that che might be the mother
of man child. and she vowed before
God that if the babe was given her.
she weuld "give him unto the Lord
all the days of his life." Her pray
er was answered. She named her
boy Samuel because she said 81 have
asked him Of the Lord. When he
was weaned she took him to the tenn
pie and made formal presentation of
her boy before the Lord through Eli
the high priest. Her joy was so full
that she was inspired to speak in
languages similar to that given to
Elizabeth. and to Mary the mother of
Jesus. as recorded in the first chapter
of Luke's gospel. Hannah left her
child here. Each year she came up
to the temple bringing for her son a
little coat. Samuel grew up a good
boy and became the personal attend
ant of Eli the high priest. The YER
SEES of the lesson tells how one night
when Samuel was but lad the Lord
called. and he thought it was Eli. and
went to him; how at last he answered.
"Speak Lord tor thy servant near
eth" and was told that Eli had COM
mitted offense because his sons
made themselves vile and he re-
strained them not. /" For this he was
to be punished. Eli when told of
events to follow bowed his head feel
ing that his punishment was deserv-
ed. With this statement of the les
son and its surroundings we pass to
the practical things for US today.
First. The mother Hannah. In
her. we find the ideal mother. for she
felt her child came from the Lord and
was not burden upon her. She re-
joiced in prospective motherhood. and
felt that she was bringing into the
world child tor the Lord. Mark
that she fulfilled her vow. Many of
us make great promises to God and
our fellow men, when in trouble or
wanting some great favor. but how
often with the receiving of the favor.
all remembrance of the vow or pledge
passes away. The broken vows to
God wreck the path and life of
thousands of people. AS Hannah felt
that her child came from God and de-
dedicated him to good life, so
should every mother dedicate her sor
and daughter. Not. for the MINISTRY
or purely religious life necessarily
but to obey Gods law and shape
their lives in accordance with the
teachings of Jesus and st. Paul.
Second. Samuel was ready to heal
and to obey faithfully what God tolc
him. So he was told many things anc
grew in favor with God and man.
Third. Eli was punished for thu
wlckedness Of his sons. because hi
restrained them not in from thei,
wrong doings. Thus the lesson o
this day comes in two ways home t,
parents. Their position is one of re
sponsibility. They may think because
they themselves are good and pious
and attend church that this will
suffice. But God expects them t
"make good in the bringing up o
the children and if there is failure
a punishment will come. Good ex
ample. continued right teaching