Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1908-07-02
ISRAEL ASKS
FOR A KING
Sunday Schesi Lesson for Jsly 5. 1895
Specially Prepared for This Paper

anu princes UeCftp IuSt''' -"
TlME.-Near the close OF SafnueIs ad-
ministration, b. G. IIC0-1D4 tussher).
COCNTRY.-Samucl was born AT ia
nah, a few miles northwest OF JeruSaiem'
and there for the most OF his NE ne mace
the center Of his administration. from
which he made "A wider circuit az )uuBe
and as teacher of religion.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The country was but little larger
than Wales, and, like 1t, "a land OF
mountains and hills. skirted through
its whole length by the deep.lying Jor
dan valley on the east, and the harbor-
less coast OF the Mediterranean on the
west. The lay of the land gradually
developed different qualities. and made
natural barriers between tribes, where
the means of communication were SO
difficult and rare"
The twelve tribes were OF n blood
n religion, one language, and one
history, but there was little OF the
solidarity OF a nation. The social unit
was the tribe. Each tribe had its own
political organization. they were
loosely held together, and sometimes
broke out into open war,
The people were ar agricultural peo-
pie, unframed in the arts OF war,
lovers of home and Of peace. Their
wealth consisted in flocks, grain fields
and vineyards. Hence they were ex-
posed to the raids of their warlike
n%cighbOrs. as the L~owlanders of Scot.
land were to the forays Of the High
landers. The people lived In walled
villages for safety, while their outly-
ing fields. vineyards and pasture lands
were exposed.
Their enemies were warlike and on
every side, always more or less hos.
tile. The warlikc commercial Philis.
tines lined the western shore with its
rich plains. The A~maleki,cs or the
south, and the desert tribes on the
east of the Jordan were yer seeking
whom they might dcvour.
The government was a kind OF re-
public. THE organization was at
best exceedingly primitive Ere.
quent reference is made to the men
OF the town las for example Judg.
9:2, 6, 23. 26, ct sea-, suggesting that
most matters Of public interest were
decided by a council including all the
free men Of a city.
The Transition PeriOd.-The condi.
tons that tended TO unity were central.
lied I'm Samuel. Graetz' History of the
Jews, volume /, furnishes an excel
lent account Of which the following is
q summary:
!. Samuel himself. the most strik.
ing figure of the nation, was in him
self a strong unifying FORCE.
9. Samuel's irresistible %elOqucnce for
n revival of true religion found q
powerful response in many hearts.
3. He Travelled the whole land, ap.
pointed public meetings, and ar
nOunced Il the multitudes the les.
sons revealed to him by the spirit OF
God. Year after year he called to.
gether the elders Of the people. At
Ramah, his residence. frequent meet.
ings Of the tribes took place.
4. At divine services Samuel offered
sacrifices, introducing the use OF
stringed instruments to III de-
won't feelings, and added a new ele
ment, songs OF praise. Samuel, the an
ccstor Of the celebrated psalmists, the
sons of Koran, was the first who com
posed songs OF praise for divine
service.
6. The tribe OF judah. who, during
the entire period OF the Judges had
not taken the slightest share In pub
lie events, was now driven by the In
curajnuc nf Tho philiStjnps IN unit,
with the other tribes. They brought
an accession OF strength and religion!
activity.
6, II must be noted that Just at thii
period ~Israel's greatest enemies. th'
Philstines, were transformed into
kingdom.
V. G.. "But the thing displeaset
Samuel" |. IT was the choosing o
1.-THE second best" when the best
was possible TO them. Hence 1t wa
a great disappointment to Samuel
His long life Of teaching and training
had not accomplished its purpose
They refused their high privilege q
being unlike oil the nations. the chOsel
people OF God, the means of blessinI
all nations.
So Esau bartered his birthright 70
. mess Of pottage.
2. 1t was a rejection OF God. v.
) "They have rejected me that ! shoul
: not reign over them" 1t Is quite prol
able that they half consciously wan
! ed a king, because they were tired {
having their prosperity depend o