The Tupelo journal., 1908-07-31
DAVID AMOUNTED
AT BETHLEHEM
sunday School Lesson Tor aug. 2, IyU8
Specially Prepared for This Paper

LESSON TEXT Samuel 16:1-13. Mem
Dry Verses, II, II.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"Man looketh on the
outward appearance, but the Lord look
eth on the heart."-1 Sam. 1871.
TIME.-1019 b. C. CUssher). Others place
t later.
PLACE.-Samuers home was at Ra-
nah, near Jerusalem. David's at Bethle-
hem six miles south of Jerusalem. David
Is or 20 years old.
PERSONS.-Samuel, saul, David, Jesse
and his family.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Samuel's Relation to Saul.-In the
last verse of l Samuel Is it is said that
Samuel came no more to see Saul
until the day of his death" That is.
he was no longer his adviser, no lon
ger brought Gods word to him. He
let him go on in his own way; for
advice and warning would accomplish
no good, and only hinder his religious
work among the people, by leading
Saul in his anger at reproof to inter
fere. There is thus not the least dis
crepancy between this statement and
the statement that once after this
Saul sought to see Samuel at his
hohi> oAu PlopllVolPu III hlo PltoShCO
Il Sam. 19:22-24). But Samuel
mourned deeply for Saul.
w. IF Saul neal it, he will kill me-"
For the act of amounting another king
would be regarded as little less han
high treason. Samuel was prudent
as well as wise. He was needed as a
religious power in the kingdom. Take
ON hAtfn, with +han- a-1 an
come to sacrifice Samuel was &C
customed to go on a circuit to judge,
and it is probable that on such oc-
c~asions he held religious services,
taught the people, and offered sacri-
fees.
He told the exact truth. He was
going to sacrifice. 1t was a part of his
work. He simply said nothing about
what else he was to do, for 1t was
none of the n%eighbors' business.
VA. And the elders of the town trem-
bled at his coming" One of the teach
ings of the sacrifices was the cleans
ing from sin. Samuel was a prophet
reformer, and doubtless was known as
%reproving and rebuking sin. The ell.
ders were conscious of imperfections
and guilt, though they might be I'M
able to recall any special sin. But so
unexpected an event as the visit of the
venerable prophet naturally awakened
their conscience even as now a sudden
catastrophe or special manifestation OF
Gods presence-earthquake, tempest,
or fire-awakens the consciousness OF
guilt, and causes men to listen to the
still, small voice of God. In addition
to this they may have feared that
some of their people had committed
a crime unknown to them; or h
breach between Samuel and Sau may
have made the elders afraid of in
curing the royal displeasure by well
coming him, just as Samuel himself
had feared Saul's anger.
V. 5. "To sacrifice into the Lord" Sac
rifces were modes of worship express
ing repentance and thanksgiving and
devotion to God. Parts of the sacri-
fee were burnt or given to Gods
priests. The rest was used in a feast.
Note that it was not merely a new
king that was needed, but a new
dynasty, one that would be fitted to be
the ancestors of the Messiah and work
toward the purpose for which the
Jews were chosen as Gods people.
Note.-Jesse was the grandson Of
Boaz and Ruth.
God chose David as the best person
for this purpose. He knew David's
heart and character and talents and
possibilities.
David had already been tested In
lesser things, so that he proved by be-
ing faithful over a few things" he
could safely be made ruler over
many things" Matt. 25:2D; and as
expressed in the parable of the pounds,
Because thou hast beer faithful in a
very little, have thou authority over
ten cities"
God guided Samuel to the setting
apart of the right.
The Right Man Set Apart for His
Work.-V. 10. And anointed him in the
midst of his brethren" That is. in
their presence. The later history
shows that they did not understand
the real meaning of Samuel's act, and
possibly they only thought that David
was set apart to learn from Samuel
in one of the schools of the prophets,
where, indeed, he did afterwards take
refuge Il Sam. 19:1S-20). 1t is not
told us that even David or Jesse COM
pretended what Samuel was doing.
However, as Geikie says: ~"Josephus
al hardly be wrong when he de-
scribes Samuel as taking David apart
and whispering into his ear the mean
ing of his act as he performed it,"
David Receives the Spirit of God
"The Spirit of the Lord came upon
David from that day forward" The
same Spirit that we all can receive,
and which is essential to the best life
and work of every man, whatever his
work may be.
David's amounting was his CONVEX.
sion, or rather a marked era in his re-
ligious life, a blossoming out of the
choice of God long working with him.
Practical Points.
1. Note Gods cure for what seem
our incurable sorrows. AS a means
under God it is true that Labor ia
rest from the sorrows that greet us:
Rest from all petty vexations that
meet u.s."
Never forget for a moment that no
face can be so beautiful and no form
so divine but that a had heart or n