The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-07-14
HE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson IIl.-Third Quarter, For
July 10, 1903.
TIE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, | Sam. xii, is, 1s-
25-Memory Verses, %, 2-Golden
Text, / Sam. xii, 24-commentary
Prepared by Rev. D. M. Stcarns.

Text, / Sam. xii, 24-commeneary
Prepared by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
iCopyright. 1908. by American Press Association
AS in the gospel Of John. we had to
keep before us the great truth that
the gospel was written in order that
people might receive Jesus Christ as
the Son Of God and thus have life
through Him. So in all the Israel
story we must see people whom God
redeemed to Himself to make Him a
name in the eyes of all nations-a peo-
pie In themselves utterly sinful and
yet for whom He wrought as He never
had done for any other nation. as we
think Of their perverseness and His
long suffering and unchanging love
and then think Of ourselves. so much
like Israel, and consider how great
things He has done for US (verse 24).
we must cry out, "Oh, magnify the. Lord
with me and let us exalt His name to-
gether'' Cps. xxxiv. 81. Why did He
choose Israel. the fewest Of all peo-
pie. to be a special people unto Him
self above all people on the earth?
The answer given is. Because the
Lord loved you" Oeut. vii. 6-S). In
all that He did for them He wrought
not for their sakes. but for His holy
names sake. that they and others
through them might know the Lord
Ezek. xxxvi. %. SO, 3s; xxxvii. 2S).
His great desire for our oneness with
Him now that we may live in Him
and He in us is that the world may
believe and know Him in whom alone
is life eternal John xvii. 81. 23).
Saul had returned to his home, to
his fathers flock and herds. and one
day tidings came that the Ammonites
were threatening Jabesh-gilead. The
Spirit Of God came upon Saul. At his
call all Israel gathered to him as one
man, and the enemy was scattered.
for the Lord wrought salvation in
Israel. Then Samuel gathered the peo-
pie to Gilgal (Which signifies reproach
rolled away. Josh. v. 81. and they re-
newed the king ,om. making Saul king
there before the Lord (see chapter xi).
Samuel then rehearsed matters to
them, reminding them Of all the right
eous acts Of the Lord toward them and
their fathers and that though the Lord
was their king they had rejected Him
and asked for an earthly king like
other nations. The Lord had borne
with them and granted them king,
as they had desired, and he now stood
before them, having just been honored
Of God to defeat their enemies. the
Ammonites. Samuel appeals to them
earnestly to turn now to the Lord
and serve Him in truth with all the
heart, considering all that he had done
for them. assuring them that notwith-
standing all their sin the Lord will
not forsake them for His great names
sake if they will only truly serve
Him.
The same Jehovah is today seeking
those. who will worship Him in spirit
and in truth and serve Him as the
Living God John iv, %: Thess. !. 10).
Could we demand from people who
have a clear conscience such search
ing as Samuel asked for, and would
there be any prospect OF our get
ting a similar Testimony? Werses
8, ~ From childhood to old age he
had walked before them and before
God, and they found nothing against
him. Truly remarkable man Of God
was Samuel See his association with
Moses as mighty intercessor in Jer.
XIV. l. From verse Is Of our lesson
learn that. since God granted such peo-
pie their desire. how much more will
He fulfill the desire Of them that fear
Him ops. cxlv. 19). The words in verse
13, Behold the King. behold the
Lord" make US think Of the day when
the Lord stood before Plate as man,
as "a malefactor. rs one to whose
charge they laid things He knew not.
and PLATE said. Behold your King"
and they cried. 1--WE have no king but
Caesar" The same people were re-
jecting the same Jehovah and are re-
jecting Him still. Comparing verses
Il. 20. "a, we learn that when we fear
the Lord we need fear no one else.
and from lisa. Ii. u. 13. we learn that
Il we fear men we are forgetting God.
The command is ever upon US to be
obedient and to continue following the
Lord our God It is the word in John
and xxi and elsewhere. See lisa. /,
10; Hos. Vi. 3: Josh. xiv. s. 8. IA. Fol-
lowing Him means seeing Jesus only"
and running with patience looking un-
to Him (Mark iX. s; Heb. xii. l. y.
He is the God who alone can send
thunder and lightning and rain as He
pleases. He thundereth marvelouSly
with His voice and directeth the light
ming and doeth great things which we
cannot comprehend dob. X3Ivii, 1-5).
He made heaven and earth. and there
is nothing too wonderful for Him Jer.
xxi, ~. When they asked Samuel
to pray for them he said: God forbid
that I should sin against the Lord
in ceaSing to pray for you (rerse 19l.
Samuel saying 81 will teach you the
good and the right way" (verse 23l re-
minds US Of the words Of Ps. xXxii, s;
lisa. Xviii, II, and many more. We are
also reminded Of the prayer in Ps.
xvii, II, and if Israel had only been
sincere in their request for prayer in
Jer. xiii, ., s, it would have been a
Snlendid REQUEST. but see their deceit
and self will in Jer. xiii, .. Those
are searching words, "If regard ini-
ouitv in my heart The Lord will not