The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-07-01

Il.
to house. Mrs. Harper. Dow City. Primary. Mrs.
Voss. Denson. Temp, rance. Sears McHenry |
Denison. Missionary Miss Sadie Neeey Manila J
July 5. Israel Asks for King.
Saml. S:l022.
The attention of the Sunday school
world will be called for the next six
months to the history of the Children
of Israel while Saul and David were
kings. That the readers of the col
umn may be posted on the previous
history of these people. and thus the
better prepared to understand the
lessons to follow. we will make a
hasty review of it. 1t will be re-
membered that God chose Abraham
as the founder of the Jewish race.
and that he was succeeded in leader
ship by Isaac and Jacob. Later
their descendants were provided for
in time of famine by the presence of
Joseph in Egypt. who stored up food
in the seven years of plenty. There
was period of captivity. and then
Moses was. raised up and led the
Jews out. and through the wilderness.
There they were miraculously pro-
vided with food and water.
1t will be remembered that in the
face of all God had done for the
Children of Israel in the way of
guidance and care, they were con-
stantly rebelling against Him. and
longed for Egypt with its heshpots
and leeks and onions They had not
the faith in God to go forward into
the Promised Land although urged to
do so in the strongest words by
Moses, Joshua and Caleb. After
many years they did enter the land
under the leadership of Joshua, and
their enemies were wiped out before
them. On the death of Joshua they
did not have stated leader. except
as the High Priest and other religious
leaders advised them. They fell
back into semi heatheuism and then
were over come by the nations about
them. Then judges were raised up
like Gideon and Samson who helped
them throw off the yoke of their
enemies. Later Eli, the Priest, judged
their disputes and in time Samuel
was born and succeeded as prophet
and Priest.
1t was in the life time Of this
great prophet and pure man that the
Israelites again fell from the faith
in God. from the confidence which
should have been theirs. in view of
the dealings of the Almighty in the
past. He has given them through
Moses perfect set Of laws and by
keeping them their. happiness and
prosperity were sure. They saw
other nations. heather nation of course,
with kings for leaders. They i'm
bibed the idea that horses, chariots,
armies. display were needed to make
strong nation. They wanted the
help of the human arm of king to
fight against their enemies, rather
than the invisible, but all powerful,
arm of God. All in vain did Samuel
warn them that the coming of kings
meant surfdom to him, taking Of
their lands and goods, the parting
with sons and daughters for the
armies and places of retinue in the
court. The people would not heed. anc
heartbroken Samuel went to God TO,
guidance. He was told to do as thu
people wished, that it was not he
who was rejected, but God himself.
1t is the same old stery-lack O
faith in God to preform and lead; ;
longing for worldly things to give
help and look Of strength. Tit
Jews were constantly doing this ant
their history is preserved to us as ar
ample and warning 1t is not by
might and power. but by Gods spiri
that things of true worth are accom-
plished. Christians now should lool
to God through faith for direction
The Children of Israel rejected Goo
and were condemned for it through
succeeding generations. although they
were not cut off from His care by
any means. Let US see to it that W.
do not reject God, for with the ligh
of the New Testament and the life
death and resurrection of Jesus befor.
US, our sin will be greater than tina
of the puor Israelites not many years
out of Egyptian bondage.