The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1908-07-04
Sabbath School
Lesson |. July 5, 1908.
ISRAEL. ASKS FOR \ KING.

We are back to the Old Testament.
Let us pray for wisdom to study il as
the story Of Gods way of impairing
and preserving revelation OF himself,
not indeed complete. but fitted to the
times and comprehension of the men
OF that day. Let us not forget that
behind all this history is God. God
wrought; men write"
Samuel was the last Of the Judges,
so called He and all his prcdc ;essors
had been called to their work by God.
No man OF them all had appointed his
own successor. Gidcon's son. Abime-
lech did try to make himself king,
but his effort failed. Samuel was the
first who departed from the custom
OF the past The lesson tells the story.
THE VERSES
Verse /. Notice The fact oi inter-
est is Samuefs attempt to insure
succession To the governing power for
his sons. He made them judges. God
did not. 1t was the act oi an old man
who loved his sons, and did not esti-
mate their character rightly. That act
stamped the old prophet as like all the
rest oi us. We would have acted just
as he did
Verse = Here are the names Of the
two sons They were stationed in the
far south. They began To act but they
were unworthy men. Iudglcts they
should be called. not Judges
Verse g. Record oi greed and graft.
These two men would have made mod
ern politicians; bosses of cities, for
example. Let us not think that our
age is the original age Ot the CRATER,
The graiters al to-day are only the
grcat-grcat to the nth, power. grand
sons oi Joel and Abiah.
Verse J. These elders al Israel who
called Samuel Ia Ramah wanted na.
tional politics reformed. They went
about obtaining their desire in the
popular way. Mass meetings have
been vastly effective At various times
in history The same spirit has APP
parcnty always animated the common
people Md then. even ~ since. "Vox
popui'' was "vox del
Verse :. The grievance aud the de
mand were quickly made. Thou art
old" Thy sons are not like thee
Make MS king.
II does not appear wh" the chair
man was or who the orator liut the
speech was eloquent and IL meaning
unmstakablc.
Verse q. The old Judge Was not
pleased. Men are not apt 1" enjoy i'll
reports ui their sons lie probably
complained To- the assembly and wanted
Ia refuse the request But he did the
right thing: he went tu God with the
whole business. In that he showed
his true character
Verses 10. God answered Samuel
in the plancSt way. How God spoke
no one knows. Probably he made d-
rect touch uu the mind ri Samuel.
causing him to think "i the whole al
fair in some such way ~ thu follow.
ing: "Nitcr all what is it t. me | am
not impugncd. They are not turning
against me. but against God. II my
sons are unworthy God would give the
people relief. ii they would trust him
] will grant their request and leave
them Ia God
To- tell what the manner "i the
king would be was easy. iur Samuel
had been keen observer ri hts times.
He knew the manner 81 other kings
Generalization WIS easy The sequel
shows Samuel VS. right They would
better have trusted God
Verse, LIS These verse, are the
word, IT Samuel after God had madc
hun ,.r at he mist grant then re.
I"v>t They are pnriraya at the Gus
toms u' the ; / >u'utr monarch 1T hat
DAY II W., CROUCH tu ra"~r w." pco-
pie To- stop and ih.nk very >nbtrly
Bu' when a MAJ, set, it, hear, IN any
q.