Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-07-15
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson III.-Third Quarter, For
July 10, 1908.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Sam. xii, is, 10.
25--Msmory Verses, %, 24-eelden
Text, Sam. xii, 24-Commentary
prenared NV Rev. D, M, Stearns,

Prepared by Rev. D. M. Stesrns.
lcOpyright, 1908, by American Press Association
AS in the gospel Of John, we had to
J 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 a 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, ooh, 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" Deut 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. %, 81, 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, 21. 23).
Saul had returned to his home, to
his fathers flock and herds. and one
day tidings came that the Ammonites
were threatening Jabesh-g ilead. 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, o.. and they re-
newed the kingdom, making Saul king
there before the Lord (see chapter KY. |
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 a 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
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-
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
hose who will worship Him In spirit
ind in truth and serve Him as the
Living God John iv, %; Thess. 1. 10).
Could we demand from people who
rave a clear conscience such a search
ng as Samuel asked for, and would
here be any prospect Of our get
ing a similar testimony? VERSES
) A. From childhood to old age he
lad walked before them and before
1od, and they found nothing against
lin. Truly a remarkable man of God
vas Samuel. See his association with .
loses as mighty intercessor In Jer.
". l. From verse IS of our lesson
earn that. since God granted such peo- ,
lie their desire. how much more will ,
lie fulfill the desire Of them that fear
lin Cps. cxlv, 19). The words in verse /,
8. Behold the King . = behold the
ord" make us think of the day when
be Lord stood before PLATE as q man. +,
s a malefactor, as one to whose :
barge they laid things He knew not, 9
nd PLATE said, Behold your King"
nd they cried. 1--WE have no king but !.
aesar" The same people were re-
ecting the same Jehovah and are re-
Getting Him still. Comparing verses
1, 20, "a, we learn that when we fear
re Lord we need fear no one else,
nd from lisa. II, II, 10, we learn that
we fear men we are forgetting God.
The command Is ever upon US to be
Oedient and to continue following the
ord our God. 1t is the word In John
and xxi and elsewhere See lisa. 1,
}; Hos. vi. 8; Josh. xiv, 8, o, ID. Fol-
wing Him means seeing "Jesus only"
I'd running with patience looking un- q,
Him Mark *, s; Heb. xii, 1, p. h,
e Is the God who alone can send q,
under and lightning and rain as He n
eases. He thundereth marvelously a,
it'll His voice and directeth the light Of
ng and doeth great things which we nj
nnot comprehend Job. xxxvii, 1-6. n
e made heaven and earth, and there h,
nothing too wonderful for Him Ger vi
xii. ~. When they asked Samuel IN
pray for them he said: God forbid Y.
at / should sin against the Lord
ceaslng to pray for you (verse 1917.
Samuel saying IT will teach you the 3
cd and the right way" (verse 23) re- 90
inds us Of the words of Ps xxi 8; -,
a. Xviii, IT, and many more. We are =.
80 reminded of the prayer in Ps. -
vii. II. and If Israel had only been -
ncere in their request for prayer in a. q.
r. xiii, 2, 8. 1t would have been a =.
lendid request. but see their deceit ne
d self will in Jer. kill. O. Those 20
e searching words, Tf I regard mi q,
ity In my heart the Lord will not VI
ar me" Cps. Xvi, 49,. The words in IN
rse %, "The Lord will not forsake III
Is people," remind US Of Heb. Kill, 3, Us
lie hath said, will never leave thee aal