Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-11

i
Samuel having been give. 10 aHofot
king over Israel, the elders repa tred 10
their homes, not doubling thai he won:
be faithful to his we'd. Samuel iAe'
n a.te,i for The guidance 81 f'rcvide'ce.
ex p.ct,ny that God would in His own time
Indicate the mar to be chosen AZ length
IN. appeared II a seemingly casual way
Saul tire SOL &C Nfsh, ~ tie tribe o. t;ep-
ianlin went forth in search ~ ss''e ioSI
asses belonging 20 his father 0''-o7icles,
ix,. Failing - f7"i ttern. he sought Sam
He, who had como into these parts for
religious service. instructed By ne spiri.
of God. SanGel recognized tie y"Ecs
ma, As the future king. cou-nuned with
him on the subject, gave him prominent
seat al the feast, and ended by secretly
amounting with oil. symbol % the Holy
Spirits grace. Saul returned home with
new heart. keeping the matter OF the
new kingdom secret.
CONVENT1ON.-Sho1t after Sam
uel called an assembly to establish the
kingdom The text says that the people
came. As 1t was unnecessary and i'm
possible to bring the entire population
together. this must refer to the elders.
wAo. derived from the patriarchal sys-
tenn (Gen.. H. formed the keystone of the
political fabric OF Moses eek, ii:16).
7 here have been included with them the
captains Of hundreds and thousands.
class OF officers. constituted in the wilder
nees by advice Of Jethro fEx.. xviii:@D.
who Il seems, were retained after the
settlement Il Sam. viif:12l. The assembly
was convened at Mizpeh Dudges. xN:D.
famous place on the confines OF Judah
and Benjamin, where. in the early part
CO., tNn ian
and began its career of hoii"r living,
where also Samuel was accustomed To adj
minister justice. The assembly vas be-
fore the Lord-it was religious. INTRO
duced by appropriate ceremonies. The IN
tention was to make all feel that they
were account able to God for the action
about to be taken, that they were in His
presence psalm. cXxXix :23-24l and that
their motives We're all known to Him. 1t
was expected moreover. that God would
overrule to accomplish His purpose and 10
give His blessing.
ADDRESS. - Being SO assembled
Samuel addressed the people. He did not
utter his own thoughts. but became the
saith the Lord. delivering message
which had been communicated to him.
This was his highest function TO hear
and repeat.
His speech was in two parts. Gods care
OF the nation and the nations ingrati-
tude and rebellion: here briefly noted, but
spoken doubtless in greater detail He
declared, OF rather God declared by him.
that the deliverance from Egypt and from
surrounding nations covering the entire
time from the exodus to the present had
been by divine power. This must have
been familiar to them. as d matter or
history CEN. viii:1D. for it was frequent
~ recalled even in the later centuries
tPsalms. cvi:S-1D by David and others
(Neh.. ix:3-10 He then reproved them
for dena nding king as unwarranted, In
view of the protection granted. and.
therefore. a mark of distrust. The object
of the address is not stated. Some think
it was intended to move to repentance
But inasmuch as Saul had already been
chosen. ii is not probable that God would
now recede from His purpose TO set up
king. He desired to make them know
that the change in the form of govern
ment was not according to his own wis
dom. but against it, a concession to their
folly.
PRESENTATIONS spoken.
Samuel did not announce what had tran
spired with reference to Saul. 1t would
have been unwse TO do so. Had all the
circumstances been rehearsed some would
have doubted and criticised. Unwilling
to abide under a pure theocracy. having.
it, they would not now be likely to accept
the testimony of Samuel alone on this
subject. much they had honored him
In years gone by. What had been Done
whole proceeding must be SO conducted
as to leave no doubt or suspicion. Every
man must go home and say that the king
had been honorably chosen. That was
necessary. not only to The stability the
government, but TO the popularity of Sam
uel and the education Of the people. And
SO, after the address. the conversation
was ordered to pass before the Lord. be
fore the holy place where the altar was
erected Oh Chron., vii:9). This was to
be public tender to the entire popula-
ton for the position. placing all the men
on an absolute equality, leaving Jehovah
to select whom He desired 1t was !.
recognition of personal liberty. destined
to be sucured in the gospel John. vlll:32.
SELECTION.-In those days there
were no elections, no motions, no votlngs.
but selections. The mode was by lot
Joshua. xviii 80. very ancient custom.
indeed Lev. xyi:S), and therefore gen
orally approved prov, Xviii:1s). and be-
ing accepted as final and decisive. 1t con-
sisted of throwing tablets or in drawing
from q vessel which it was believed God
instituted and controlled.
Divine sovereignty was supposed TO
unite with human freedom, the former
subordnating the latter, men employ
ing method OF learning the divine pleas
ure. the result being acceptable to botn
Plato believed that government appoint
ed by lot was q government beloved bS
God Glib. ". De ISegtbusl. shox ing that
the heather decided their public matters
in this way. On this occasion the lot was
cast four times to learn the tribe. the
grand division. the family ard the ndi-
vidual Joshua. vi:l6J. The choice fell