The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1908-07-16
Samuel Warns Saul
and His People
Sunday School Lesson for July l9. 1908
Specially Prepared for This Paper

Memory verses -, ~.
GOLDEN TEXT-"Only fear the Lord.
and serve him in truth with all your
heart: for consider how great things he
hath done for you Sam. 12:24.
TIME.-About b. G. 1924 CCsShel).
PLACE.-Gilgal in the Jordan valley;
q little north of east of Jerusalem.
Comment and Suggestive Thought
The Scene.-It is midsummer with
clear skies. We are still present at
the great coronation assembly of the
leaders of all the tribes, which Samuel
had convened after Saul hat proved
himself great general and leader of
armies by his victory over the invad-
ing Ammonites from the northeast.
Gilgal was hallowed by many sacred
associations, calculated to inspire
every patriotic heart Here was the
heap of stones set up to commemorate
the miraculous crossing of the Jordan.
Here the covenant had been renewed.
Here was celebrated the first passover
in the Promised Land. Here had been
maintained camp during the early
conquest Josh. 9:6; 10: 49,. Here the
first king had been crowned with i'm
pressive ceremonies.
Saul had returned in triumph. every
inch a king" The people We're now
enthusiastic over the splendid-lookins
man. Every tongue of opposition was
sienced. It was probably the last OPP
portunity Samuel would have of meet
| ing the nation as a whole, flushed with
victory, and rejoicing in the king
| that Samuel to his own cost, had
presented to them
The account has almost the form OF
a dialogue. Read it.
Samuel goes on to say that although
the people seemed to fear that God
would not continue to save them as OF
old by judges, and thus showed lack
of faith, yet God had proved, by the
| victory their new king had achieved,
that he would be the same to them
| under the new regime as under the old.
The One Eternal Condition.. Posi-
| tive. V. a III ye will fear the Lord"
etc. Samuel proceeds to name five
things the king and nation must do.
! If they would win Gods favor and
maintain their own safety: they must
| Cd fear the Lord; CO serve him; co
obey his voice; (4) not rebel against
his commandment; 90 continue (per>
severe) in following the Lord. Then
| shall both ye," etc. A better tranSla-
ton continues the condition: And il
| both We and also the king that reign.
eth over you continue following the
| Lord your God" The conclusion, per.
haps ct shall be we'll with you" is to
be supplied, as in Elk 1922. Samuel
| piles up one upon another the condl-
| tions of their happiness and then from
the depth Of his emotion breaks off.
| leaving the blessed consequences OF
their obedience unsaid Dean Payne
Smith.
2. Negatively. Is. But If We will
not obey" etc. In stating the alterna-
tive Samuel names only two out of the
FIVE conditions just laid down; but
these are the most important. In
deed, the one word. obedience, would
| include them all. Then shall the hand
of the Lord be against you" not from
| hatred, but Of necessity. Just as a
stream Is against an oarsman that
pulls up it.
Samuel was to be no longer chief
ruler Of the nation, but was to con-
tinue his moral and religious work for
many years, as the chief religious fac
tor in the development of the nation.
Hence, he gives his farewell mes
sage from his political vantage ground.
/. Fear Not.-Rest assured of the
| forgiveness of your sins.
9 Serve the Lord with all your
heart, turning not aside to any idol
| anything that pretends to help you.
For all things outside of, or contrary
to, the service of God are vain
things" w. 2D, mere "nothings,"
emptiness" bubbles" that burst with
touch.
8. Trust God, "for the Lord will
not forsake his people" ". 22). You
can trust him to the uttermost
a. Realize your destiny, your pur-
pose and work in the world to which
God has set you apart. This is one OF
the great sources Of strength, when we
realize that we are doing what God
made us for.
5. Serve God because you shall
prophet.
(a) Samuel would pray for them
without ceasing. And they had just
seen low the prayer of the righteous
availeth much.
o. He would continue to teach
them the good and right way. Instruc-
ton and devotion, teaching and prayer
are the need of all men.
6. Feel the force of the great mo-
tives, which will be perpetual inspir-
alton.
(a) Gratitude for what God had
done ". 24).
(b) The certain consequences OF
wrong1o.ng ". PSI.
To realize this fact is not AFFECT
fear, but a reasoning, common sense
Judging of any course Of action by its
consequences.
Practical Points