Mexico Missouri message., 1908-07-30
DAVID AMOUNTED
AT BETHLEHEM
Sunday School Lesson Tor AHE. 2. 1893
Specially Prepared for This Paper


outward appearance. but the Lord look
eth on the HEARTH Sam. 1917.
TfME.-io79 u. G. (UssherI. Others place
Il later
PLACE.-sRmuel's home was az Ra-
NAH. near Jerusalem. Davids at Bethlo-
hem six miles south Of Jerusalem. David
~ or ~ years old.
PERsoNs.-samuei. Saul. David. Jesse
and HIS family.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Snmuel's Relation TO Saul.-ln the
last verse OF Samuel 10 II is said that
Samuel came no more to see Saul
uatil the day OF his death" That Is,
he was no longer his adviser, no Ion.
ger brought Gods word to him. He
let him go on in his own way: for
advice and warning would accomplish
no good. and only hinder his religious
work among the people. by leading
Saul in his anger at reproof TO inter
fere. There is thus not the least dis
crepancy between this statement and
the statement that once after this
Saul sought to see Samuel at his
home. and prophesied In his presence
Il Sam. 19:22-2D. But Samuel
mourned deeply for Saul
w. III Saul hear Il, he will kill me-"
For the act Of amounting another king
would be regarded as little less than
high treason. Samuel was prudent
as well as wise. He was needed as a
religious power in the kingdom. Take
an hcifer with thee, and say, am
come to sacrifice" Samuel was &C.
customed TO go on a circuit to Judge,
and Il is probable that on such oc.
casions he held religious services,
taught the people, and offered sacri.
Aces
He told the exact truth. He was
going TO sacrifice. II was a part Of his
work. He simply said nothing about
what else he was to do, for Il WAS
none Of the neighbors' business.
VA. And the elders OF the town trem-
bled at his coming" One Of the teach.
ings OF the sacrifices was the cleans
ing from sin. Samuel was prophet
rcformer. and doubtless was known as
reproving and rebuking sin. The ell.
ders were conscious Of imperfections
and guilt. though they might be un.
able 10 recall any special sin. But so
unexpected an event as the visit OF the
venerable prophet naturally awakened
their conscience even as now a sudden
catastrophe or special manifestation of
Gods presence-earthquak tempest,
or fire-awakens the consciousness Of
guilt. and causes men to listen TO the
still. small voice" of God. In addition
TO this they may have feared that
af mt
crime unknown to them; or the
breach between Samuel and Saul may
have made the elders afraid Of in.
curing the royal displeasure by vel.
coming him. just as Samuel himself
had feared seul's anger.
V. 3. ITO sacrifice unto the Lord" Sac
rifices were modes of worship express
ing repentance and thanksgiving and
devotion TO God. Parts OF the sacri.
fee were burnt OF given TO Gods
priests The rest was used in a feast.
Note that II was not merely q new
king that was needed, but a new
dynasty, one that would be fitted TO be
the ancestors OF the Messiah and work
toward the purpose for which the
Jews were chosen as Gods people.
Note.-Jesse was the grandson OF
Boaz and Ruth.
God chose David as the best person
for this purpose. He knew David's
heart and character and talents and
possibilities.
David had already been tested in
lesser things. so that he proved by be-
ing faithful over a few things" he
could safely be made ruler over
many things" Matt. 25:2D; and as
expressed in the parable OF thepounds.
Because thou hast been faithful in q
very little. have thou authority over
ten cities"
God guided Samuel 20 the setting
apart OF the right,
The Right Man Set Apart for His
work.---V. 10. And anointed him in the
midst of his brethren" That is, in
their presence, The later history
shows that they did not understand
the real meaning Of Samuers act, and
possibly they only thought that David
was set apart to learn from Samuel
In one OF the schools of the prophets,
where, indeed. he did afterwards take
refuge q Sam. 10; 1890. II is not
told US that even David or jesse com
pretended what Samuel was doing.
However, as Gelkie says: "Josephus
can hardly be wrong when he de-
scribes Samuel as taking David apart
and whispering into his ear the mean.
ing Of his act as he performed H."
David Receives the Spirit Of Cod
'The Spirit Of the Lord came upon
David from that day forward" The
same Spirit that we all can receive,
and which Is essential TO the best life
and work of every man. whatever his
work may be.
DaVid's amounting was his CONVEX
sion. or rather a marked era in his re-
ligiOus life, blossominE out of the
choice OF God long working with him,