Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-18


the choosing of Saul as king. ended with
the tenth chapter The anointed sovereign
soon had opportunity to display his abil-
ity and win the confidence of his coun-
trymen. 1t occurred in this wise: The
Ammonites came up against Jabesh-Gil-
cad, city on the east of the Jordan.
On learning of the siege, Saul. prompted
by the spirit of God. sent messengers into
all parts of the land, and more than 300
600 men rallied to his standard. With
these he gained an easy and complete
victory over, the enemy. who were partly
slain and partly scattered. and the in
vested city was delivered. AS conse-
quence of this splendid triumph the .peo-
pie were greatly pleased, and at the sug-
gestion of Samuel general convention
was called at Gilgal. where with feasting
and rejoicing the kingdom was confirmed
The prophet then felt that his work was
done. and he, therefore. delivered his
farewell address. the latter part of which
will be studied today.
PERSONAL DEFENSE oversees 1so).
The lesson opens with Samuels dec
laration Of his integrity ana OF the PEG.
pies approval Of his words. He had come
to old age and was able in the presence
of all Israel to proclaim that he had lived
a blameless life and was rewarded by
popular testimonial.
DESIRED KING (verse 13).-In the
early part of his address. having testified
to his Integrity as public servant ana
received the hearty and united approval
of the people Samuel briefly reviewed the
events in the history of Israel. beginning
with Moses. to show that 600 mao oee e II
faithful to his covenant, but that the
monarchy had been sought as a means OF
defense Our lesson continues at point
in the speech where he called attention
to the king. whom they had desired
whom the Lord had set over them. BE
hold the king" he said. Il Sam. x:E').
Look upon the man. so strong ana
courageous" who was conspicuous Tor ms
physical ability and military acmeve-
ment. the pride and JOY of all He DE,
to him whom they had chosen. that there
might he no division of sentiment; that
the entire nation might at once surround
the reigning king with those conollloIls
that would insure his perfect success.
The words were in the interest OF the
PERMITTED CHOICE Oversees a.
1i-Samuel was not in these last hours
of his public career proposing any spifit
or measure of secularism. He did not
s,1ppOse that a nation could prosper
merely through a steady support OF It's
king important and even necessary as
that might be. He knew that although
a monarchy had been established lsraei
erefgn and Saul was vice regent. Hence:
he proceeded to present the matter OF
LOYALTY to the Almighty. But this he did
as to freemen. these who had right 10
choose Whereas, in all other countries
men were then subjects. here they were
acknowledged to be capable of deciding
what they would do. An alternative was
offered. On the one hand they might
serve and fear God and continue follow
ing the Lord. and so fulfill the destiny
in, haj do1iVpr9ncQ from
Egypt eek. HELD. Or they might rebel
against the commandment of the Lord.
might refuse to be longer under the guld-
ance of heaven. In the latter case the
and they would suffer for their sins.
PROPOSED SIGN (Verses 16-l7).-
All through the early centuries. especially
In the time before Christ. men were re-
luctant to accept any statement. particu-
larry on important public matters. unless
1t were corroborated by something phe-
nomenal that was supposed to give SUI
pernatural or divine authority. This is
still true in eastern countries, mark
of low intellectual and spiritual devel-
opment Matt. xii:39), while in western
civilization reliance is placed more fully
upon natural ethical and logical condi-
tons. Samuel felt obliged. therefore. to
employ q method that would be effective
with his hearers. He desired them to
know that while the king had been divine
~ appointed by their request and hence en-
titled to their support as representative
of God, they were nevertheless guilty OF
a great sin in asking for human mon
arch. To convict them Of this wickedness
he proposed sign, one that would be
easily convincing. He would pray and
God would send thunder and rain. some
thing unknown at that time of the year
the wheat harvest. which always occurs
in the dry season.
INTERCEDING PRAYER oversees
10-Samuel called on the Lord. who
sent thunder and rain. as he had predict
ed. 1t is useless for us to speculate con-
corning this occurrence Some will say
that there was no relation between the
prayer and the storm, that nature is gov
erned by inf1exible laws, and that the mar
rative is not. therefore, to be received as
historical But here is the plain state
ment and no amount of denial or uuib-
bling will expunge it from the record
The effect upon the minds of the people
was precisely what Samuel had desired.
They greatly feared, even as Israel did.
when the Egyptians were drowned in the
Red sea. eek. xiv:31.) They recognized
the power of God and the prophetic char
acter of Samuel. and what was most i'm
portant. they were convicted of their sins
and then came their confession, full and
free. and they requested Samuel to inter-
cede with God in their behalf. They even
felt that they were unworthy to plead
their own, case at the throne Of mercy.
that an advocate was demanded. one who
had access to God. It was the same spirit