The Yale expositor., 1915-02-25

Having prepared guilt Offering"
6:4-9, the Philistines started the ark
back towards Shiloh. AS a punish
ment for their sacrilege and perhaps
for their boastful pride, God Furnishes
the men of Beth-Shemesh and finally
the ark finds rest in the house of
Abinadab, 6:10-21, III, g. For 20
years Israel was under discipline in
bondage, w.
!. "And Samuel spake saw
ing" w. 3-s. IL is possible that at
times Samuel was fugitive, but that
he was praying, teaching and preach
ing the word of Jehovah" we are as
sured. At last Israel was drawn to-
gether,' V. R. " margin Undoubted-
ly Samuel's pure life and his faithful
witnessing had as much to do with
this assembling as did the oppression
OF the Philistines. Samuel told the
people plainly that in order to be de.
livered from the Philistines Israel
must return unto Jehovah with all
your heart" The putting away Gudg-
ing) Of sin and all idols is the first
step Of any real, genuine repentance
towards God, lisa. 55:7 When Israel
adopted Ashtaroth and the strange
gods" they possibly did so with no
thought of forsaking Jehovah, but
rather with the idea of "enrinching"
their worship. Such liberality, such a
federation of religions is weakening to
the cause of faith, Matt 6:24, John
2:15, James, "A. Samuel might be
called narrow" but his exhortation to
Israel that they return to the love
and worship of Jehovah, to the obedi-
ence Of his laws with whole-souled de-
votion, was the first, and the most es-
sential requisite to their freedom. Is
raeps response ". AZ meant not alone
self-denial, but a revolt against the
Philistines. This meant also the CIV
ing up of amusements and profits which
might accompany such worship. The
word heart" includes the will, affec-
tions, motives and powers of SOUL
Not merely a surface emotion, but a
deep change of heart and character
1t is sad to recall that this was a
reformation, not a regeneration (ch.
s:s), but such is the history of an
emotional reformation. One day, how
ever, we shall see that one will last
last. Rom. 11:26. Samuel is a type of
Christ as a prophet and also as an
intercessor, Heb. 7:25. Gathering the
people at Mizpah ia lookout) he
he fA TO
Such a gathering was an evidence of
that unity of the people of God which
must ever precede prevailing prayer,
Ps. 1876, Heb. 1925. The meeting
began by a prayer by Samuel who
was nearest to God. They than poured
of their utter helplessness, also Of
the pouring out of their hearts before
God, II Sam. 14:14; Ps. 62:S. Israel
also "fasted"-an expression of sor-
row for sin which was so deep that
they could not eat, and sign Of the
humiliation of self and an earnest de-
sire to find God, Dan. 9:3, Acts 1872, 3.
II. "And Samuel offered
a burnt Offering" w. 9-12. Twenty
years of bondage bred a spirit of fear
in the hearts of the Israelites and in
their extremity they turned to Sam
uel to intercede for them. Christians
have a better one as their interces-
sor, John 2:1; Heb. 1925; Rom.
1874. Israel no longer places its
trust in an outward symbol as when
formerly they sent for the ark, ch. 4:S.
All real prayer is preceded by sacri-
fee. and the only ground we have upon
which to approach holy God is to
shed blood, Heb. 1919, John 1876. This
is also a type Of entire conservation.
The lamb of Samuels sacrifice is a
type of our Christ who entered into
Gods presence for us by his own
blood" Heb. Oil, 12. Having thus
properly approached God, Samuel
cried for Israel, and 'the Lord heard
him." John 1879. In the midst of this
the Philistines gave battle ". 10)
even as Satan often makes his
fiercest assaults upon us in the midst
of our holiest exercises. God "thun-
dered with a great voice" V. IL, marg,
bringing discontinue and fear to the
enemy, John STA.
The Heart Of the Lesson. This les
son is a great revelation of the power
and effectiveness OF intercessory
prayer. Moses and Aaron among his
priests, and Samuel among them that
call upon his name" Ps. 1855, seems
to place Samuel at the head of Is
raers intercessors even as Moses and
Aaron led the prophet priests.
Prayer for others is not only duty,
but privilege and 10y as we'll.
Too few Christians are interceding
for others. The sincere prayer for
others is inevitably followed up by
service for others, even as SamueIs
prayer was followed by his service
judging Israel.
This lesson also emphasizes the
need of appreciation of Gods mer-
cies. Abraham erected his affairs; ia
cob and Joshua erected memo