The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-02-25
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNDMS01OOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 20
SAMUEL, the VICTORIOUS
LEADER.
CBy r. O. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
sunday School Course Moody Bible In
sttute. Chicago)

LESSON TEXT Samuel 7;s-i7
GOLDEN TExr-Hitherto hath Jeho-
yah helped mel Samuel 1;i2 n. v.
Having prepared q guilt Offering"
6:4.9, the Philistines started the ark
back towards shiloh. As q punish
ment for their sscrilege and perhaps
for their bosstfui pride. God Furnishes
the men OF Beth-Shemesh and finally
the ark finds rest In the house OF
Abinadab. s:1021. I'll. 2. For 20
years Israel was under discipline In
bondage. va
!. "And Samuel spsks cay.
Ing" w. SO. II 10 possible that at
times Samuel was a 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.' v2R v. margin. Undoubted-
ly samuei's pure life and his faithful
Witnessing had a. much TO do with
this assembling ns did the oppression
OF the Philistines. Samuel told the
people plainly that In order 10 be DE-
nvered from the Phiiistines Ia
must return unto Jehovah with m
your heart" The putting away Uuds-
ing) Of sin and all idols Ia the FIRST
step Of any real. genuine repentance
towards God. lisa 55:7. When Israel
adopted Ashtaroth and the strange
gods" they possibly did 90 with no
thought Of forsaking Jehovah. but
rather with the idea OF "enrinching'
their worship. Such iiberaiity. such Q
federation OF religions 10 weakening TO
the cause OF faith. Matt s;24. I John
2:i5. James. a.. Samuel might DO
called narrow" but his exhortation to
Israel that they return 10 the love
and worship OF Jehovah. 10 the obedi-
ence OF his laws with whole-souled de-
votion. was the FIRST, and the most es-
sentiai requisite to their freedom. L.
rael's response ". ~ meant not alone
selfdenial. but q 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-
tons. motives and powers OF soul
Not merely a surface emotion. but .
deep change OF heart and character.
II 10 sad 20 recall that this was q
reformation. not q regeneration tch.
s:8. but such IL the history OF an
emotional reformation. One day. how
ever. we shall see that one will last
last Rom. 1886. Samuel In a type OF
Christ as . prophet and also as an
intercessor. Heb. 7:25. Gathering the
people at Mizpah "a lookout he
caused the people to look TO God.
Such a gathering was an evidence OF
that unity OF the people OF God which
must ever precede prevailing prayer.
Pa $3.50. Heb. 1926. The meeting
began by q prayer by Samuel who
was nearest To God. They than poured
out water upon the ground. a symbol
Of their utter helplessness. also OF
the pouring out OF their hearts before
God, II Sam. 1914: Ps. 62:s. Israel
also ''fAsted"-an expression OF sor.
row for sin which was so deep that
they could not eat. and q sign OF the
humiliation OF self and an earnest do
sire 20 hnd God. Dan. s:3. Acts 1874. ..
u. "And Samuel offered
q burnt offerine." w. s-i2. Twenty
years OF bondage bred a spirit OF fear
In the hearts OF the Israehtes and in
their extremity they turned TO sar
uel to intercede for them. Christiani
have a better one as their interces-
sor. John AL; Heb. 7:25: Rom.
s:34. Israel no longer places Its
trust In an outward symbol as when
formerly they sent for the ark. Oh. 4:3.
All real prayer is preceded by sacri-
fee. and the only ground we have upon
which to approach a holy God Is to
shed blood. Heb. 1919. John 1876. This
is also a type OF entire conservation.
The lamb OF Samuel's sacrifice is q
type OF our 'hrist who entered into
Gods presence for us by his n
blood" Heb. 9:il. ~. Having mus
properly approached God. Samuel
cried for Israel. and "the Lord heard
him." John 1883. In the midst OF this
the Philistines gave battle ". l0)
even as Satan often makes his
HNANNoe NbOh hp ia Nht hhhoof
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 microscopy
prayer. Moses and Aaron among his
priests. and Samuel among them that
call upon his name Ps. 1886, 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 a duty.
but privilege and 10y as well.
Too few Christians are interceding
for others. The sincere prayer tor
others is inevitably followed up by
service for others. even as Samuels
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
rial stones TO recall signal blessings;
l. nj.