Middletown transcript., 1915-02-27


yah helped mel Samuel T:12 r. v.
Having prepared q guilt Offering"
S: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, 6:1021, 7:1, q. For 20
years Israel was under discipline in
bondage, v. 2.
I. "And Samuel spake cay.
Ing" w. 3-9. 1t 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. 2 R. v. margin. Undoubted-
ly Samuels 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 (judg-
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 iberality, such a
federation Of religions is'weakening to
the cause of faith, Matt. 6:24, l John
2:15, James, 4:4. Samuel might be
called narrow" but his exhortation to
Israel that they return to the love
and worship o. 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
rael's response ". ~ 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 q
deep change Of heart and character.
It is sad to recall that this was a
reformation, not q 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. 1925. Samuel is type of
Christ as a prophet and also as an
intercessor, Heb. 7:25 Gathering the
people at Mizpah ga lookout') he
caused the people to look to God.
Such gathering was an evidence OF
that unity Of the people Of God which
must ever precede prevailing prayer
Ps. 1856, Heb. 1925. The meeting
began by a 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. 14:14; Ps. 62:8 Israel
also "fasted"-an expression of sor
row for sin which was so deep that
they could not eat, and a sign of the
humiliation Of self and an earnest de
sire to find God, Dan. 9:3, Acts 1872, 8
They made confession of sin, there
was no boasting of virtue, Ps. 51:4
II. "And Samuel offered
burnt offerlng," w. e-12. Twenty
years Of bondage bred a spirit of, feal
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. 7:25; Rom
S:34. Israel no longer places its
trust in an outward symbol as wher
formerly they sent for the ark, ch. Al
All real prayer is preceded by sacri
fee, and the only ground we have upor
which to approach a holy God is t.
shed blood, Heb. 1919, John 14:6. Thil
is also a type Of entire conservation
The lamb of Samuel's sacrifice is {
type Of our Christ who entered intC
Gods presence for us "by his OWL
blood" Heb. 9:11, 10. Having thui
properly approached God, Samue
cried for Israel, and the Lord heard
him." John 1873. In the midst of thil
the Philistines gave battle ". 10
even as Satan often makes hiI
hercest assaults upon us in the mids
of our holiest exercises. God 'thun
dered with great voice." " II, rnarg.
bringing discontinue and fear to thu
enemy, John 5:14. No voice of Ia
rael could have effected such results
but the voice Of God in response t.
the prayers of a godly man brought
victory, James 5:16. Both secular anC
sacred history record instances where
God used the elements to deliver hiI
praying people. The storm which de
stroyed the Spanish armada ant
saved England; the unusual winds anC
tides which saved Leyden came in con
nection with the most earnest prayers
see also III Kings 1875. In this We
see fulflllment of Hannah's prophecy
ch. 2:10. In our last lesson Israel wal
defeated, 4:10, now they pursue the
Philistines as far as Beth-car anC
Shen, an unknown place west of Miz
peh. Between the latter and Mizpeh
Samuel erected a memorial pillar ant
called 1t "Ebenezer," the Stone o
Help, where 20 years previous Is
rael had suffered defeat and the arl
Of God was captured. So this stone
was a twofold monument of a vic
tory, and also Of deliverance from
20 years Of bondage. Ever and amor
= the church has cause to set up itl
Ebenezers for new dellverances. Per
secution and corruption have not ye
prevailed against the true church o
Coo, Matt. 1913.
Tho Heart Of the Lesson. This les