The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-13
jUNDAY SCHOOL,,
Lesson xl.-First Quarter, Fo.
March IA, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, Sam. xi-Memory
Verses. II, 13-0oIden Text, Prov.
xvi, s2-commsntary Prepared by
Rev. o. M. Stsarns.
After the Lord had brought to Samuel
the man whom He had chosen as king
for Israel and Samuel had anointed
him he returned to his home, having
met on his way all whom Samuel said
he would meet. for all came to pass
just as Samuel said. The Spirit of the
Lord came upon him. and he became
changed man Chapter <, 6-10l. All
this was private matter between the
Lord and Samuel and Saul, for when
Saul reached home he only told that
Samuel had assured him that the asses
had been found. but he said nothing of
the kingdom. Then Saul called the
people to Mizpeh, reminded them Of
the Lords deliverance from Egypt and
all enemies and of their rejection Of
God in demanding king and then
proceeded to have them elect king
with Gods permission. 1t was. no
doubt. done by lot, as the land was di.
vided, for 1.-The lot IL cast into the lap.
but the whole disposing thereof Is Of
the Lord" (Num. XVI, 55. Sc; Prov.
xvi 33). First the tribe was found
and then the family and then the man
1918, and thus they were guided ia
the man whom He had already chosen
and anointed. Although elected. lie
could not for time be found. SO they
inquired of the Lo.d. and He told them
where to find him. Whether 1t be
He that is perfect in knowledge knows
where to find the lost Dob xxxvi, A.
When the people looked upon the
man whom God had chosen they could
not refrain from shouting. God says
the king" or. as in the margin. LET
the king liver *. 23-25.l The band OF
men whose hearts God had touched
were a comfort to him. so that he was
able to seem as a deaf man to his enc.
mics *. 26. 2T). Our lesson chapter
shows how Saul by the Spirit Of the
Lord began TO deliver Israel and to OBJ.
tain the confidence Of the people.
suppose there is scarcely day in tbe
life of any child of God when there il
not an occasion to say. "Now. the ser.
pent" Gen. iii, II. for he is ever going
about to make trouble. Nahash, whose
name signifies serpent" was moved
by the devil. whose he was and whom
he served. to seek to bring reproacll
upon Israel (verses 1-3). Saul heard OF
the distress of Jabesh Gilead and in
very striking way summoned the peO
pie to gather unto him and Samuel
and 100000 gathered. and word was
sent to the distressed that they would
have help by the morrow. That night
or in the early morhing verse III
Saul came suddenly upon the Ammon.
ties and so completely routed them
that two of them were not left tOgeth.
er (verses 4-1D.
The morning deliverances of the Bt
BILE are full OF interest and are all sug
gestive of the morning that is coming
when the Lord, shall finally and for
ever deliver Israel (Ps. xlvi. 5, mar
gin). Compare Ps. Xix. IA. and seq
Elk. xiv. "a. 81. Think also Of Dan. vi
1923. and of the deiverance that came
to the disciples I'm the morning watch
mark vi. 49,. But. while believers may
well rejoice in the glorious morning
that is coming and in Him who is ia
Us the Morning Star QI Sam. xiii, 8;
Rev. xii. t6l. it is also written that
there will be no morning for such az
do not believe God lisa. viii. 20; mar
gin and revised version). When the
people saw the great deliverance
wrought by Saul they asked to have
Saul's enemies put to death, but Saul
would not listen to 1t. saying, There
shall not man be put to death this
! day, for today the Lord hath wrought
salvation In Israel" (verses IL, 13). II
was the same power that wrought for
Israel at the Red sea eek. xiv, Is, 30
and on so many occasions in all theii
history. and their greatest deliverance
| is yet to come Czech. xiv. 3, 81. Samuel
then gathered the people to Gilgal, and
there they made Saul king before the
Lord. offered sacrifices, and all Israel
rejoiced greatly oversees IA. 15). Thus
far all seemed to be going well, but
when man has his way there Is soon
failure, for "verily, every man at hii
best state apart from Cod is alto
gether vanity" (Ps. xxx. b.
| Chapter xii tells how Samuel rehears
ed the history of the nation from theiI
coming out of Egypt. the Lords deal
ings with them under Moses and
Aaron and how many a time He de
livered them in the days of the judges
He also asked them to testify as to
whether during all the time that he
had judged them he had ever taken
anything from them or defrauded any
one or taken q bribe to blind his eyes
but they called God to witness that
they could find no fault in him in any
of these matters (xii, 1-5). To show
them that he was right before the
Lord as we'll as in their eyes and that
they had done wrong in asking for q
king when the Lord Himself was their
King he asked the Lord to send thun.
der and rain that day. and He did So
The people seemed to see their sin and
asked Samuel to pray for them (xii
G-19). Samuel assured them that
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