The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-08
sHEEPFoLD TO PALACE
The International Sunday School Les.
son for April IL, 1915.
BY DR.. Watson b. Duncan.
Scripture Lesson Samuel 16:4-13.
Golden text Samuel 1877.
Eessons From the LESSON,

| Golden text Samuel 1877.
lessons From the Lesson
Some places are made famous by
the characters they produce. The
scenes of our present lesson were en-
acted at Bethlehem. the home of
Jesse the father of David. Jesse's
family belonged to the tribe of Judah
and were direct descendants of Boaz
and Ruth. Many precious and pathetic
memories are connected with Bethle-
hem. Here was the scene Of Jacobs
great sorrow. the death of his below
ed Rachel. whose grave is still mark
ed by little white -domed mosque on
the Old Jerusalem Road. To this vi
lage Ruth came from far off Moab's
Mountains and here she bleamed in
the fields of Boaz, not only gather
ing sheavcs, but winning her way to
the heart OF her kinsman who after
ward became her husband. David was
the great grandson OF Ruth and It
was his name. that made Bethlehem
famous. A greater one than David,
however. was born here.
wg4g
20 little town OF Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shiueth
The everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met In thee tonight"
Obedience is the test OF high and
holy character. "And Samuel did that
which the Lord spake.' Samuel had
been rejected because of his disobedi-
ence. For time even after his re-
lection he was permitted to act in the
capacity OF king and God had already
selected another and commanded
Samuel to anoint the Divinely select
ed successor of Saul. This was not
a pleasant task that God assigned to
Samuel. To discharge 1t meant the
incurring Of the hostility of Saul. To
obey Gods commands is not always
pleasant or popular, but it is the only
safe course. Obedience had been the
guiding star of Samuel's life; it was
too late to deviate r~om 1t now.
"Ill go where you want me to go,
dear Lord,
Over mountain, or plain, or sea;
I'll say what you want me to say. dear
Lord,
I'll be what you want me to be-"
Heart power Is the Divine measure
ment of manhood. The Lord looketh
on the heart" Even the prophet was
ready to accept Eliab, with striking
countenance and stately stature, as
the Lords anonted; but he measured
by the wrong standard. Great spiri-
tual and moral tasks must be commit
ted to MEN of great heart-power.
Greece measured the head, and Rome
measured the body; but God measures
the heart. in purity lies the secret OF
power.
my strength is as the strength of
ten,
Because my heart is pure"
1t is the heart that makes possible
tho great spiritual visions. Blessed
are the pure in heart, for they shall
see God" Evil clouds the vision, but
purity clarifies it. To Sir Galahad.
the spotless knight of King Arthur's
Round Tabie, alone ives given the
vision of the Holy. Grail. The Divine
calls usually come to the busy man.
"Behold. he keepeth the sheep" Cid
cons call TO deliver Israel came
while he threshed wheat. 1t was
while the shepherds watched their
fiocks by night, all seated o. the
ground, that the angel of the Lord
can.o down and glory shone around.
The first disciples were called from
their nets and boats to follow the
Christ and become fishers OF men.
Matthew was at the receipt OF custom
when discovered by. the Christ and
called to greater service.
our own cap6cities and aptitudes
must be supplemented by the endue-
msnt OF the Spirit Of God. "And the
Spirit Of the Lord came upon David
from that day. Standing ON the
banks Of the Jordan and under the
oman heaven. this Master experienced
tb,. RaatIem az Power by the descent