Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-03-10
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson X.-First Quarter, For
March IA, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, Sam. xi-Memory
Verses, II, 13-GoIden Text, Prov.
xsi, 32-commentary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns.
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
a changed man chapter X. $40. All
this was a 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 deliveranee 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 is cast into the lap.
but the whole disposing thereof is Of
the Lord" CNum. XVI, 30. Sc; Prov.
xvi, 33). First the tribe was found
and then the family and then the man
(chapter x, 20, 81; compare Josh. vii.
1919, and thus they were guided to
the man whom He had already chosen
and anointed. Although elected. he
could not for a time be found. SO they
inquired of the Lord. and He told them
where to find him. Whether it be a
person or thing that cannot be found.
He that is perfect in knowledge knows
where to find the lost Dob xxxyi. A..
When the people looked upon the
man whom God had chosen they could
not refrain from shouting, God save
the king or as in the margin. Let
the king liver TX. 23-25.l The band of
men whose hearts God had touched
were comfort to MIN, so that he was
able to seem as deaf man to his enc
mics *, 26. %. Our lesson chapter
shows how Sanl 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 the
life Of any child of God when there is
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 be was and whom
he served, to seek to bring reproach
upon Israel oversees 1-3). Saul heard Of
the distress of Jabesh Gilead and in a
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 morning verse Id
Saul came suddenly upon the Ammon-
ties and so completely routed them
that two Of them were not left togeth-
er oversees AID.
The morning deliverances Of the BIZ
BILE are full of interest and are all sug-
when the Lord shall finally and for
ever deliver Israel Cps. XVI. 5, mar
gin). Compare Ps. xix, IA. and see
Ex. xiv. "a. q. Think also of Dan. vi.
1923. and Of the deliverance that came
to the disciples IN the morning watch
mark vi. 49,. But. while believers may
well rejoice in the glorious morning
that Is coming and In Him who is to
Us the Morning Star Gil Sam. xiii, s;
Rev. xii, 16}. 1t is also written that
there will be no morning for such as
do not believe God Qsa viii, 20; mar
gin and revised versionl. When the
people saw the great deliverance
Saurs enemies put to death. but Saul
would not listen to it. saying. There
shall not man be put to death this
day, for today the Lord hath wrought
salvation In Israeli oversees II, 49,. 1t
was the same power that wrought for
Israel at the Red sea tEx xiv. 13. 3ol
and on so many occasions in all their
history, and their greatest delirerance
is yet to come (Zech. 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 fverses IA, 15). Thus
far all seemed to be going well. but
when man has his way there is soon
failure, for verify. every man at bis
best state tapart from Cod is alto
gether vanity Ps. xxx. 81.
Chapter xii tells how Samuel rehears-
ed the history of the nation from their
coming out of Egypt. the Lords deal
ings with them under Moses and
Aaron and how many a time He de-
hvered 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 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 haforo fhe