The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-02-25
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson K.-FrSt Quarter, For
Feb. 20, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

50,040 men because of their trans
gression they sent to the men of Kir-
jath-jearim to come and take the ark
away from them, for they said, "Who
/ is able To stand before this holy Lord
GOd:" Their question is Il very sug-
geStive one, for the holiness which
God requires i'll His law, which is
holy and just and good, is so great
that no man can stand before it, even
as it is written: IF thou, Lord. should
est mark iniqutics, o Lord. who shall
stand? But there is forgiveness with
thee - OiOm. vii. l.; Ps. cxXX,
81. The way out for all, for all have
sinned and come short. is that the nee
eSSary holiness is found in Christ, who
perfectly kept this holy law and is
made righteousness unto all who re
ceive Him NI Cor. Y. u: | Cor. i, 3O).
The ark found resting place at Kir
jath-jearim for many years in the
house Of AbiHadab in the hill until
David removed it to tent which he
had pitched for it in Jerusalem III
Sam. vi, s. A. After it had been TWEEN
ty years there Israel seemed to awake
to desire for the Lord. for it is said
that they "lamented after the Lord"
Oversees l. y.
1t may have been that after the
catastrophe ut Ebenezer. in which the
sons of Eli were slain ana the ark of
God taken and because Of which Eli
died, Samuel returned to his IA
TIERS home ut Ramah. for there he
lived all his life aftcrward; there he
built an altar unto the Lord; there he
judged Israel going in circuit to Bethel.
Gilgal and MiZpch. and there he died
and was buried ii, 10; ii, II; vii, 1G, II;
XIV, u. Ever since the PhiliStine vic
tory Israel had been under their pow
err but now Samuel encouraged them
to put away their idols, return unto the
Lord with all their hearts and serve
Him only. that He might deliver them
out of the hands of the Philistines
verses 3. A.. The one thing that the
Lord is looking for in all the world is
whole heart for Himself I'll ChTon.
xvi, -; 10 idols, nothing TO grieve or
hinder, but such yielded hearts that
He can magnify Himself in US and
work in us all His good pleasure Heb.
xiii, 20l. SO all Israel gathered togeth-
er to AIiZpeh that Samuel might pray
for them Oversees .. u. They drew wa
ter and poured it out before the Lore
and tasted and confessed their sin.
The wise woman of Tekoa said, I'VE
4,
cannot be gathered up again. Oh Sam.
xiv, ~, and in Lam. ii, 10, we read.
"Pour out thine heart like water be
fore the face Of the Lord" True
emptiness before Him will always
bring His fuliness; He perfects His
strength i'll our weakness; when we
are nothing then He can work There
must be no will nor way nor thoughts
of ours to hinder. The Philistines,
hearing Of the Israel movement, went
up against them, for when the people
of God turn to Him with purpose of
heart the devil always wakes up to
oppose Israel did the right thing in
saying TO Samuel. Cease not to cry
unto the Lord our God for US" So
Samuel offered u sacrifice and cried
unto the Lord, and the Lord heard
him and Numbered with great thun-
der and discounted the Philistines, and
they came no more into the coast OF
Israel all the days of Samuel oversees
7-13).
We are reminded of such words as
these: The God of glory thundereth;"
God thundereth marvelously with
His voice; great things doeth He.
which We cannot comprehend Dps.
xxx, 3; Job XXXvii. 81. Neither thun-
der nor lightning should cause us any
fear if We are right with Him, but
should rather make us rejoice to hear
His voice and see His might As
Noah, Daniel and Job are quoted as
samples of righteous men tEzek. xiv
1920, so Moses and Samuel are men
toned as great intercessors der. XIV,
II. At the same place where the
Philistines conquered Israel and cap
tured the ark there the Lord overthrow
them and delivered Israel chapter iv.
/; vii, 12). and Samuel set up his me-
ihplAdi oipliC anu odiu' illlutA " 4l'tlL
the Lord helped US All who trust in
the Lord can surely say the same. and
we should say always: "Henceforth
unto Him who died for US and
rose again" "Henceforth laid
up for me a crown of Righteousness"
Oh Cor. V, 10; ii Tim. ". s.. BY the
great sacrifice of Himself we are re
deemed; by His sacrifice as q burnt
offering, typified in SamueTs Offering
Verse 81, We become wholly dedicated
to Him O.ev il. ana when we willingly
acknowledge it and desire to serve Him
only then we may expect to see His
power on our behalf and His working
in and through us.
Samuers home at Ramah and the
three other places where he judged
Israel are full of interest historically
his home because Of the story Of Han
nah and her song; MiZpeh BECAUSE
lsraers return to God at tPt not c
", g.. and the meaning ofliDds nc Il
Gen. XXI, 1852. thor in the land '
the same Mizpeh, 4 return and also is
Of Abraham's sfGen xii. g. yiii .. ir
and his der NJ Gigal Israel lon+ :,
of JacrhS7over in the land ard - :,
Ky J0shua's hea9duortnrs a., u