The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1915-02-25

daVlnB prepared guilt oHerlnB,
$40, the PhilistInes started the ark
back towards Shiloh. As a punish.
ment for their sacrllege and perhaps
for their boastful pride, God Furnishes
the men of Beth.Shemesh and finally
the ark finds rest in the house Of
Abinadab, 6:10-2l, III, 2. For 20
years Israel was under discipline in
bondage, w.
!. "And Samuel spake say
Ing" w. 3-s. II 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. Al last Israel was drawn to-
gether," v. 2 r. v. margin. Undoubted-
ly Samuel's 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 Philistlnes 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 "enrlnching"
their worship. Such liberality, such a
federation Of religions is weakening to
the cause OF faith, Matt. 6:24, John
2:15, James, "A Samuel might be
called narrow" but his exhortation to
Israel that they return to the love
and worship Of 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.
raels response ". - meant not alone
selfdenial, but revolt against the
Phllistines. 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 surface emotion, but
deep change Of heart and character.
II is sad to recall that this was a
reformation. not 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. 11:26 Samuel is a type Of
Christ as a prophet and also as an
intercessor, Heb. 7:25. Gathering the
people at Mlzpah ia lookout") he
caused the people to look to God.
Such a gathering was an evidence Of
that unity of the people Of God which
must ever precede prevailing prayer
Ps 1876. 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:S. 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, 3.
They made confession Of sin, there
was no boasting of virtue, Ps 51:4.
n. "And Samuel offered &.
a burnt Offering" w. 9.t2. Twenty
years of bondage bred spirit of fear
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. 1925; Rom.
S:34. Israel no longer places Its
trust in an outward symbol as when
formerly they sent for the ark, ch. 43.
All real prayer is preceded BY sacri'
fee, and the only ground we have upon
which to approach holy God is to
shed blood, Heb. 1919, John 14:6. This
Is also a type of entire conservation.
The lamb of Samuels sacrifice Is
type Of our Christ who entered into
Gods presence for US by his own
blood" Heb. GIL, 70. Having thus
properly approached God, Samuel
cried for Israel, and "the Lord heard
him." John 17:9. In the midst OF this
the Philistines gave battle ". 10
even as Satan often makes his
iiercest assaults upon us in the midst
OF our holiest exercises. God "thun'
dered with great voice" v. II, marg.,
bringing discontinue and fear to the
enemy, John 5:14. No voice of Is.
rael could have effected such results
but the voice OF GOO in response to
the prayers of godly man brought
victory. James sic. Both secular and
sacred history record instances where
God used the elements to deliver his
praying people. The storm which de-
stroyed the Spanish armada and
saved England; the unusual winds and
tides which saved Leyden came in con-
nection with the most earnest prayers,
see also III Kings 1885. In this we
see fulflllment of Hannel's prophecy,
ch. 2:10 In our last Lesson Israel was
defeated, 4:10, now they pursue the
Philistines~ as far as Beth-car and
Shen, an unknown Place west of Mis-
peh. Between the latter and Mizpeh,
Samuel erected a memorial pillar and
called It "Ebenezer." the Stone OF
Help, where 20 years previous Is.
rael had suffered defeat and the ark
OF God was captured. So this stone
was twofold monument of vic.
tory, and also of deliverance from
20 years OF bondage. Ever and anon
the church has cause to set up its
Ebenezers for new delIverances. Per
secution and corruption have not yet
prevailed against the true church Of