The Green Forest tribune., 1915-02-26

Having prepared guilt offering" 6:4-9, the Philistines started the ark back towards Shiloh. As punish ment for their sacrilege and perhaps for their boastful pride, God punishes the men of Beth-Shemesh and finally the ark finds rest in the house of Ablnadab, 6:10-21, Fl, 2. For 20 years Israel was under discipline in bondage, V. 2.
 |. "And Samuel spake say- ing" w. 3-8. It is possible that at times Samuel was a fugitive, but that he was praying, teaching and preaclp ing the word of Jehovah we are as sured. At last Israel was drawn to- gether," V. R. " margin. Undoubted- ly SamuePs 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 Philistines 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, Isa. 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 "enrinching" their worship. Such liberality, such federation of religions is weakening to the cause of faith, Matt. SPA, 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- rael's response (v. 4) meant not alone self-denial, but a revolt against the Philistines. This meant also the giv- 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. It is sad to recall that this was a reformation, not a 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 prophet and also as an tntercessor, Heb. 7:25. Gathering the people at Mizpah Ca 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. 99:6, 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 God, II Sam. 14:14; Ps. CPS. Israel also 'fasted"-an expression of sor- row for sin which was so deep that they could not eat and sign of the humiliation of self and an earnest de- sire to find God, Dan. 9:3, Acts 13:2, 8.
 II. "And Samuel offered |. burnt offering," w. 9-12. Twenty years of bondage bred a spirit of fear in the hearts of the Israelites and in their extremity they turned to Sam uel to intercede for them. Christians have better one as their interces- sor, I John 2:1; Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34. Israel no longer places it's trust in an outward symbol as when formerly they sent for the ark. ch. AS. All real prayer is preceded by sacri- flee, and the only ground we have upon which to approach holy God is to shed blood, Heb. 10:19, John 14:6. This is also a type of entire consecration. The lamb of Samuel's sacrifice is a type of our Christ who entered into Gods presence for us .'by his own blood" Heb. 9:11, 12. 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 (v 10) even as Satan often makes his fiercest assaults upon us in the midst of our holiest exercises. God "thun- dered with a great voice" V. Il, marg., bringing discontinue and fear to the enemy, John 5:14.
 The Heart of the Lesson. This les son is great revelation of the power and effectiveness of microscopy prayer Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name," Ps. 99:6, seems to place Samuel at the head of Is- raePs intercessors even as Moses and Aaron led the prophet priests.
 Prayer for others is not only duty, but privilege and joy as well.
 Too few Christians are interceding for others. The sincere prayer tor others is inevitably followed up by service for others, even as Samuel's prayer was followed by his service judging Israel.
 This lesson also emphasizes the need of appreciation of Gods mer- cies. Abraham erected his altars; Ja- cob and Joshua erected memo rial stones to recall signal blessings; Samuel calls the one he erected 'Eb-