The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-02-27

the ark finds rest in the house OF
Ablnadab, 6:10-21, I'll, 2. For 20
years Israel was under discipline in
bondage, v. 2.
Z. "And Samuel spake . say
Ing" w. 3-s. 1t is possible that at
times Samuel was a fugitive, but that
he was praying, teaching and preach
ing "the word of Jehovah" we are as
sured. At last Israel was drawn to-
gether," v. 2 r. v. margin. U%ndoubted-
ly Samuel's pure life and his faithful
this assembling as did the oppression
of the Philistines. Samuel told the
people plainly that in order to be de-
hvered 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, 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 "enrinching'
their worship. Such ~iberality, such a
federation of religions is weakening to
the cause of faith, Matt. 6:24, / John
2:15, James, 4:4. 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
raei's response ". ~ meant not alone
self-denial, but a revolt against the
Philistines. This meant also the CIV
Ing up of amusements and profits which
might accompany such worship. The
word heart" includes the will, affec-
tons, motives and powers of soul.
Not merely a surface emotion, but a
deep change of heart and character.
1t is sad to recall that this was a
reformation. not a regeneration (ch.
S:8), but such us 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
i~ntercessor, Heb. 7:25. Gathering the
people at Mizpah ga 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 eve precede prevailing prayer,
Ps. 1915, Heb. 10: rs. 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. 1913. IsraeI
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
H.. "And Samuel offered
a burnt offering" w. t9-12. Twenty
years of bondage bred a spirit of feal
In the hearts of the Israelites and il
their extremity they turned to Sam
uel to intercede for them. Christians
have a better one as their interces
sor, l John 2:1; Heb. 7:25; Rom
1874. Israel no longer places 1T
trust In an outward symbol as wheI
formerly they sent for the ark, CHI. 4:3
All real prayer is preceded by sacri
flee, and the only ground we have upoI
which to approach a holy God is t
shed blood, Heb. 0:19. John 14:6. Thi
is also a type of entire conservation
The lamb of Samuel's sacrifice is
type of our Christ who entered int
Gods presence for us by his owl
blood" Heb, Oil, IL. Having thu
properly approached God, Samue
cried for Israel, and "the Lord hear
him." John 1879. In the midst Of thi
even as Satan often makes hi
fiercest assaults upon us in the mids
of our hottest exercises. God thur
dered with a great voice." v. IL, marg
bringing discontinue and fear to tn
enemy, I John STA. No voice of Il
rael could have effected such result
but the voice of God in response I
the prayers of a cody man brough
victory, James 5:16. Both secular an
sacred history record instances wher
God used the elements to deliver hi
praying people. The storm which d.
stroyed the Spanish armada an
saved England; the unusual winds an
tides which saved Leyden came In col
nection with the most earnest prayer
see also III Kings 1885. In this W
see a fuihllment OF Hannah's prophec!
CHI. 2:10. In our last lesson Israel wa
, defeated, 4:10. now they pursue tn
Philistines as far as Beth-car an
Shen, an unknown place west of Mi
l peh. Between the latter and Mizpel
! Samuel erected a memorial pillar an
called 1t "Ebenezer," the Stone
, Help, where 20 years previous l
rael had suffered defeat and the ar
: of God was captured. So this ston
was a twofold monument Of a vi
tory, and also of ~deliverance frol
20 years OF bondage. Ever and anu
3 the church has to set up Il
Q Ebenezers for new d~eliverances. Pc
r secution and corruption have not y,
d prevailed against the true church
God, Matt. 1913.
The Heart Of the Lesson. This Ia
son is a great revelation of the pow
}. and effectiveness Of intercessol