Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-03-06
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY %
SAMUEL THE VICTORIOUS
LEADER.


LESSON TEXT Samuel 7:s-T
GOLDEN TExT-Hitherfo hath Jeho-
yah helped mel Samuel 7-R r. "
Having prepared q guilt Offering"
$40, the Phi1istines started the ark
back towards Shiloh As a punish
ment for their sacrilege and perhaps
for their boastful pride, God Furnishes
the men of Beth-Shemesh and finally
the ark finds rest in the house of
Abinadab. 6:10-2i, I'll, 2 For 20
years Israel was under discipline in
bondage. V. 2
!. "And Samuel spake say
Ing" w. 3d. 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.s ". R. " margin Undoubted-
ly Samuel's pure life and his faithful
witnessing had as much to do with
this assembling IS did the oppression
OF the Philistines- Samuel told the
people plainly that in order to be de-
Hvered from the Phflistines 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 s.enrinching"
their worship. Such hberality, 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-
yotion, was the first, and the most es-
sential requisite to their freedom Is
raePs 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>
| lions. motives and powers of soul
Not merely "A surface emotion, but a
deep change of heart and character.
/ It is sad to recall that this was a
reformation, not regeneration (ch-
$50, but such is the history of an
emotional reformation One day, how
ever, we shall see that one will last
| Christ as a prophet and also as an
intercessor, Heb. 1925 Gathering the
people at Mizpah Ca lookout'O 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 whs
was nearest to God They than poured
out water upon the ground, symbol
of their utter he1plessness. 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 sign of the
humiliation of self and an earnest de-
sire to find God. Dan 9:3, Acts 1872. g.
| II. aAnd Samuel offered
a burnt Offering" Wv. 9-12- Twenty
years of bondage bred spirit of fear
in the hearts of the Israel1tes and in
their extremity they turned to Sam
| uel to intercede for them Christians
have a better one as their interces-
| sor. John 81; Heb. 7:25; Rom
| 1884. Israel no longer places its
trust in an outward symbol as when
| formerly they sent for the ark, CHI A. g.
All real prayer is preceded by sacri-
fee, and the only ground we have upon
which to approach a holy God is to
shed blood. Heb. 1919, John 14:6. This
is also a type of entire conservation
The lamb of Samuers sacrifice Is a
| type of our Christ who entered into
Gods presence for us by his own
blood. Heb. 9.11. II. Having thus
| properly approached God. Samuel
/ cried for Israel. and the Lord heard
| him." John 1873 In the midst of this
the Philistines gave battle ". 10)
| even as Satan often makes his
| hercest assaults upon us in the midst
| of our hottest exercises God thun-
dered with great voice" " IL. marg-.
bringing discontinue and fear to the
| enemy, I John 5-14
The Heart Of the Lesson This les
| son is a great revelation of the power
| and effectiveness OF microscopy
| prayer. Moses and Aaron among his
| priests. and Samuel among them that
cal upon his name.- Ps- 1856, seems
to place Samuel at the head of Is
| raeFs intercessors even as Moses and
| Aaron led the prophet priests
Prayer for others is not only duty.
| but privilege and 10y as well
Too few Christians are interceding
| for others The sincere prayer tor
l ~