The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-03-04

| LESSON TEXT Samuel s:lI-i0L
| GOLDEN TEXT-Fear God. honor the
king.-i Peter 2:i7.
Because OF the acts OF Samuel the
people petitioned for q king (ch. $3.50.
They are told plainly what TO expect
Ia a king In set In authority tch. S:ls).
God, however. granted their petition
and spoke ''ln the ear" OF Samuel. say
ling. Il will send thee a man." telling
him OF the work which this man is to
undertake (ch. s:i5. l6).
| l. Samuel Saw Saul" w. t7-2t. Saul
was a man to gaze at and TO admire
(ch. 9:2). His fruitless search for
his fathers asses leads him to the city
wherein Samuel was residing. There
he is advised to consult the man OF
God" about his difficulty-a good sug-
gestion for us all. This experience
(ch. $3.50 exhibits Samuel In a new
light. The word seer" indicates "one
who sees" one who sees the things
God makes manifest In dreams mum.
24:4l6D. While the word is similar TO
the modern term "clairvoyant" yet u -
latter are not the successors OF the. II
Old Testament "seers" or prophets.
They are rather the successors OF the
false prophets tier. l7:iD. and OF
those who dealt with familiar spirits
Il Chron. l0:l3.l4: lisa, s: 1920;
Kings ALL, 2. 81. Saul evidently did
not know Samuel (vv. l6 49,.
Samuel took Saul with him for the
night TO take his mind on his fathers
asses and 10 prepare him TO receive
! the word from God. Christians take
| far too little time TO withdraw them
selves and take their restless minds
OF the things OF time and sense to Do
still and hear the word OF God. What
were a few asses TO Saul. to him for
whom all that Is desirable In Israel
/ Nv. 20 X. VT Christians who are
heirs to the heavenly kingdom ought
not to set their affections on the poor
possessions OF earth tCol. al. 2; Cor.
4:lsl. In response TO Samuels infor-
nation. Saul disclaims any greatness;
/ indeed, Is he not from one of the least
OF the families OF one OF the smallest
OF the tribes ". 2D. Such humility
gave great promise for Sauls future
] usefulness. Such was the mental and
spiritual attitude OF the man whom
God chose to be king tch. IBID. IL
was later. when pride and power had
pulled him up. that the kingdom was
taken away from him lch. Is: %; 1871;
Luke ii:1l: Heb. l3:D.
%. samuel Took Saul" w. 1924.
Saul was then led into the guest cham
Der and placed In the chief seat Read
our Lords parable found In Luke
II4:7.il Samuel then babe the cook
bring the thigh. which was choice
piece OF meat especially reserved for
thoee thus honored tEzek. 24p. Such
a portion belonged TO the priest tLev.
I7:32). That which did not belong up
on the altar Saul was TO eat ". 2D.
Samuel and Saul may have had the
preference and eaten before the other
guests ". 49,, and Saul is made &C
quainted with the special honor con-
ferred upon him Following the feast,
they return to Samuel's home. where
Saul Is conducted to a couch upon the
fat housetop (Acts 1879. Here Sam
uel had private converse with Saul
". rs u. W What that converse
may have been we know not, but we
are reminded OF one such nocturnal
conversation which gave to the world
Gods most precious summary OF his
love John 3:1-l6).
Samuel poured oil upon Saul's head.
Prophets. priests. kings and cleansed
lepers were so anointed. a type OF the
amounting by the holy spirit Il Kings
1915. l6: Lev. s:l2, 14:2. 1918; lisa.
I6l:I: John 2:20 II. W. This act
was also a symbol oJentire consecra'
ton TO God, and pointed forward to
the coming king messiah. Amounted
onel whom God himself would anoint
!. FPS. 45;0. =
Saul was anointed to be "a prince 4
and to save Gods people (ch. s:ie;
Acts SGD. His ear is always open
to the cry OF his people. Even though
; they had sinned. and their sorrow was
because of their own disobedience. yet
God. regarded their affiiction FPS.
: lO6 43. Az. Only Gods anointed ones
can save lisa. 6l:l-3l.
Saul's selected task was to save
Israel out OF the hands OF the Philis-
= tines (See Luke l69.7D. Gods eye
sees the oppression OF mankind and
his ear is always open to the cry OF
the poor and needy; OF innocent chill
, dren suffering because of the sins OF
parents; of men defrauded OF justice.
? But the delivering remedy will not
be brought by any earthly king. Man
= kind is today crying for king (some-
times II is termed democracy and
) will not have God TO rule over them.
Needless OF his warnings, blessed by
his bounty, they struggle and scheme
| TO heal their own hurt.
sauls humility rapidly gave place to
pride and pride to ambition, ambition
TO oppression, and finally to an un'
2 timely end due to disobedience
= When our king comes the skillfully
I constructed scheme OF mans govern
ment. wherein graft and pride. amb
{ tion and lust. find such a prominent