The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-03-04
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson X.-FTst Quarter, For
March 7, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Memory Verse, X, 1---Goden Text, !
Pet. ii, 17-Commentary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns.
These three chapters, in which we
find today's lesson viii to ", tell sad
yet beautiful and wonderful story, the
sad part being Israers rejection of God
as their king and their desire to be
like other nations; the wonderful past,
His most gracious dealings with them
and the beautiful part, the way He
Overruled ordinary events to bring to
Samuel the right man. 1t seems strange
that Samuel. knowing so well Els
failure to govern his sons, should have
failed himself in the same way chapter
viii. 1-Jl but perhaps some who may
read this are not qualified to throw
any stones. The desire Of the people
for a visible king, like all other nations,
hurt Samuel, for he was now an old
man and had all his life judged them
riShteOusly; but, knowing that he was
only the Lords representative, he told
Him all about it, as we should always
~ AZ lll l4l4li-N. L t4C A-Ol u lCLAllIhC0
Samuel that he was not the rejected
one, but that the people had rejected
Him and that Samuel was only sharing
His rejection Chapter viii, G-9. 1t is
SO still. for our Lord Jesus counts all
treatment of His messengers as done
to Himself Matt <, d -, 400.
The Lord told Samuel to heed their
request. but to protest and show them
what manner Of man the king would
be. This he did in the six times He
will take Of chapter viii, 1913. Not
withstanding the warning the people
insisted that they must have a king.
Samuel told the Lord their decision.
and He told Samuel to make them Il
king chapter viii, 1922.
Whether it he in answer to our right
or our wrong requests, it is often His
way to do beyond our desires, and 50
lie selected for them the finest looking
man in all Israel-a choice young man.
none goodlier and head and shoulders
taller than any other Chapter tx, l, 2;
X, 23). Samuel did not need to look
for him nor to have any anxiety as TO
finding the right man, for the Lord
told him in his ear one day, Tomorrow
about this time | will send thee a man
out Of the land of Benjamin" Chapter
tx, II, 49,. | like that expression told
him in his ear" for it is a great thing
to have an ear for God. an anointed
ear to hear His voice, His only The
commonplace events which the Lord
used to bring the unsuspecting man to
Samuel are fully told in chapter *,
3-l4, and, if He thus wrought for an
unbelieving man and rebellious peo-
pie, how much more will He work on
behalf of His own, who truly desire to
please Him. UOn. viii, 80; lisa. Xviii,
~
The special lesson portion assigned
us today begins with Saul approaching
Samuel by the direction Of the young
maidcns whom he met going out to
draw water. How many Bible Incl
dents there are associated with women
drawing water and how these maidens
must have rejoiced a few days or
weeks later that they had been used
to direct the king to Samuel There is
a lot of comfort in the assurance that
God wOrketh all things after the coun-
sci of His own will and n whole lot
more when we are willing to have Him
work in and through US the good
works He has prepared for US (Eph.
l. IL; il, 10I. AS Saul drew near to
Samuel again the anointed ear heard
the Lords whisper: Behold the man
whom l spake TO thee of! This same
shall reign over My people Verse IL.
The words Behold the man. make
US think of Zech. vi. j., and John xix.
5, "a, the Goldman. the King who shall
yet rule over a4 Israel and over all ma
tons forever. AS the maidens were
used to direct Saul to Samuel, SO may
we all be used to direct many "wh0-
soevers" to Him who is ready to save
them and share His kingdom with
them
Now we find Saul in the kind hands
of Samuel at surprise party, where
he hears wonderful things which he
never expected to hear and which all
came to pass He is the most honored
guest. Samuel, knowing that God would
do as He had said, had made every
preparation and had invited these thir-
ty people to meet him. After the feast
Samuel communcd with Saul. then
cared for him overnight, in the morn
ing again communed with him alone
The servant, having passed on. showed
him the word of God, kissed him and
nnointed him captain over the Lords
inheritance. Saurs humility Verse Ply
reminds US of that of Gideon Dudg. Vi,
15), and well would it have been for
him if he had continued thus humble
Note also his wise conduct toward his
enemies in chapter Y, -, He held his
peace" or, as in the margin. He was
as though he had been deaf" Com
pare Ps XXxviii. IS
Chapter Y, I. is one of the most rest
full verses | ever found. DO as occa-
sion serve thee for God is with thee"
And the context teaches me that each
morning, as I start the day. the Lord
knows every one shall meet and all
that shall come my way. He orders all
the circumstances. and | have only to
dt in, not counting my own will or