The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-02-26

Having prepared a guilt Offering"
$40, the Philistines started the ark
back towards Shiloh. AS 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, 6:1G21, IL, 2. For 20
years Israel was under discipline in
bondage, w.
!. "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 preaesA
ing the word of Jehovah" we are as
sured. At last Israel was drawn to-
gether,' v. 2 r. V. margin, Undoubted-
ly Samuel's 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, 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 liberality, such
federation of religions is weakening to
the cause of faith, Matt 6:24, John
2:15, James, "A. Samuel might be
called marrow" 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
raels response ". A. meant not alone
self-denial, but 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-
tions, 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
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
last, Rom. 1925. Samuel is a type of
Christ as a prophet and also as an
intercessor, Heb. 1925. Gathering the
people at Mizpah ga lookout") he
caused the people to look to God
Such 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, symbol
of their utter helplessness, 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 a sign Of the
humiliation Of self and an earnest de-
sire to find God, Dan. 9:3, Acts 1872, 8.
II. "And Samuel offered .
burnt Offering" wv. 9.12. Twenty
years Of bondage bred spirit of fear
in the hearts of the 1sraelites and in
their extremity they turned to Sam
uel to intercede for them. Christians
have a better one as their interces.
sor, / John I'll; Heb. 1925; Rom.
1884. Israel no longer places its
trust in an outward symbol as when
formerly they sent for the ark, CHI. 4:3.
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 1875. This
is also a type of entire conservation.
The lamb of Samuel's sacrifice Is a
type of our Christ who entered into
Gods presence for us by his own
blood" Heb. eli, II. Having thus
properly approached God, Samuel
cried for Israel, and "the Lord heard
him." John 1879. In the midst of this
the Philistines gave battle ". 10Y
even as Satan often makes his
fiercest assaults upon US in the midst
of our hottest exercises. God "thun.
dered with great voice. v. II, marg.,
bringing discontinue and fear to the
enemy, I John STA.
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
call upon his name," Ps. 1876. seems
to place Samuel at the head of Is
rael's intercessors even as Moses and
Aaron led the prophet priests.
Prayer for others Is not only a 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
- re