Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR MAR. 7
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Commentary Prepared In An Inter-
esting Way by Rev. d. NJ.
Stearns

These three chapters. III which we
tinl today's lesson Twill To X, tell sad
SET beautiful aud wonderful story. the
sad part being lsrael's rejection or 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 lie
overruled ordinary events 10 bring 10
Samuel the right man. IL seems strange
that Samurl. knowing SO well EN's
failure tofgovern his sons. should have
failed himself in the same way tchdpter
viii. l-5i. but perhaps some who may
read this are not qualified 10 throw
any stones. The desire of the people
for Il visible king, like all other nations.
hurt Samuel. for he was now an OLD
man aud had all his life Judged them
righteouSly: but. knowing that he was
only The Lords representative, he Told
II i'm ali about il. AS we should always
10 in all things The Lord reminded
samuel that he was not the rejected
one. hui that the people had rejected
Him and that Samuel was only sharing
His rejection tchapter viii. 90. IL is
so still. for our Lord Jesus counts all
treatment of His messengers as done
TO Himself Matt Y. "A. -. 40t
The Lord told Samuel 10 heed their
request. but 10 protest and show them
what manner Of man the king would
be. This he did in ,he six times He
will take" of chapter viii. lois. Not.
withstanding the warning the people
insisted that they must have King
Samuel told the Lord their decision.
and He told Samuel To make them Il
king tchapter viii. 1922.
Whether il be in answer Ia ON riShi
or our wrong requests II is often His
way To do teyuid our de- Tres. amt 50
lie selected for them the finest looking
man in all lsraela choice young man.
none goodlier aud head and shoulders
taller than any other tchapter tx. /. ,;
Y. 30 Samuel did not need Ia hook
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 man
out of the land of Benjamin tchaptcr
tx, Is. 10, ! like that expression "t0Id
him In his ear" for IL is great Thing
10 have an ear for God, IN anonted
ear 70 hear His voice. His only fh'
commonplace events which the l.Dr0
used 10 bring the unSuspecting man To-
Samnel are fully tod in chapter tx,
3.1I. and. if lie thus wrought for az
unbelieving man and rebeiltous peo
pie. how much more will He work on
behalf Of His own. who truly desire "a
please Him, Ron viii. -: lisa xviii
IL,
The special lesson portion assigned
us today begins with Saul approaching
Samuel by the direction of the young
maidens whom he met going ont TO
draw water. How many Bible incl
dents there are associated with women
drawing water. aud how these maidens
must have rejoiced few days or
weeks later that they had been used
to direct the king TO Samuel. There Is
lot of comfort In the assurance that
God worketh all things after the com
sci of His Own will and Il whole lot
more when we are willing to have Him
work in and through us the good
works Tie has prepared for. us tEph
l. IL: II. lW. AS Saul drew near TO
Samuel again the anointed ear heard
the Lords whisper: "Behold the man
whom | Spake 10 thee Of. This same
shall reign over my people" tverse 10
no Dol hn In
us think of Zech. vi IL, and John xix.
8, "a. the God man. the King who shall
yet rule over N Israel and over all ma
tons forever. AS the maidens were
used to direct Saul 10 Samuel. so may
we all be used to direct many who
them aud share His kingdom with
them.
Now we find Sanl in the kind hands
OF Samuel az a surprise party. where
he hears wonderful things which he
never expected TO hear and which all
guest Samuel. knowing thar God would
do as He had said. had made every
and had invited these ihir
~ people to meet him After the feast
Samuel commnped 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
anointed him captain over the Lords |
Inheritance. Saul's humility verse 2D |
reminds us of that Of Gideon tJudg vi, |
i5,, and well would II have been for |
him If he had continued thus humble |
Note also his wise conduct toward his |
enemies in chapter X. %. HE held his /
peace" or, as In the margin. He was
rs though be had been deaf" Com
bare Ps xxxviii. 10.
Chapter x, Z, Is one OF the most rest.
'ul verses ] ever found. DO as occn.
zion serve thee. for God Is with thee"
Aud the context teaches me that each
morning. as ] start the day the Lord
Knows every one shall meet and all
hat shall come my way. He orders all