Middletown transcript., 1915-02-13

first of the order Of prophets. His
name means asked of God" and he
was dedicated to God 1:1D as Eaa-
arite. In fulfllment of his mothers
vow he was brought to the temple
when he was young child (1:24, Jo-
sephus says, at twelve years OF age
Hannah's song of rejoicing (2:1-10) is
the expression of great soul and a
choice piece of literature. Samuel
had the advantage of being we'll born.
but after studying ELS household we
are not so confident as to the environ
ment amid which he was placed.
1. samuel's Vision, w. 1-10. The
young child entered heartily into the
temple worship and duties as directed
by the aged priest, Eli. This man was
not faithful in giving the people ths
word of God. 1T was rare" (marginl
and the result was that there was no
frequent vision" (R. w. The word
is also precious" ". /; Ps. 1879, 1O),
though when it is as common as 1t is
in this land men frequently set but
little store by it. God will Judge men
for such laxity even as he Judged
Israel (Amos 8:4-6, II, 12). A vision
is a knowledge of need and of the
resources at our command. Eli and
his sons had no vision and a people
lacking in this direction perish prov.
1918. Jehovah is about to make
known to Israel his will and in so do
ing he passes over this indulgent father
and chooses the child Samuel. Teach
ableness and obedience are the chief
characteristics Of childhood and these
traits count for more with God than
does age or experience Matt. 11:25
Tim. 4:12, Matt. 21:6). Samuel had
not acquired the conceit Of youth, he
was faithful to his duties, respectful to
his elders and did not boast of his
accomplishments nor OF the special
revelation which came to him. Sam
uel slept in the holy place of the "sa-
cred tent" near Eli, for the great
temple was not yet built. AS such he
is type for the Christian FPS. 27:4).
1t was there that the Lord revealed
himself to him John 1:14 r. v. mar.
gin). One of Samuel's duties as the
special attendant of Eli was to open
the house Of God every morning, also
to tend the sacred lamp which burned
from evening to morning (Ex. 27:20,
2D. AS he attended to these duties
God made himself known to Samuel
". A.. God frequently calls men and
they are not at home but have gone
into the far country. Samuel knew
God as every devout worshiper knew
him, but had not yet received a direct
revelation, hence he did not yet know
Jehovah" Thinking at once OF the
priest, Samuel ran to receive orders
or to render service. Had he disre-
garded the voice he would not in the
end have received his clear revelation.
To have closed his ears, turned over
for further sleep or to have risen hest
tatingly would, in all probability, have
prevented any further calls prov
1924, rs, 2S). God wants, for special
services, those who make glad re-
sponse to his first call lisa. 6:8; Luke
S:59-62; Acts $3.50. Three times the
call comes and three times Samuel
makes reply. There are three periods
in the unfolding life that are most sus.
ceptible to the leading Of the Holy
Spirit Nine to twelve, fourteen and
hfteen, seventeen and eighteen are
particularly open to Impressions, espe-
cially If the child has had a religious
atmosphere and training.
The teacher needs to be ever alert
to take advantage o. these opportu-
mites to unfold and enforce the claims
OF Christ and to challenge an imme-
date decision Of the soul. Happy are
they who like Samuel hear and recoR-
nize, even though 1t be a progressive
revelation, the voice Of Jehovah. and
hearing, obey 1t. There is little need
at present for the audible voice. for
we have the word and the still small
voice OF the Holy Spirit. The voice
Samuel heard became a vision ". 15).
The Bible everywhere assumes that
God speaks to men. We do not find
him SO much by searching for him. for
he is made known ("manifested") in
the person of his Son Il John IL. Q:
John 1880. Gods calls to service
may come at any period, but frequent
ly they come very early. Hudson Tay.
lor. founder of the wonderful China
Inland mission, received his call at
seventeen. Ell in times past must
have heard Jehovah speak. else he
would net have recognized who it was
that was speaking to Samuel (chapter
S:2D. Samuel's call was to. service.
to be prophet. Our commission Is to
witness and to serve mark I6:15).
Samuel received Jehovah's word not
at Ellis side but in his own resting
place; SO God would speak to us when
IN our own place where he has put US.
1t is well for us to be sure we are
truly hearing the voice of God John
4). 'o''
u. JehoVah's Verdict, w. 11-1s, 10.
20. The chapter following tells Of the
defeat OF Israel, the capture Of the
ark and the death of Eli and his sons.
These were the things "at which both
the ears Of everyone that heareth Il
shall tingle." The word of Jehovah
stands fast, and what he speaks that
ne performs from the beginning even
unto the end" luke 21:32, Numbers
23:1s). The word Of Jehovah to Sam.
uel about the house Of Eli was one
calculated to strike terror and silence
into the lads heart. Eli was not igno.
rant OF the wickedness of his sons
(2;27-S6). Eli learns from Samuel Je
hovah's message. Eli was a great and
good man, submissive to Gods will
but he was weak man, rather thar