The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-03-05
NIFQNHIlOM
LESSON !
s FOR MARCH 7.
A KING.
By Z. D.. SELLEl:S Acting Director OF
Sunday School Course. Moody Bible In
stitute. Chicago.

LESSON TEXT Samuel s:l7-101.
GOLDEN TEXT-Fear God. honor the
ktng.-I Peter 2:17.
Because Of the acts Of Samuel the
people petitioned for q king (ch. $50.
They are told plainly what to expect
II a king is set in authority (ch. S:1S).
God, however, granted their petition
and spoke I'm the ear" OF Samuel. say
ing. II will send thee q man." telling
him of the work which this man Is to
undertake (ch. s:15, 16).
l. samuel Saw Saul" W.. 1874. Saul
was q man to ne 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
Cod about his difficulty good sug-
gestion for us all. This experience
(ch. s:6-14) exhibits Samuel in a new
light. The word "seer" indicates lone
who Sees" one who sees the things
God makes manifest in dreams Mum.
24:4-16). While the word Is similar to
the modern term 'clairvOyant" yet the
latter are not the SUCCESSORS of these
Old Testament "seers" or prophets
They are rather the successors Of the
false prophets (Jer. 1910, and of
those who dealt with familiar spirits
q Chron. 10:13-14; lisa, 8: 1920; 2
Kings 21:1, 2, g.. Saul evidently did
not know Samuel wv. 1919. There
is no necessary conflict in this account
and that recorded in the tenth chap
tA~ Corr,,olsc x,orptnU IN tho nnnn1n
was useless and lots were then cast
that the people might have a visible
token that the choice of this obscure
youth was from God.
Samuel took Saul with him for the
night to take his mind off his fathers
asses and to prepare him to receive
the word from God. Christians take
far too little time to withdraw them
selves and take their restless minds
off the things of time and sense to be
still and hear the word of God. What
were a few asses to Saul, to him for
whom all that is desirable in Israel
". 20 r. W? Christians who are
heirs to the heavenly kingdom ought
not to set their affections on the poor
possessions of earth (Col. 81, 2; 2 Cor.
ABB. In response to Samuei's infor-
nation, Saul disclaims any greatness;
indeed, is he not from n of the least
of the families of one of the smallest
of the tribes ". 21). Such humility
gave great promise for Saul's future
usefulness. Such was the mental and
spiritual attitude of the man whom
| God chose to be king (ch. 15:17). 1t
was later, when pride and power had
| puffed him up, that the kingdom was
taken away from him (ch. 1923; 1871;
Luke. 14:11; Heb. 13:1).
II. "Samuet Took Saul" W.. 22-24.
Saul was then led into the guest cham
Der and placed in the chief seat. Read
our Lords parable found in Luke
14:7-11. Samuel then babe the o
bring the thigh, which was a choice
piece of meat especially reserved for
those thus honored Geek. Pad. Such
a portion belonged to the priest (Lev.
1872. That which did not belong up-
on the altar Saul was to eat ". 24).
Samuel and Saul nay have had the
preference and eaten before the other
guests ". 49,, and Saul is made &C
quainted with the special honor con-
lCAACu upOH hlul. roAAoWihS ~ lSaoh
they return to Samuel's home, where
Saul is conducted to a couch upon the
fiat housetop (Acts 1920. Here Sam
!uel had private with Saul
". rs r. 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 3:1-16). Such rare expert
ences are of short duration and the
summons to be off came to Saul at the
spring Of the day." 1. e., about dawn,
the usual time of departure in that hot
country Our summons Is to those
duties which lie between us and our
rs to be up and away ". 26), but there
are also times when we should hear
the command stand thou still awhile,
that l may show thee the word of
God" ". 20. Many fail to hear God
speak because they are ever SO busy,
the noise Of the rafting of things
browns out Gods voice from their
ears. Even in some prayers We rattle
along perhaps charmed BIZ the sound
OF our own voices, or admiring our
own sentences. and God cannot make
himself heard.
Samuel poured oil upon Saul's head.
Prophets, priests. kings n cleansed
lepers were SO anointed, a type of the
amounting by the holy spirit Il Kings
1915. Is; Lev. 8:12, 14:2. 1918; lisa.
61:1; I John 2:20 r. VI. This act
was also a symbol Of entire consecra-
ton to God. and pointed forward to
the coming king messiah, Amounted
One) whom God himself would anoint
Cps: 45:7).
Saul was anointed to be "a prince"
and to save Gods people (ch. 9:1S;
Acts 5:S1). His ear is always open
to the cry Of his people. Even though
they had sinned. and their sorrow was
ksbecause Of their own ~disobedience. yet
God regarded their affiction FPS.
106:43. 44). Only Gods anointed ones
lean save lisa. 61:1-3).
SauPs selected task was to save
Israel out of the hands Of the Philis.
tines (See Luke 1:6S-71). Gods eye
sees the oppression of mankind and
Il Mo-. a. o0-ro~vc - "a