The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-03-10
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson W.-First Quarter, For
March IA, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of tho Lesson, I Sam. xi-Msmery
Verses, 12, 13-GoIdsn Text, Prov.
xvi, a2-commentary Prepared BY
Rev. D. M. Stearns.
After the Lord had brought to Samuel
the man whom He had chosen as king
for Israel and Samuel had anointed
him he returned to his home. having
met on his way all whom Samuel said
he would meet. for all came to pass
Just as Samuel said. The Split Of the
Lord came upon him. and he became
q changed man tchapter <. 1N. All
this was a private matter between the
Lord and Samuel and Saul. for when
Saul reached home he only told that
Samuel had assured him that the asses
had been found. but be said nothing OF
the kingdom. Then Saul called the
people to MiZpeh. reminded them OF
the Lords deliverance from Egypt and
ill enemies and Of their rejection Ut
God in demanding king and then
proceeded to have them elect n king
with Gods permission. 1t was. no
doubt. done by lot. az the land was d.
vided. for 1.-The lot IL cast into the lap.
but the whole disposing thereof Is Of
the Lord" (Num. XVI. 50. SO; Prov.
xvi. 33,. First the tribe was found
nnd then the family and then the man
chapter X. 20. 2l; compare Josh. VII.
16-1Sy. and thus they were guided to
the man whom He had already chosen
and anointed. Although elected. be
could not for a time be found. 50 they
inquired Of the Lord. and He told them
where to find him. Whether It be
person or thing that cannot he found.
Be that IL perfect IN knowledge knows
where to fnd the lost Job xxzvi. A..
When the people looked upon the
man whom God had chosen they could
not refrain from shouting. God save
the kingr or. as in the margin. Let
the king liver" *. 23-25I The band Of
men whose hearts God had touched
were comfort to him. 80 that he was
able to seem az q deaf man to his enc
mics *. 20. 27I. Our lesson chapteT1
shows how Saul by the Spirit Of th
Lord began to deliver Israel and to q
tain the confidence Of the people.
suppose there is scarcely day In
life Of any child Of God when there
not an occasion to say. Now. the SER
pent" (Gen. iii. u. for he Is ever going
about to- make trouble. Nahash. whose
name signifies serpent" was moved
By the devil. whose he was and whom
be served. to seek to bring reproach
upon Israel (verses 1-3). Saul heard OF
the distress Of Jabesh Gilead and In
very striking way summoned the peo-
pIe to gather unto him and Samuel.
and 100000 gathered. and word was
sent to the distressed that they would
have help by the morrow. That night
or in the early morning (verse III
Saul came suddenly upon the Ammon-
ties and 30 completely routed them
that two Of them were not left togeth.
er (verSes 411,. -.. ,.. ...
The morning deliverances Of the b.
BILE are full Of interest and are all sug-
gestive Of the morning that Is coming
when the Lord shall finally and for
ever deliver Israel (Ps. XVI. 8. mar
gin,. Compare Ps. xix. "a. and see
EA xiv. "a. q. Think also Of Dan. VI.
1923. and Of the deliverance that came
to the disciples in the morning watch
mark Vi. 49,. But. while believers may
we'll rejoice In the glorious morning
that is coming and in Him who Is to
US the Morning Star GI Sam. XIII. o:
Eev. xii. 16I, 1t IL also written that
there will be no morning for such as
do not believe God lisa. will. 20: mar
gin and revised versionL When the
people saw the great deliverance
wrought by Saul they asked to have
Saul's enemies put to death. but Saul
would not listen to it. saying. There
shall not man be put to death this
day, for today the Lord hath wrought
salvation in Israeli (verses Il. 13'. II
was the same power that wrought for
Israel at the Red sea (Ex. xiv. IL. ~,
and on so many occasions In all their
history. and their greatest deliverance
Is yet to come (Zech. xiv. 8. o.. Samuel
then gathered the people to Gilgal. and
there they made Saul king before the
Lord. offered sacrifices. and all Israel
rejoiced greatly (verses IA. 15'. Thus
far all seemed to be going we'll. pit
when man has his way there Is som
failure, for verify. every man at his
best state (apart from Cod is alto
gether vanity" (Ps. xxx. 81.
Chapter XII tells how Samuel rehears-
ed the history Of the nation from their
coming out Of Egypt. the Lords deal
ings with them under Moses land
Aaron and how many time he DE-
livered them in the days Of the judgeN
He also asked them to testify as to