Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-03-03
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson x.-First Quarter, Fol-
March 7, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, ! Sam. tx, II, to x, /.
Memory Verse, X, Golden Text,
Pet. ii, 17-commentary Prepared BY
Rev. D. M. Stearns.
These three chapters, in which we
ind today's lesson viii to x), tell sad
yet beautiful and wonderful story. the
sad part being Israel's rejection of God
rs 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 He
overruled ordinary events TO bring to
Samuel the right man. 1t seems strange
that Samuel. knowing so well ELS
failure to govern his sons, should have
failed himself in the same way tchapter
viii. 1-5), but perhaps some who may
read this are not qualified to throw
any stones. The desire of the people
for a visible king. like all other nations,
hurt Samuel, for he was now an old
man and had all his life judged them
righteously; but, knowing that he was
only the Lords representative, he told
Him all about it. as we should always
do In all things. The Lord reminded
Samuel that he was not the rejected
one, but that the people had rejected
Him and that Samuel was only sharing
His rejection chapter wis 6-9). 1t Is
so still. for our Lord Jesus counts all
treatment Of His messengers as done
to Himself Matt. <. "a. 25. 40).
The Lord told Samuel to heed their
request, but to protest and show them
what manner Of man the king would
be. This he did in the six times He
will take Of chapter viii, 10-1S. Not
withstanding the warning the people
insisted that they must have a king.
Samuel told the Lord their decision.
and He told Samuel to make them
king chapter viii. 1922.
Whether it be in answer to our right
or our wrong requests. it Is often his
way to do beyond our desires. and so
He selected for them the finest looking
man in all Israela choice young man.
none goodlier and head and shoulders
taller than any other Chapter tx, l, 2:
K, 23). Samuel did not need to look
for him nor to have any anxiety as to
finding the right man, for the Lord
told him in his ear one day, Tomorrow
out Of the land of Benjamin" tchapter
tx, Is, 16,. / like that expression told
him in his ear" for ii is a great thing
to have an ear for God, an anointed
ear to hear His voice. His only. The
commonplace events which the Lord
used to bring the unsuspecting man to
Samuel are fully told in chapter II.
3-14, and, If He thus wrought for an
unbelieving man and a rebeliious peo-
Pile, how much more will He work on
behalf of His own, who truly desire to
please Him. RoIn. viii. 80; lisa. Xviii,
ID
The special lesson portion assigned
us today begins with Saul approaching
Samuel by the direction of the young
maidens whom he met going out to
draw water How many Bible incl
dents there are associated with women
drawing water. and how these maidens
must have rejoiced few days or
weeks later that they had been used
to direct the king to Samuel! There IL
q lot Of comfort in the assurance that
God worketh all things after the coun-
sci of His own will and whole lot
more when we are willing to have Him
work in and through us the good
works He has prepared for US (Eph.
/, II; il, 10>. As Saul drew near to
Samuel again the anointed ear heard
the Lords whisper: Behold the man
whom spake to thee Of. This same
shall reign over my people (verse Ia.
The words Behold the man. make
us think of Zech. vi. Il, and John xix,
5, "a, the Goldman. the King who shall
yet rule over al Israel and over all ma
tons forever. As the maidens were
used to direct Saul to Samuel. so may
we all be used to direct many who
Sewers to Him who is ready to save
them and share His Kingdom with
them.
Now we find Saul in the kind hands
of Samuel at surprise party, where
he hears wonderful things which be
never expected to hear and which all
came to pass. He is the most honored
guest Samuel. knowing that God would
do as He had said. had made every
preparation and had invited these thir-
ty people to meet him. After the feast
Samuel communed 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 Judg. vi.
15), and well would it 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
as though he had been deaf" Com