The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-02-10
SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES
Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and Pupils
Edited by Charles X. Meyers.
Feb. l4-samuel Called to be

Feb. ID Samuel Called to be ;
Prophet. lisa. /, 24-3S; 3.
We are introduced with this lessor
to one OF the greatest of Old Tesla
ment characters, Samuel. He was the
. representative of God in the govern
ment of the Jewish people for very
many years. He Amounted the two
first kings of Israel, led the nation by
! counsel in battle, sat in judgment
over disputes between citizens. had &
hand in directing the spiritual and
temporal policies of his people as few
X men. He displaced the regular order
I of success of the priesthood begun
under Aaron, becoming under direction
of God the high priest OF the nation.
1t is therefore not strange that our
lesson for some weeks should consid-
er his career and the stirring events
which took. place in his lifetime.
1t is best to briefly outline the events
leading up to the lesson. In the days
just previous to the birth Of Samuel
the high priest was Eli, who was a
descendant of Aaron. He was 4 pious,
kindly man of holy life, but lacking
in impressing his characteristic on
the lives of his children. In fact his
two sons did not believe in Jehovah.
took advantage of the position of their
father to become what in our day
would be called "grafters" and even
were open in their sins. 1t became
necessary to show the people OF Is,
rael and all future generations, in
Guiding us of this day, that God would
not tolerate such things; that humilia-
ton should be brought on the nation
death to the sons. a broken heart to
the father and Office and right to
priesthood of the line OF Aaron be de-
MED him.
This much about Eli; now for Sam
uel. In a previous lesson we learned
of boy WHO was the ''sOn OF prom
Use" in Samson. Samuel was likewise
child born by mother who previous
to his birth dedicated his life to Gods
service. The mother, whose name
has become immortal by reason of
having such son as Samuel, was Han
nah. She had no children and was
lllOSC OSNouoC vi IL Icho"0
ing the custom OF religious Jewish
households Hannah and her husband
went yearly from their home to the
place where the ark of God was kept,
and where the high priest lived, for
worship, taking with them certain
offerings of their possessions. On one
of these occasions Hannah was most
earnest in prayer that she might have
son. She showed SO much agitation
in face and movement that the high
priest thought her under the influence
of liquor. She explained to him that
her actions came not from wrong
cause, but earnestness of spirit in
prayer. She made the pledge in her
prayers that il God allowed her to be
the mother OF a son she would dedi-.
cate him to the service OF God from
his youth UP. When, to her joy, she
gave birth to son she did not forget
her VOW. She cared for him well, and
in due time took him to the high
priest Eli and left him TO be instruct
ed in the ceremonies of the temple.
He became an attendant on Eli, doing
his errands and obeying his desires.
The record says that each year when
she came to the temple the mother
brought for her son coat. | might
say here that the story OF Samuel was
learned at "MOther's knee" from the
lips of sainted mother who wanted
her boy to follow in the steps OF Sam
.uel and be servant Of God.
While Samuel was a'lad, it may be
of twelve years, there came great
night in his career. Asleep in his
place he heard his name called and
sprung up to go to Eli, thinking the
voice was that of his master. Twice
this happened, and then Eli felt i'm
pressed that the call was from God,
and the boy was told to make answer,
Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth."
The third call came and the boy re-
sponded. He was told that in time
Eli should be punished. The language
was as follows:
"For have told him that will
Judge his house for ever for the
iniquity which he knoweth; be- 81
cause his sons made themselves q
vile and he restrained them not"
In the morning Eli asked what had
been told him, and Samuel made a
clean breast of it. Eli, knowing full
well the business of the judgment OF
God, bowed his head in submission.
AS Samuel grew in age it was seen by
the people that God was with him and
it became well known that he was
established to be "a prophet of the
Lord"
The conduct of two parents stand
forth in bold relief in this lesson. Han
nah, the Cody mother. was true TO
her vow and gave a son to Gods serv-
ice; Eli, notwithstanding his great po-
;sition, was unfaithful to his VOWS as
high priest and allowed his sons to
come up a disgrace to him and his
family. 1t would appear that even in
those early days the oft repeated OBJ
servation could be made that preach
ters sons are apt to turn out bad" Eli
was not rebuked for the boys being
but that knowing their
he restrained them not"
The responsibility of parenthood thus
comes well before us. Every grown
reader can tell by name parents
whose hearts have been broken by the
ingratitude and wickedness of chill
49,, whom to all appearances they
have tried to bring up honest, virtn-
GUS men and women. 1t is simply fear
full the number OF eases in which this
comes to mind. Prayers, tears, words
Of advice from parents, teachers
fvsov,Ac coan, nf mn avail ftha fact