The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-02-09
INTERNATIONAL,
SUNlySC[N)OL
LESSON
10y Il. q. SELLERS, Acting Director of
sunday School Course Moody Bible In
stitute, Chicago0
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY Ia
SAMUEL CALLED TO BE A
PROPHET.

GOLDEN TEAT-Speak, JehoVah for
Thy servant heareth.-I Samuel $50, r. V.
Samuel was the last judge and the
hrst of the order of prophets. His
name means asked of God" and he
was dedicated to God (1:11 as Naz-
arlte. In fulfllment of his mothers
VOW he was brought to the temple
when he was young child Q:24), Jo-
sephus says, at twelve years Of age.
Hannah's song of rejoicing (2H1-10) is
the expression of a great soul and a
choice piece of literature. Samuel
had the advantage of being well born,
but after studying Ellis household we
are not so confident as to the environ
ment amid which he was placed.
!. samuel's Vision, Wv. 1-p. 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 the
word of God. ut was rare" (margin)
and the result was that there was no
frequent vision" (R W. The word
is also precious" ". /; Ps. 1879, 100,
though when it is as common as it 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 knowledge Of a need and of the
resources at our command. Eli and
his sons had no vision and a people
lacking in this direction perish prov.
29:1S). 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.
l 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 a type for the Christian Cps. 27:4.
1t was there that the Lord revealed
himself to him John TIA r. V. mar
GIN. One of Samuels 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,
2O. AS he attended to these duties
God made himself known to Samuel
(v. ~. 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 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 tofhave risen hest
tatingly would. in all probability, have
prevented any further calls prov,
1924, 25, 28). God wants, for special
services, those who make glad re.
spouse to his first call Elsa. 6:S; Luke
9:59-62; Acts $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
fifteen, seventeen and eighteen are
particularly open to Impressions, espe-
cially if the child has htsd a religious
atmosphere and training.
The teacher needs to be ever alert
to take advantage of 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 recog-
nize, even though it be a progressive
revelation, the voice Of Jehovah, and
hearing, obey it. 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 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 q John IL, 2;
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. Eli in times past must
have heard Jehovah speak, else he
would not have recognized who it was
that was speaking to Samuel (chapter
2:27). Samuels call was to service.
to be a prophet. Our commission is to
witness and to serve mark 16:15).
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
~.
II. Jehovah's Verdict, w. f1-13, 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 Eat which both
the ears of everyone that heareth it
shall Jingle" The word of Jehovah
stands fast, and what he speaks that
he performs from the beginning even
unto the end" duke 21:32, Numbers
23:19). The word of Jehovah to Sam
uel about the house of Eli was one