The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1920-04-30

| 1870 Gnu ieI tnlne eyes observe my
ways-Prov. 1925.
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL s.n,
1:1-23; 2:1-36.
PRIMARY ToPIC-The Child Samuel
| In Gods House
and Obeyed. ''"''
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR Topu,
| training for Religious Leadership.
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
religious Capacities in the Training of
| Children. Va
!. Samuel Given to the lord Il ;24-
2S).
Samuel was given to Hannah in
answer to prayer. His name means
asked OF God" For a time he was
cared for by his mother in the home
In asking God for a son she vowed
TO dedicate him to the Lord. Accord
lngly at an early age she took him to
the sanctuary and gave him over to
the charge of Eli. Thus in his tender
years he ministered to the Lord.
= II. Features Of Israeps History in
This Period.
1. A demoralized priesthood. ~
The priests were actuated bv greed
(2:12-1O. 1t was Gods will that
those who ministered at the altar
should live of the things of the altar
but they broke through the divine reg.
ulations touching this matter and
were securing their selfish ends by
force. (2) The priests polluted the
courts of Gods house with the gross
est immortality (2:22).
2. An alienated people. The only
thing which separates people from
God is sin.
8. A cessation of divine revelation
GID. God was silent-"The word of
God was precious in those days; there
was no open vision" The message
from the Lord was more a matter of
memory than an active experience.
The same thing in principle is true of
the individual life today; some who
once enjoyed fellowship with God no
longer bear his voice speaking to them.
III. God Calls Samuel (3:2-1O).
In striking contrast with the degen-
eracy of the nation we have brought
before us the beautiful life of Samuel.
We see God getting ready for the re-
generation Of the nation. Dwelling
within the sacred courts and minister
ing before the Lord with Ell, is the
innocent Samuel, who is to be the |
savior of his people. In Samuel we
have striking pattern of child re-
ligion. The Lord gave him in answer
to Hannah's prayer. From his birth
he was dedicated to the Lord. While
quite young his mother took him to
the sanctuary of the Lord where he
served and slept. 1t is a good thing
to have much sin forgiven, but it is
better far to grow up without sin.
Two traits in Samuel's character
stand out in this call; namely, his
cheerful obedience to the Lords call
md his surrendered will. It was no
easy thing to respond cheerfully to
he thrice repeated call. 1t may have
seemed to him to be unreasonable,
tut each time he obeyed in simplicity.
w. SamuePs First Prophetic Mes
age (3:11-1s.
Up to this time Samuel obeyed the
me who was over him, but the time
lad now come when he must directly
lear and obey the Lord. The first
Message entrusted to him is a most
errible one. To deliver it is a most
rying task. He hesitated to tell it to
Ill, but when pressed by him he man.
tested the true courage which was
wing back of his fear. 1t must have
cen a bitter sting to Eli to see Sam
ell recognized and himself passed by,
ut he was submissive. He knew
nat the slight was just; he could not
lil to interpret 1t thus in view of the s
ppearance of the man of God to him :
? :27-36). This fearful visitation up
n ELS house was due to the sins of n
is sons. He was held accountable o
'r not restraining them. Parental +
kitty is most cruel. There is an age \
which children may be. restrained, c
1T when passed over the power to re-
rain goes with it. !
v. Samuel Established In the Pro
,etic Office (3:19-2D.
"And Samuel grew, and the Lord
as with him, and did let none of his .,
Ords fall to the ground. And all :
rael, from Dan even to Beersheba u
lew that Samuel was established to St
prophet Of the Lord" This is a 81
of the saying Him that n
nors me 1 will honor" Little did IL
annah realize that the boy who had ccI
en- given in answer to her prayer -
,uld one day become the head of the N