The Arvada enterprise., 1920-05-13
iN11evID uMFoRn INTERNATIONAL
SUllNSQDOM
LESSON
by REV. p. B. FIrZWATER, d. D..
Teacher OF English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Ghicago.)
Copyright. 1870, Western Newspaper Union
LESSON FOR MAY is
VICTORY UNDER SAMUEL.

GOLDEN TEXT-Prepare your hearts
unto the Lord and serve him.-I Sam. Ia
ii: Sis.
PRIMARY roPl4-A Boy Who BEGAN.
. Useful Man.
JUNIOR ToP1c-A Great Leader Pray
ing.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Victory Through Prayer.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Qualifications for Leadership.
In our last lesson we saw Israel's
overwhelming defeat and the capture
Of the ark BY the Philistines. While
they triumphed over Israel. they did
not triumph over Israels God.
Through the presence Of the ark God
was working among the Phllistines.
Note:
l. The ark at Ashdod (5:1-8). It was
placed In the heathen temple alongside
Of DagOn. with the expectation that
the ark would be destroyed. showing
that Dagon was mightier than God.
but Dagon was Inundated and broken.
Besides this the people were afflicted
with emerods. or hemorrhoids. show
Ing the hand of the living God upon
them In judgment.
2. The ark mt Gath (5:7-9). Here
Immediately the same dreadful dis
ense broke out that had afflicted the
Ashdodites, accompanied with great
mortality. They then carried the ark
to Ekron.
3. The ark at EkrOn (5:10-12). At
Ekron the destruction was still more
awful. Many were slain and the rest
were smitten with emerOds so that
their cry went up to heaven. The
contest was decisively In favor Of God.
Upon the advice OF the lords Of the
PhIlistines the ark was returned to
Israel. This was done in such way
as to show cOnclusively that the hand
of God was upon them In judgment.
!. Samuel Calls Israel to Repentance
T:2-4).
Some twenty years have now elapsed
since Israel was Inundated by the
Philistines. during which time Israel
"lnmented after the Lord" We know
NOT why Samuel has not been heard
from through all these years. Doubt.
less he continued to exercise the
prophetic office during this time. but
now he is appointed to the office Of
Judge. also. He asked the people to
turn to the Lord with all their hearts,
the proof Of which would be:
I. To put away their idolatrous wor.
ship. This was really gross licentious-
ness under the guise Of religion.
2. To direct their hearts unto the
Lord and serve him only. He assures
them that deliverance would come as
soon as this was sincerely complied
with.
u. Israel Assembled at Mixpeh wv.
8. o..
This was for the purpose OF confess
Ing their sins.
l. They poured water before the
Lord. This symbOllzed their need Of
cleansing and the pouring out Of their
hearts In penitence before the Lord.
.. They tasted and publicly con.
fessed their sins.
~. The PhiIlstInes Attack Israel.
". y.
The assembly Of Israel Mt MIzpeh
alarmed the Philistines. They inter-
preted the gathering as preparation
to attack them. SO they thought to
Illustrate Israel's attack upon them by
attacking them first; or perhaps they
recognized that the return Of the peo'
pie to the Lord meant return to pow.
er and decided to attack them while
unprepared.
". The lntsreession Of Samuel. wv.
8. 81.
The lsrnelites urged Samuel to pray
to God for them. Instead OF trusting
to the ark for deliverance they now
looked 70 God. Samuel accompanied
his intercession with burnt Offering.
showing thnt he looked for acceptance
In the sacrifice of another, even Christ.
through whose offering Il way Of &C.
cess was opened unto God.
v. The Victory Over the PhiIIstinss
(vv. 10. ny.
This was the result Of Gods interpO'
sition. 1.-THE Lord Numbered with .
great thunder on that day md dlscom.
flied them" The men Of Israel fol.
lowed up this advantage to such COM
plete victory that the Phllistines did
no, come bnck to power during the
days Of Samuel. The Lord will Tight
our battles II we put our trust In him /;
no enemy can stand before the Al
mighty.
VI. A Memorial Of DsIIveranes tvv.
l2-14).
Samuel set up a stone between Mlz.
peh and SheD and called It Ebenezer.
which means "HIthertO hath the Lord
helped u.s." Since God has lnterposed
In our behalf and wrought delIvernnce
for us. II is proper that a memorial DO
ct I'D which will commemorate II.
Our Conduct.
conduct Ii three-fOurths OF life"