Evening star., 1920-06-26
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

cred period of about 200 years IN
the history of Israel. 1t was an age
ship of the judges to that of the kings.
In that most trying hour Samuel
stands forth as the foremost figure
uniting the period of the judges with
that of the monarchy by his life.
Fifteen different leaders were raised
up to recall Israel from her apostacy
and free the people from the burden
Of oppression that sin had brought to
the nation. Deborah, who is the only
woman named in the list Of the
judges, whose ministry brought the
nation to repentance that resulted in
their deliverance. and Rarak. the mil
itary leader. who was inspired by De-
borah to liberate the nation furnished
us in our first study Of the period of
transition picture of the condition
or the nation under the judges.
Four words represent the history of
that period, sin, oppression. repent
ance and deliverance. Every judge
found the people divided and under
the burden that sin had brought upon
them. Divided by selfishness. which
is only another name for sin. the
tribes that were also separated by the
topography of the land into different
elements had common tie of faith
ana race to unite them. When the
punishment became oppressive, it
served to recall them to Jehovah. as
the source OF their national unity, and
10 tnelr oneness as a people, so that
under the leadership Of the judges the
u1Oal d1nerenceS were forgotten and
unity OF the nation was revealed in
their battles for freedom against the
nelghborfng people. who persistently
LougnI tnem. seeking to destroy their
unity and life as a nation.
The stern discipline of trials. suf-
1enng and suffering even of war.
israel mad to pass, SO that she might
become possessor of the Holy Land
and thus do her great work for the
world. No great victories are ever
won without sacrifice. The develop
Jehovah was revealed in two other
studies before our lessons brought
samuel before us for consideration
In one we saw Gideon winning vic
tories by responding to the call of
Goa TO Tree his countrymen from the
other we saw beautiful miniature
OF the nations life. presented in the
charming love story of Ruth. the
Moabite widow, who left all that she
might share the sorrows of her
mother-in-law and enjoy the worship
and service of Jehovah. Her love-
loyalty and labor. which was free
from selfishness. sordidness and sin,
won for her in that dark and trying
time a place in the hall Of eternal
fame.
Gods hand in molding the nation
can betraced in the study of the
heroic hgures that appeared in every
crises to help Israel win her place
among the nations Of the earth. Our
lessons have taught us how He used
all kinds of men and women in de-
veloping Israel until she took her
place in the sun. We have seen how
He used soldiers, like Barak, Gideon,
n n nd
the spiritual Deborah or the devoted
Ruth. The presence of weak men like
Eli, or grafters. like his two sons,
Hophni and Phinea. brought disgrace
upon the cause of religion, did not
stop the program of Jehovah. who
summoned the boy Samuel to become
the leader of Israel in the transition
that marked the end of the Judges
and the commencement of the mon
archy.
Samuel. whose position in Israel
ranks with her greatest men, started
spiritual life of the nation was at low
eob. They were experiencing the fact
that the way of the transgressor is
hard for they were suffering great
spiritual and material sufferings. The
religion at the altar was corrupted
yet mere in the temple. where the
young lad, who had been dedicated to
God before he was born by his pray
ing mother. commenced to serve the
Lord even before he personally came
to know Him. He started right by re-
spending as a lad to the calling of
the Lord. His revelations of the pro-
gram of Jehovah gave him a position
OF authority and power that he used
in instituting religious reforms 1t
was not only in rekindling the spirit
ual life of Israel and raising the NOR
ais Of the nation. that Samuel took
high rank. for he started an organized
system of religious instruction by
instituting the schools of the proph-
cts" that in the dargest hours of the
nations history kept the fires of re-
ligious faith burning in the hearts
of his countrymen.
The close relation between religious
and political reforms is seen in the
study we have had of the life of
Samuel He ruled Israel by sheer
moral character, that had been de-
veloped in the school of prayer. His
nearness to God was the source of
his power. This made him the great
selfsacrificing leader who turned
aside from his program to carry out
Gods will and work. He not only
succeeded in moral reformation by
activities as Judge. but as their
first prophet he has nodded their his
tory, SO that throughout all the ages
the prophets have been the champions
establishment of the kingdom AL
though he did not favor the monarchy
he obeyed God and helped place it
on the foundations Of constitutional
government. He used his position to
give to the newly established throne
the moral and religious foundations
that would enable it to stand the test
of time.
His voice was raised against the
wrongs of society. and of the govern
ment. In many respects he might
be considered the founder of the
prophets of democracy. for since his
day there has always been a class of
men who have championed and guided
the people by their social messages.
Samuel preached the supremacy of
Jehovah and called as Gods mes
senger the kings. that he anointed, to
task for their failure to do His. will.
In his farewell address Samuel gave
to the people the fundamentals OF
democratic government Justice and
righteousness, truth and brotherhood
are the eternal principles that unite
all people. 1t was Jesus who gave to
the world the fruition of SamueIs
work, So that by His teachings, WHICH
followed those of the prophets. Chris
tianity has always been the source of
democratic government. In our
preaching. of Americanism we Will
fail if we neglect to condemn the
profiteering as Samuel did by point
ing out that love for God calls for
more than seeking of gold and gain
1t demands a loyal obedience to Him:
throughout his whole career he
obeyed the commands of God
PRAYER AND HEALING.