The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-05-07
IMPROVED uNlroan INTERNATIONAL
S(|llDNYSOOOL
LESSON
(By REV. p. B. FTTZWATER. D. D..
Teacher of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
(Copyrisht. 1890. Western Newspaper untonl
LESSON FOR MAY 9
ELI AND HIS SONS.

I'll ANO tbs SONSs
May be used with temperance application.
LESSON TEXT Sam. 3:12. 27-3s. al
GOLDEN TExr-The wages Of sin 10
death: but the gift Of God Is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.-3om. 6:2s.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-l Sam. z:22-
ss; s:l0-lA; 4:1s; Sis; Eph. Silt
PRIMARY TOPIC-Cod Calls the Bow
Samuel
JUNIOR TOPIC-Eii and His Sons
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Sowing and Reapng.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
"A Responsibility OF Parents and Chill
dren.
I. The Wiekedness Of Ell and His
Sons 2:l2-17. 27-36.
l. Els sons tvv. 12-l7. 22). The he
havior of these sons is In strange con-
trast to that Of the hoy Samuel. Ellis
sons were priests and ministered In
the things of the sanctuary. but knew
not the Lord" ". l2).
~ Graft tvv. PIN. This greed
was practiced upon the wOrshipers
who brought their sacrifices to the
sanctuary. according to Gods law.
God ordained that the priests should
have the breasts and shoulders Of fha
animals which were brought TO the al
tar (Ex. % :27: Lev. Z 81. BY. The
degenerate SONS OF Ell were not con-
tent with this. but demanded more.
and even sought to Obtain II by force
". 16). Moreover. they lifted out
70 20, tntr nh<.l1
while raw, and had them roasted
Such behavior on the part of the
priests was revolving to the worship
ers and resulted in the adherence OF
the Lords offerings.
2. Ell (vv. 27-36). Eli was seeming
~ good man. but he seriously erred
before God In that he failed TO disci-
pIine his sons tvv. 22-24). He knew
Of their sins and was conscious OF his
obligation. but his fatherIy heart led
him into a sentimental Indulgence: his
love got the better of his Judgment.
Ell was content with weak remon-
STRANGE. He was under obligation not
merely TO speak against 1t. but should
have acted against 1t.
u. Eli and His Sons Punished a.:
1-lS).
They at last came TO reap what
they had sown. God has appointed n
day of judgment (Acts I7:3D There
IL harvest time for the sinner as
| well ms for the righteous tJoei 3:13).
| II one has sOwn 10 the wind he shall
| reap the whiriwind. The Philistines
made war upon Israel and defeated
them with great slaughter. This judg-
menf had been made known to Ell by
'man Of God" e :27) and Samuel
t3:1l-1S). The PhiIIstines were in
strumenfs IN the hands of God for
this judgment.
| l. The battle with the Philistines
| tvv. l-9). The IsraeIites made an un-
successful attempt to free themselves
from the oppression Of the Phiiistines.
| Israel was smitten and some 4,OtU were
slain. This aroused them to inquire
"a to why the Lord had smitten them
and to suggest that the ark be brought
from Shiloh as a defense against the
enemy. In this they committed two
blunders: ~ The elders had no right
to handle the ark: that belonged to
the priests. Before taking such step
they should have sought the mind Of
God, and II 1t were his will that the
| ark be brought, 1t should have been
done by the priests. (2) II was su-
perstitious use of the ark, which was
q symbol Of Gods presence. They ig-
norantly assumed that the presence of
God inhered 10 the symbol. forgetting
that he is the living God. who has
will and purpose Of his own. and there
| fore will not give cOuntenance to that
which dIsagrees with his holy purpose
and will. Processing Christians In this
| age commit similar error when they
substitute the sacraments of the
church for the presence Of God In the
soul. The earth rang out with great
shout when the ark was brought into
the camp and the enemy was struck
with fear. for they knew what wonders
God had wrought In times past. In
their desperation they made stand.
calling upon their mon to do their best.
With their backs to the wall they
fought and won the victory.
2. israeI's disastrous defeat (vv. 10
1 1S). ~ The army was routed and
great slaughter occurred ". 10Y: (2)
the ark OF God was taken ". 10). the
symbol of the divine presence with Its
sacred memories torn from their grasp
| and with II went Israel's hope: t3)
Eli's sons slain ". 10) !: the very priests
who were the custodians OF the ark
were slain: (4) death Of Ell the high
priest ". 1877. The news of the de-
| feat Of the army and the death of bis
| sons was awful. but when he heard