The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-05-06

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL,-I Sam. s:is-
III. sI-s
PRIMARY ToPI.-A Boy who Became
. Useful Man.
JUNIOR ToPIc-A Great Leader Pray
Ing
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Victory Through Prayer.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-oualincations for Leadership.
In our last lesson we saw Israers
overwhelming defeat and the capture
Of the ark by the Phlllstines. While
they triumphed over Israel. they did
not triumph over IsraeIs God.
wns working among the Philistines.
Note:
!. The ark at Ash,lod t5:1-6). u was
placed IN the heather temple alongside
OF Dagon. with the expectation that
the ark would be destroyed. showing
that Dagon was mlghtier 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 NJ Gath (5:7-9). Here
Immediately the same dreadful dis
ease broke out that had afflicted the
Ashdodltes. accompanied with great
mortality. They then carried the ark
TO Enron.
3 The ark az Enron t5:1Ol2). At
Enron the destruction was still more
awful Many were slain and the rest
were smitten with emerods so that
their cry went up 90 heaven. The
contest was decislvely In favor OF God.
Upon the advice Of the lords OF the
Phllistines the ark was returned 20
Israel This was done In such way
as TO show conclusively that the hand
OF God was upon them In judgment.
.. Samuel Calls Israel 10 Repentance
G:2-4).
Some twenty years have now elapsed
since Israel was humIlIated by the
Phillstlnes. during which time Israel
'inmented 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 10 the Office OF
Judge. also. lie asked the people TO
turn to the Lord with all their hearts.
the proof Of which would be-:
I. To put away their ldolatrous 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 dellverance would come as
soon as this was sincerely complied
with.
u. Israel Assembled at Mirpeh wv.
SO.
This was for the purpose Of confess
Ing their sins.
l. They poured water before the
Lord. This symbolized their need OF
cleansing and the pouring out OF their
hearts In penitence before the Lord.
2 They tasted and publicly con-
fessed their sins.
~. The PhiIlstines Attack Israel
". ~.
The assembly OF Israel at MIzpeh
alarmed the Philistines. They inter-
preted the gathering as a 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 a return TO pow
er and decided TO attack them while
unprepared.
". The intereesslon OF Samuel. (vv.
so.
The Israelites urged Samuel to pray
to God for them. Instead OF trusting
TO the ark for dellverance they now
his intercession with burnt offering.
showing that he looked for acceptance
IN the sacrifice OF another even Christ.
through whose offering n way OF ac-
cess was opened unto God.
v. The Victory over the PhiIlstlnes
tvv 10. III.
This was the result OF Gods interpo-
sItlon. "'The Lord Numbered with a
great thunder ON that day and discom'
fited them" The men of Israel fol-
lowed up this advantage TO such com
plete victory that the Phillstines did
not come back to power during the
days OF Samuel. The Lord will fight
our battles II we put our trust In him;
no enemy can stand before the Al
mighty.
VI. A Memorial OF oellverance wv.
12-lD.
Samuel set up a stone between Mlz-
peh and Shen and called II Ebenezer,
which means Hitherto hath the Lord
helped us" Since God has interposed'
In our behalf aud wrought deliyerance
for us. Il Is proper that a memorial be
set up which will commemorate H.
Our Conduct
Conduct Is three-fourths OF life"
What we have to do, as Christian men.