Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1920-05-01

Samuel was given to Hannah II
answer to prayer. His name means
asked Of God" For 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
fngly 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 lsraeI's History Ia
This Period.
1. A delnoralized priesthood. ~
The priests were actuated by 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
(3:D. God was silent-"The word Of
God was precious in those days; there
was no open vision" The message
from the Lord was more q 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 hear 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 Eli, 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 Samuels character
stand out in this call; namely, his
cheerful obedience to the Lords call
and his surrendered will. It was no
easy thing to respond cheerfully to
the thrice repeated call. It may have
seemed to him to be unreasonable,
but each time he obeyed in simplicity.
He expressed his willingness before
he knew what was required; he did
not inquire what was wanted and then
let his obedience depend upon its suit
ing hiir.
~. samueI's First Prophetic Mes
sage (3:11-1s).
Up to this time Samuel obeyed the
one who was over him, but the time
had now come when he must directly
hear and obey the Lord. The first
message entrusted to him is q most
terrible one. To deliver it is a most
trying task. He hesitated to tell it to
Ell, but when pressed by him he man.
ifested the true courage which was
lying back of his fear. 1t must have
been a bitter sting to Eli to see Sam
uel recognized and himself passed by,
but he was submissive. He knew
that the slight was just he could not
fail to interpret 1t thus in view Of the
appearance of the man Of God to him
e :27-36). This fearful visitation up.
on Ellis house was due to the sins Of
his sons. He was held accountable
for not restraining them. Parental
laxity is most cruel. There Is an age
in which children may be restrained
but when passed over the power to re
strain goes with it.
v. Samuel Established In the Pro.
phetic Office (3:19-2I.
"And Samuel grew, and the Lord
was with him, and did let none of his
words fall to the ground. And ali
Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba
knew that Samuel was established t.
be o prophet Of the Lord" This is q
verifcation of the saying "Him that
honors me l will honor" Little did
Hannah realize that the boy who had
been given in answer to her prayer
would one day become tho head Of the
nation. This new position brought
great danger to the boy; but the God
who raised him up was able to sus