Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-01

the people. Only twice during the Pc
Rod Of the judges had Gods voice been
heard. When the boy. who had been
consecrated by his parents to the Lord.
whom he worshiped on his first visit
to the temple in Shiloh, heard the call
he ran unto Eli, not knowing that the
Lord had broken the silence of years
and summoned him. to His service.
1t was dark, for the lights had not been
extinguished. as they would have been
called him. 1t is usually when the real
ity Of the darkness of sin dawns upon
the human soul that it comes to ex-
perience personal need of salvation.
Samuel had been living in a religious
atmosphere upon the traditional teach
to experience personal conversion
II he was to pass on the word Of God
to men. He could not speak for the
Lord ii ''e did not experience vision
Of His grace and personally try His
faith. Josephus tells us that Samuel
God revealed Himself to the lad, whose
character was commencing to reveal his
coming greatness.
There was a great need of a voice
to declare the will of God and recall
the nation to the service of Jehova
when Samuel was called by the Lord
Eli was very wise in his treatment of
the lad, who ran to him when he heard
the voice of the Lord calling his name
of time. The failure of his sons to
live as they ought to live revealed
his defects as a teacher. He did not
resent the fact that God had passed
over him and summoned Samuel, a
mere boy, whose unframed ear did not
recognize the voice of Jehovah calling
him to become the greatest of the
| in of 80
not the slightest trace OF jealousy,
suspicion or pride upon the part of
Eli. who might have stood between
Samuel and God. II Eli had inherited
the traditions of the priesthood he
might have stood on his rights as
the sole repository of divine secrets
and warned the lad against the vain
alone who could be calling Samuel
and pointed out to the lad how he
ought answer the call Of Jehovah. He
is still calling the children Of today
to enter His service. The true teach
err and parent will help the child to
understand the divine call to CONVEX
sion and service.
The call ended the childhood of
Samuel. Henceforth he must. as a RI
vealer OF the divine will, word and
way Of the Lord unto men. realize the
responsibility of His call. Every call
to service OF the Lord Is characterized
by three clements personal con-
sciousness Of ones duty. a recognition
OF one's fitness for the work by 9TH
ers. and tho last. the testimony OF
service. Ell encouraged him to hold
| nothing back. although his vision
placed upon him the necessity of pro.
| nouncing judgment upon Ellis two
| sons who had cursed God. Samuel
Icourageously made known Gods word
and tho fact that ELI meekly accept
ed the decision proved that he con-
| sidered 1t just. He had neglected cor
!recting his sons until 1t was too late
| for him to change their character OF
conduct.
Samuel. fame as a prophet grew hs-
cause God was with him. From the
hour of his call he revealed a sensi-
| tiveness to presence. program and
power OF God that made him to be
| recognized by all Israel as a prophet
of Jehovah. Through him once more
| the light of God went forth from Sht.
| loh. In Samuel the people possessed
| for tho first time q representative OF
| the permanent order OF prophets that
became the dominant and distinctive
element In israels religious life. God
| honored Samuel because he responded
| willingly and obeyed His will. Our
Lord will honor as IL We reply to His
call. an did Samuel. by saying; Speak,
Jehovah. tor Thy servant heareth." and
the Wpgld.