Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-13
SABBATH SCHOOL
LESSON
For May 16-I Sam. z
By DIR. MARION G'H. HULL

Golden Text: Direct your hearts unto
Jehovah, and serve Him only" l Sam. IA.
The ark of God was not so valuable 4
possession to the Philistines as they had at
first supposed. 1t was placed III the temple
OF DaEan ut ASndod as Il trophy OF their
victory and as an evidence OF their thanks
to their god Tor his help; but i'll the morn-
ing uagon was fallen on his lace before
the ark Of Jehovah. They set him III his
place again, but next morning lie had
1allen down again before the ARK, and his
head and arms were cut off, so that only
the stump remained. Moreover, the men OF
the city were afflicted with terrific cpl
demic, in which died. The ark was
then moved to Gath, and the epidemic broke
out there. They were about to take 1t to
Ekron, but the men of that city OBJECTED.
1t was white elephant their hands.
They were at their wits end to know what
to do with it. A great conclaNe of priests
and divines was called to solve the problem.
The outcome Of this was that the ark was
to be returned to the country OF Israel, but
with d trespass offering of five golden
mice and five golden emerods, representing
the five cities of the PhiliStineS and their
leaders. The mice were probably chosen
because they had been most likely the car
riers of the infection and the exciting cause
Of the spread of the epidemic of emorods
which had wrought such havoc among the
Philistines.
The scheme the OWNERS planned was an
interesting one-a new cart was to be made,
on which the ark was placed, and 1t was
to be drawn by two cows fresh-in milk, their
calves being kept at home. They were not
to be driven. If the cows came back to
their calves when turned loose, the epidemic
was due to something else; but ii they did
the unnatural thing and drew the ark toward
the land of Israel and away from their
calves, it was to be proof that the epidemic
was Cue to the displeasure of God against
them.
Well, the unexpected happened! The
Lea HI,asr IrN, IL, flnNy N
and made a straight course for Bethshe-
mesh, in the land of Judah. There was
great rejoicing when the Jews saw it; and
in the sight of the five lords of the Philis-
tines who had followed to see what would
be the result of this test, they made an
offering to God, using the wood of the cart
for fuel and the cows for the sacrifices.
But the men of Bethshemesh sinned. They
looked into the ark. 1t may have been out
of curiosity, or it may have been to assure
themselves that the Philistines had not re-
moved any of its precious contents-the
tables Of the law, Aaron s rod, and the pot
of mama. The result was that 50,070 of
them were slain. Why so disastrous re-
suit? They knew better; the Philistines
didn't. God will excuse some things IN
heather Chinee for which He will hold you
strictly to account; for you know, and the
Chinee doesn't.
The men of Bethshemesh were terrified
and sent messengers to the next town
Kirja tn jea rim-whence proper men came
and brought it, and cared for 1T properly.
Here it remained for twenty years in the
house of Abinadab. 1t had been in the land
of the Philistines seven months.
Repentance
There is no evidence however, That this
became the center of worship. The taber-
nacle was still at Shiloh, and the ark at
Kirjath- jearim. The inference is that. Is.
rael neglected the worship of Jehovah all OF
these years; it is certain they were under
the yoke of the Philistines. Only an idea
can be gained from this as to the lowness
of their spiritua! state. During all these
turn to the Lord. At first the young
prophets words made no impression, but
after a while they began to mourn before
along been urging-to return to the. Lord.
Repentance, then as now, involved more
than lamenting. 1t meant remuneration and
restitution. They had to put away their
idols and put on God. They had to pre-
pare (or as the revised version has it, di-
rect) their hearts to the Lord and serve
Him only. 1t had to be a complete sur
And Samuel was safe in promising them
complete deliverance from their enemies
when they had turned to God with all their
these erring Israelites obeyed. They re-
turned to God with all their hearts. They
showed their sorrow for their past def1ec-
lions by a complete change of life. They
them, and served Jehovah only. You are
conscious that you have sinned, you are suf-
fering for that sin, mentally and otherwise;
you lament before God. But that is not
enough. You must put away the thing that
has caused you to SHIT may be the dear
est thing that your heart possesses, but it
must be put away, if you are to serve God
only. I am glad the Holy Spirit put that
''only'' in verse 4. 1t is the only kind of
service God will have. Until you put away
the thing that has made you sin, you are
putting something else or someone else in
your hearts affections God demands for
Himself only.
Restoration
Samuel gathered the people at Mizpah for
well as individuals in it had sinned, and
public confession was necessary. SO the
people drew water and poured it out be-
fore God, and tasted, saying, I'VE have