Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-15
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
VICTORY UNDER SAMUEL.
l Samuel, 1912.
Golden TeXt.-Direct your
hearts unto Jehovah, and serve
Him only.-I Samuel .7.3.
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

BIZ REV. HUH -. STEW ENSON.
During the twenty years that in
tervened between last weeks lesson
and the events of today's study the
hand of the Philstine had been heavy
upon the Israelites. They believed
that their army had been victorious
over Jehovah SO that following the
defeat of Israel they therefore sought
to remove every trace and evidence
OF His worship from Palestine. so that
they and their children would be free
forever from the dread of His power.
They wrecked Shiloh and massacred
the priests in the hope of completely
destroying the worship of Jehovah.
They carried the ark. which they had
captured in battle, triumphantly to
Asndod. where they placed in in d sub
ordinate place among the idols of
their temple to their god Dagon.
Jehovah proved to them that they
were mistaken in thinking that they
had defeated Him by a series Of dis
asters that accompanied its presence
nnong the Philistines that after
seven months they requested the
The ark, that had been the symbol of
Jehovah's presence among the Israe-
lites, finally found resting place in
kiriath jearim Getty of forests")
that was about nine miles northwest
OF Jerusalem, where the house of the
gOdly Abinadab was appointed to be
the guardians of the sacred symbol,
and his son. EleaZar, consecrated as
its keeper. While the Philistines gave
UP the ark they did not restore
Israers liberties. which were obtained
as our lesson points out. through "A
successful rebellion against Philistine
under the leadership of Samuel
There is silence concerning the
work Of Samuel during the twenty
years that the ark of the Lord abode
at kiriath -jearim. He without doubt
went from place to place among the
people. who had failed because of their
sin. preaching and pointing out as
opportunity offered. the close con
nection between the moral and ma
terial things of life. He had no easy
task. for the reclamation of the back
slider is the most difficult work that
the church has 10 perform. 1t took
twenty years to make Israel sick of
serving false gods and quit living in
inlquity. idoiatry and Indifference. M
reformation can be ACCOMPLISHED in a
snort period of time in a nations life
II the results are to be permanent
DurinE the days of his silent ministry
samuel never omitted an opportunity
70 promote revival of religion in
.sraei. as the remedy for the suffering
Inat they endured from their politi
cal bondage to the Phlistines.
"nen the people commenced to COM
pain of their burdensome and nm
oearabie condition Samuel pointed our
.ne cause They were diScoura ged be-
cause they were compelled to nav
,rlbute to the Philistines for every
Dusnei OF wheat. They were NOT per
united to worship God in their own
way or free to manage their own
aHalrs. Ihey wanted relief and deliy-
erahce from the Philistines Samuel
met thelr unrest. that resulted from
tnelr war with the Philistines, with
me revival sermons. that demanded
!nat they put away the worship of
ldols and return unto God with a
consecrated purpose to worship Him
and faith, that proved itself by
service and expressed itself with
thanksgiving and joy for the blessing
OF HIS peace and protection. Repent
ance and obedience offers TODAY to the
nations Of the earth in their unrest
the only pathway to peace and pros
perity and power
Modern civilization has its roots in
he missionary work Of Paul The en-
trance of the gospel of Christ pro-
notes freedom of the soul and the
state. Japan owes its place in the
sun to the teachings of the philosophy
of Jesus and the principles of the
American Constitution, that are the
products of His teachings. China owes
its change of government to the in
fiuence OF his gospel. The Koreans
trace their ambition for their own