Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-05-14

1H<ooON E6T-l sam. I.Z-ll
GOLDEN TExT-Prepare your hearts
unto the Lord and serve him.-I Sam. rs.
ADDITIONAL. WATERFALL Sam. s:Is-
Ia; Sis
PRIMARY ToPIS-A Boy who Becams
4 Useful Man
JUNIOR ToPIc-A Great Leader Pray
ing.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Victory Through Prayer
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-ouaahcations for Leadership.
In our last lesson we saw Israei's
Overwhelming defeat and the capture
of the ark by the Philistines. While
they triumphed over Israel, they did
not triumph over Israers God.
Through the presence Of the ark God
was working among the Phiiistines.
Note:
l. The ark at Ashdod (5:1-6). 1t vas
placed in the heather temple alongside
of Dagon. with the expectation that
the ark would be destroyed. showing
that Dagon was mightier than GOD,
hut Dagon was humiliated 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 at Gath (5:7-9). Here
Immediately the same dreadful uIs-
ease broke out that had afflicted the
Ashdodites. accompanied with great
mortality. They then carried the ark
to Ekron.
3. The ark at Ekron Is :10-12). At
Ekron the destruction was still mare
fpl hon tata
were smitten with emerods so that
their cry went up to heaven. The
contest was decisively In favor Of God.
Upon the advice of the lords of the
PhIlistines the ark wns returned to
Israel. This was done In such a way
| as to show concluslvely that the hand
of God was upon them In judgment.
I. Samuel Calls Israel to Repentance
| t7:2-4).
Some twenty years have now elapsed
since Israel was humiliated by the
Phllstines, during which time Israel
"lamented 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 to the office OF
| Judge. also. He asked the people to
turn 10 the Lord with all their hearts.
the proof of which would be:
| l. To put away their idolatrous wor-
ship. This was really gross iicentious-
ness under the guise of religion.
2. To direct their hearts unto the
Lord and serve him only. He assures
them that deliverance would come as
soon as this was sincerely complied
with.
u. Israel Assembled at Mixpeh wv.
5. 81.
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 Philistines Attack Israel
| ". ~.
The assembly OF Israel nt Mizpeh
alarmed the Philistines. They inter
preted the gathering ms prepn ra ton
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 n return te pow
er and decided to attack them while
unprepared-
~. The tntercession Of Samuel. wv.
8. 81.
The lsraelites urged Samuel to pray
TO God for them. Instead OF trusting
to the ark for deliverance they now
looked to God. Samuel accompanied
his intercession with burnt Offering
showing that he looked for acceptance
in the sacrifice of another. even Christ,
through whose offering a way of ac-
cess was opened unto God.
v. The Victory Over the Phiiistines
(vv. 10 11).
This was the result of Gods interpo-
sition. "The Lord Numbered with q
great thunder on that day and discom-
flied them" The men of Israel fol-
lowed up this advantage to such COM
plete victory that the Philistnes did
nor come back to power during the
days OF Samuel. The Lord Will 6ght
our battles II we put our trust In him /;
no enemy can stand before the AL
mighty.
VI. A Memorial Of oeIiveranee tvv.
I2-l4).
Samuel set up a stone between Afiz-
peh and Shen and called II Ebenezer.
which means Hitherto hath the Lord
helped u.s." Since God has interposed
In our behalf and wrought deliverance
for us. 1t is proper that memorial be
set up which will commemorate 1t
Our Conduct.
Conduct is three-fourths OF iife."