The Jasper news., 1920-05-13
ntPROvrp UmronH INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNSQIOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR MAY ls
VICTORY UNDER SAMUEL.
By REV. p. B. FTTzwATER, D. D.,
Teacher OF English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute Of chicago.)
copyright. 1890. western Newspaper Union. }


4 Useful Mao.
JUNIOR ToPIc-A Great Leader Pray
ing.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Victory Through Prayer.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Qualifications for leadership.
In our last lesson we saw Tsrael'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 PhllistInes.
Note:
l. The ark at Ashdod g :1-8). II was
placed 10 the heather temple alongside
Of Dagon, with the expectation that
the ark would be destroyed, showing
that Dagon was mightier than God.
but Dagon was Inundated and broken.
Besides this the people we're 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 dis
ease broke out that had afflicted the
Ashdodites, accompanied with great
mortality. They then carried the ark
to Enron.
8. The ark at Ekron 70 1912. At
Enron the destruction was still more
awful. Many were slain and the rest
were smitten with emerods so that
their cry went up to heaven. The
contest was decislvely In favor Of God.
Upon the advice Of the lords Of the
PhIlistines the ark was returned to
Israel. This was done in such a way
as to show conclusively that the hand
OF God was upon them In judgment.
!. Samuel Calls Israel to Repentance
(7:24).
Some twenty years have now elapsed
since Israel was Inundated by the
Phillstines, during which time Israel
'1amented after the Lord" We know
not why Samuel has not been beard
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, o.so. He asked the people to
turn to the Lord with all their hesrts,
the proof Of which would be:
1. To put away their idolatrous wor-
ship. This was really gross licentious-
ness under the gulse 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 MIzpsh wv.
8. 81.
y This was for the purpose Of confess
Ing their sins.
/. 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 at Mizpeh
alarmed the PhIllstiIes. They inter-
preted the gathering as preparation
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 return to pow
er and decided to attack them while
unprepared,
w. The Intereesslon Of Samuel. wv.
g. 81.
4 The Israelites urged Samuel to pray
to God for them. Instead Of trusting
10 the ark for dellverance they now
looked to God. Samuel accompanied
his lntercession with burnt Offering.
showing that he looked for acceptance
I'm the sacrifice Of another, even Christ,
through whose offering a way OF &C
cess was opened unto God.
THE Victory over the PhiIlstlnea
wv. 10, 1D.
This was the result Of Gods interpo-
sitIon. 1.-THE Lord Numbered with q
great thunder on that day and dlscom-
ated them" The men Of Israel fol-
lowed up this advantage TO such com
plete victory. that the Philistines did
not come back to power during the
days OF Samuel. The Lord will nght
our battles II we put our trust in him
no enemy can stand before the Al
mighty.
VI. A Memorial Of DsIIvsrAnos wv,
l2-14).
Samuel set up a stone between Nile
peh and Shen and called u Bbenezer,
which means "Hitherto hath the Lord
helped as" Since God has inteTposed
IN our behalf and wrought deliveranca
for Us, Il Is proper that . memorial b
81 10 which VII eOmmeWorAts y