New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-05-07

GOLDEN TEXT-The wages of sin is
death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through jesus Christ our Lord.-Rom. 6:2S.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-I Sam. 2:@-
sc; 3:lo-l4; 4:l9; 6:1s; Eph. Ola.
PRIMARY TOPIC-God Calls the Boy
Samuel.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Eli and Hi, Sons.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
Sowing and Reaping.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
"A Responsibility Of Parents and Chill
dren.
!. The Wlckedness Of Eli and His
Sons 2:12-17, 27-36.
l. Els son wv. 1917. 22). The be-
haviOr of these sons is in strange con-
trast to that of the boy Samuel. Ellis
sons were priests and ministered in
the things of the sanctuary, but knew
not the Lord" ". 12).
Q) Graft wv. 12-17). This greed
was practiced upon the worshipers
who brought their sacrifices to the
sanctuary, according TO Gods law.
Goo ordained that the priests should
have the breasts and shoulders of the
animals which were brought to the al
tar lex. 20 :27; Lev. 1881, 32). The
degenerate IONS of Eli were not con-
tent with this, but demanded more,
". 16). Moreover, they lifted out
with a fork certain choice portions
while raw, and had them roasted.
Such behavior on the part of the
priests was revolving to the worship
ers and resulted in the adherence of
the Lords offerings.
(2) Gross RIGHTEOUSNESS ". 22).
These wicked priests seduced the
women who were employed about the
sanctuary. They were so shameless
in their practices that they did not
ven make an effort to conceal them.
Ministers who indulge in such shame
less practices would not be able TO In
fiuence men and women to worship
God. When men corrupt in heart and
life minister in holy things all kind Of
corruption follows.
2. Eli wv. 27-36). Eli was seeming
ly a good man, but he seriously erred
before God in that he failed to disci'
pline his ons wv. 22-24). lie knew
OF their sins and was conscious Of his
obligation. but his fatherly heart led
him into a sentimental Indulgence; his
love got the better of his judgment,
Eli was content with a weak remon'
STRANGE. He was under obligation not
merely to speak against II, hut should
have acted against 1t. When the
wickedness of his sons was resulting
in contempt with the service Of Gods
house, the fathers love should have
been lost in the light and justice OF
the high priest.
u. Ell and His Sons Punished a
1-1S).
They at last came to reap what
they had God has appointed a
day OF judgment (Acts Il ;31). There
is a harvest time for the sinner as
well as for the righteous tJoel 3:13
If one has sown 10 the wind he shall
reap the whirlwind. The Philistines
made war upon Israel and defeated
them with great slaughter. This iudg
ment had been made known to Eli b,
a IMAM of God" t22O aud Samuel
(3:11-1s). The Phihstines were In
struments in the hands of God fol
this judgment.
I. The battle with the rhilistines
wv. 1-9). The Israelifes made nm I'm
successful attempt to free themselves
from the oppression of the l'hilistines
Israel was smitten and some 1000 were
slain. This aroused them to inquire
as to why the Lord had smittcn then
and to suggest that the ark be brought
from Shiloh as n defense against The
enemy. In this they committed two
blunders: ~ The elders had no RICH
to handle the ark; that belonged t.
the priests. Before taking such a steT
they should have sought the mind oI
God, and II It were his will that thu
ark be brought, 1t should have beer
done by the priests. (2) II wa n su
perstitious use of the ark, which wa
a symbol of Gods presence. They liz
~norantly assumed that the presence o.
God inferred in the symbol. forgcttin.
that he Is the living God. who has 1
will and purpose of his own. and there
fore will not give countenance to tina
which disagrees with his holy purpos,
and will. Processing Christians ia thi,
age commit n similar error when the,
substitute the sacraments Of tn,
church for the presence of God in tn,
soul. The earth rang out with u grea'
shout when the ark was brought int,
the camp and the enemy was strucl
with fear. for they knew what wonder'
God had wrought in times past. u
their desperation they made " stand
calling upon their mel to do their best
With their backs to the wall the,
fought and won the victory.
2. ~Israel's disastrous defeat wv. ~
49,. (1) The army was routed aud
great slaughter occurred ". 100 e.
the ark of God was taken ". 100. tn,
symbol of the divine presence with it,
sacred memories torn from their grasv
and with II went Isracl's hore: g
Ellis sons slain ". 10) : the very priest,
who were the custodians IF the arl
were slain: (4) death of Eli the high
priest ". 1S). The news Of the de
feat Of the army and the death of hi
sons was awful. hut when he hear
that the ark of God was taken - die,
instantly.