The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1920-05-06

through Jesus Christ our Lord.--Rom s:2S.
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Sam. az
IS; 3d0-i4; l:19; Sis; Eph, e:l-l
PRIMARY ToPIc-God Calls the Boy
Samuel.
JUNIOR ToPIC-En and His Sons.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
Sowing and Reaping.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
"A Responsibility Of Parents and Chill
dren.
I. The Wlckedness Of Ell and HE
Sons 2:12-17. 27-3o
1. ELS sons (vv. 1917, 22). The be-
haviOr Of these sons is In strange con.
trast to that OF the boy Samuel. Elrs
sons we're priests and ministered in
the things of the sanctuary, but "knew
not the Lord" ". 12).
ID Graft wv. 12-17). This greed
was practlced upon the worshlpers
who. brought their sacrifices to the
sanctuary, according to Gods law.
God ordained that the priests should
have the breasts and shoulders Of the
animals which we're brought to the al
tar tEx. 9:27; Lev. 1881. 92). The
degenerate sons of Ell were not con-
tent with this, but demanded more,
and even sought to obtein It by force
". i6). Moreover, they lifted out
with a fork certain choice portions
while raw, and had them roasted
Such behavior OH the part Of the
priests was revolving to the worship
ers and resulted in the adherence Of
the Lords offerings.
2. Ell wv. 27-S6). Eli was seeming
~ a good man, but ne seriously erred
before God In that he failed to disci.
pline his sons (vv. 22-24). He knew
Of their sins and was conscious Of bis
obligation, but his fatherly heart led
him into a sentimental indulgence; his
love got the better OF his Judgment.
Ell was content with a weak remon.
STRANGE. He was under Obligation not
merely to speak against It, but should
have acted against II.
u. Ell and His Sons Punished a:
l-1s).
They at last came to reap what
they had sown. God has appointed a
day Of judgment (Acts 17:31). There
Is harvest time for the sinner as
well as for the righteous (Joel 3:13).
II one has Gown 10 the wind he shall
reap the whirlwind. The Phillstines
made war upon Israel and defeated
them with great slaughter. This judy
ment had been made known to Eli by
a imam Of God" (2:27) and Samuel
(3:11-1S). The Philistines were in
struments In the hands Of God for
this judgment.
l. The battle with the PAIlistines
wv. 1917. The Israelltes made an un-
successful attempt to free themselves
from the oppression OF the PhIllstines.
Israel was smltten and some 1000 were
slain. This aroused them to inquire
as to why the Lord had smitten them
and TO suggest that the ark be brought
from Shiloh as a defense against the
enemy. In this they committed two
blunders: ~ The elders had no right
to handle the ark; that belonged to
the priests. Before taking such a step
they should have sought the mind Of
God, aud II 1t were his will that the
nrk be brought, II should have been
done by the priests. (2) It was su.
perstItiOus use Of the ark, which was
a symbol Of Gods presence. They lg-
norantly assumed that tha presence OF
God inhered In the symbol. forgetting
that ne is the living God, whoshas a
will and purpose of his own, and there
fore viii not give countenance TO that
which disagrees with his holy purpose
and will. Processing Christians IN this
age commit a similar error when they
substitute the sacraments OF the
church for the presence of God 10 the
soul. The earth rang out with great
shout when the ark was brought into
the camp and the enemy was struck
with fear. for they knew what wonders
God had wrought In times past. In
their desperation they made stand.
calling upon their men TO do their best.
With their backs to the wall they
fought and won the victory.
2. Israel's disastrous defeat (vv. 10
49,. ~ The army was routed and q
great slaughter occurred ". l0); (2)
the ark OF God was taken ". 10Y, the
symbol OF the divine presence with Its
sacred memories torn from their grasp
and with It went Israel's hope; (8l
Eli's sons slain ". 10) the very priests
who were the custodians OF the ark
were slain; Ia death Of Eli the high
priest ". l8). The news Of the de-
feat OF the army aud the death Of bis
sons was awful, but when be heard
that the crk Of God was taken hs died
Instantly,