Middletown transcript., 1920-05-08

death; but the gift Of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.-Rom. 6:23.
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Sam. 2:22-
s.; 3:10-14: 4:1s: 6:1s: Eph. Ola.
PRIMARY TOPIC-God Calls the Boy
Samuel
JUNIOR TOPIC-Eli and His Sons
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Sowing and Reaping.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
"A Responsibility Of Parents and Chill.
dren.
I. The Wickedness Of Eli and His
Sons 2:12-17. 27-36.
1. Ellis sons wv. 12-17, 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).
N Graft wv. 12-17). This greed
was pracHced upon the worshipers
who brought their sacrifices to the
sanctuary, according to Gods law.
God ordained that the priests should
have the breasts and shoulders Of the
tar (Ex. % :27; Lev. 7:31, 32). The
degenerate sons of ELI were not con-
tent with this, but demanded more,
and even sought to obtain it by force
". 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 we're so shameless
IN their practices that they did not
even make an effort to conceal them.
Ministers who indulge in such shame
less practices would not be able to in
fuence 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-
pine his sons wv. 22-2D. He knew
Of their sins and was conscious Of his
obligation, but his fatherly heart led
him into sentimental indulgence; his
love got the better of his judgment.
ELI was content with a weak rem0n-
STRANGE. He was under obligation not
merely to speak against it, but should
have acted against it. 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.
II. Eli and His Sons Punished a:
11s}.
! They at last came to reap what
they had sown. God has appointed q
day Of judgment (Acts II :3I. There
Is a harvest time for the sinner as
well as for the righteous (Joel 3:13)
Il one has sown 10 the wind he shall
reap the whirlwind. The Philistines
made war upon Israel and defeated
them with great slaughter. This judg'
ment had been made known to Eli by
a "man Of God" (2:27) and Samuel
| (3:11-13). The Philistines we're in
snuments in the hands Of God fol
this Judgment.
1. The battle with the Philfsllnes
wv. 1-9). The Israelites made an un.
successful attempt to free themselves
from the oppression Of the Philistines
Israel was smitten 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: (1) The elders had no RICH
to handle the ark; that belonged tt
the priests. Before taking such steE
they should have sought the mind Of
God, and If it were his will that the
ark be brought, It should have beer
done by the priests. (2) It was a su
perstitious use Of the ark, which was
symbol Of Gods presence. They ig
norantly assumed that the presence Of
God inhered in the symbol, forgetting
that he is the living God, who has 9
will and purpose Of his own, and there
fore will 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 in the
soul. The earth rang out with a grea,
shout when the ark was brought int
the camp and the enemy was STRUCK
with fear, for they knew what wonders
God had wrought in times past. Ii
their desperation they made a stand
calling upon their men to do their best
With their backs to the wall they
fought and won the victory.
2. Israels disastrous defeat wv. 10
49,. ~ The army was routed and 6
great slaughter occurred ". 10Y; IL
the ark Of God was taken ". 10Y, thu
symbol Of the divine presence with its
sacred memories torn from their GRASP
and with it went Israel's hope; e.