Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1920-05-07

LESSON TExT-I Sam. 2:12; z7-3s; ALL
IL
GOLDEN TExT-Ths wages OF sin II
death: but the gift OF God Is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.-Rom SIS.
ADDITIONAL WATERFALL Sam. x:22-
Sc; s:10-i4; 4:ls; Sis; Eph. 6:1-4
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 Wlckedness Of Ell and His
Sons 2:12-17. 27-38.
1. Ellis sons wv. 12-17, 22). The be-
havior of these sons is In strange con-
trast to that of the boy Samuel. Els
sons were priests and ministered In
the things of the sanctuary, but "knew
not the Lord" ". 12).
(1) Graft wv. 12-17). This greed
was practiced 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
animals which were brought TO the al
tar eek. 1927; Lev. 7:31. 32). The
degenerate sons of Ell were not con-
tent with this. but demanded more,
and even sought to obtain II by force
". 16). Moreover, they lifted our
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. Ell tvv. 27-36). Ell was seeming
~ good man, but he seriously erred
before God In that he failed to disci-
pine his sons wv. 22-24). 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.
Ell was content with a weak remOn.
STRANGE. he was under obligation not
merely to speak against it. but should
have acted against 1t.
u. Ell and His Sons Punished "a:
1-1S).
| They at last came to reap what
they had sown. God has appointeG
day of judgment (Acts II :31). There
is harvest time for the sinner o.
well as for the righteous q 10y.
II one has sown 10 the shall
reap the whirIwind. sss
made war upon Israel
them with great Slaughter.
ment had been nude known
a imam Of God" f2ss27, and u
(3:11-lS). The PhiIistines wos8 In
struments IN the hands Of God for
this Judgment
I. The battle with the Phillstines
| fvv. 1-9). The Israelites made an I'M
successful attempt to free themselves
from the oppression of the Phlistines.
Israel was smlften 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 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 step
they should have sought the mind of
God, and IL II were his will that the
ark be brought. 1t should have been
done by the priests. (2) 1t was a SUI
persritious use of the ark, which was
a 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
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 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 wv. 10
1877. az The army was routed and a
great slaughter occurred ". 10Y; t2)
the ark Of God was taken ~. 10Y. the
symbol Of the divine presence with its
sacred memories torn from their grasp
and with II went Israel's hope; t3)
Eli's sons slain ". 10Y the very priests
who were the custodians of the ark
we're slain; (4) death Of Ell the high
priest ". 1877. The news of the de-
seat Of the army and the death Of his
sons was awful, but when he heard
that the ark Of God was taken ne died
instantly.
Best Means Of Safety.