Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-05-07

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.
!. The Wickedness Of Ell and His
Sons 2:l2-17. 27-36.
!. ELS sons wv. 1917, 22). The be-
havior Of these sons Is in strange con-
trast to that Of the boy Samuel. Els
sons were priests and mlnistered in
the things of the sanctuary, but "knew
not the Lord ". 12).
Q Graft wv. 12-1D. This greed
was practlced upon the worshipers
who brought their sacrifices to the
sanctuary, according to Gods law,
God ordaired that the priests should
have the b. casts and shoulders of the
animals which were brought to the al.
tar (Ex. 20 :27; Lev. 1881, 32). The
degenerate sons of Ell were not con.
tent with this. but demanded more,
and even sought to obtain 1t by force
". 16). Moreover, they lifted out
with 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
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.
9. Eli wv. 27-36). Ell was seeming
ly a good man, but he seriously erred
before God in that he failed to discl.
pline 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 n weak remon'
STRANGE. He was under obligation not
merely to speak against 1t, 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:
1-1S).
They at last came to reap what
they had sOwn. God has appointed
day Of Judgment (Acts II :3D. There
is harvest time for the sinner as
well rs for the righteous (Joel 3:1O.
If one has sown 10 the wind he shall
r"cc .nc whirlwind. The Philistines
made Wa upon Israel and defeated
them with ,'reat slaughter. This judy
ment had been made known to Eli by
a man Of iad" e :27) and Samuel
(3:11-1S). The philistines were in.
strumentS IN the hands of God for
this judgment.
r. The battle with the Philistines
wv, l-9). The israeites made an I'm.
successful attempt to free themselves
from the oppression of the Philistnes.
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 defense against the
enemy. In this they committed two
blunders: "a 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 If 1t were his will that the
ark be brought. 1t should have been
done by the priests. (2) 1t was a SUI
perstitious use of the ark, which was
symbol of Gods presence. They ig-
norantly assumed that the presence Of
God inferred In the symbol, forgetting
that he Is the living God, who has a
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 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.
Q. Israel's disastrous defeat wv. 10
49,. ~ The army was routed and
great slaughter occurred ". 10Y; (2)
the ark Of God was taken ". 10Y. the
symbol of the divine presence with Its
sacred memories torn from their grasp
and with 1t went Israel's hope; (3)
ELS sons slain ". 10Y; the very priests
who were the custodians of the ark
were slain; (4) death of Eli the high
priest ". 49,. The news of the de-
feat of the army and the death of his
conc was nwful hut whan ba hand