The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-02-28

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into a wide stretch of water that
scarce seems to move until it reaches
the edge of the plain and leaps again
into hurrying ripples. From Egypt
to Palestine was rapid enough but the
period of the Judges shows small
progress But is it small? Changes
as vital as any in their history were
taking place and one of these was a
passing of the priest. Eli was in
charge of the Ark now located at Shi-
lob. He was not the offerer of sacri-
flee if one may understand those chap
tiers for E.lkanah slew the bullock.
Gideon, Jepthah and Manoah did the
same and they were not priests. Each
person seems to have sought the sac
red place and have performed the act
of offering for himself (3:13). What
did Eli do? He was the keeper of the
sacred symbol. And it was perhaps
a deiied symbol in the minds of some
of the worshippers. Certainly when
it was taken to the battle field it was
regarded as the throne of Jehovah
and He would be compelled to defend
it against all Corners. And they would
be protected while He did it. They
could coerce God. Ritual took the
place of religion, symbol replaced life
and they found the Ark as satisfac-
tory as any horseshoe or rabbit foot
in bringing good luck. The leader at
the front demanded the bringing and
Eli, good, old soul, protested but let
it go. When the priesthood is subser-
Went to politics then God has small
chance, and religion is & form, unual-
ly of whitewash. The loss of the Ark
wrecked the sanctuary end caused the
symbol to be largely discarded until
David's day.
But there emerged out of the des-
truction something finer still and
unique in its influence in Israel and
the religion Of the world, the office of
the prophet He stood higher than
King or Priests and voiced the direc-
tons of the Almighty. Responsible
to no one save God he became the
mouthpiece for Him to Whom he gave
allegiance and was as uncontrolled as
Nathan by David or Elijah by Ahab.
For while politics may build a church
it can create prophet and the still
ling of that voice is national disaster
A Sanctuary fell that the people
might gain a soul. The prophecies
age in the age without profit. In
gaining one Israel grew spiritually
rich.
TIE MAKING OF THE PROPHET.
The prophet is no accident. With
Samson God chose the home, with
Samuel the home chose God. God
took the best he could find and par
tiai failure was the result; this home
took the best it could find and a pro
phet blessed the land. One mother
suffered Gods will; the other exulted
in it: one gave up the drunkenness of
wine, the other was drunk with the
Spirit; small wonder that the child
breathed naturally on the hills of God.
His spirit was swaddled in interces-
sion and fed with prayer. His lullaby
was the crooned story of his dedica-
ton and he knew himself as Jeho-
vah's child before he could lisp His
name His will bowed to the author
ity of love and his hands knew the
ministry of service. He was placed
in the care of Eli where the wisdom of
age became yoke-fellow to the passion
of youth and he found that the church
was able to interpret to him his
souls speech so that Gods language
could be understood. Like Paul his
was conscience void of offence for it
was constantly followed. In his pure
eyes the acts of lawlessness and ire
ligion on the part of Ellis sons were
shocking and the cry of conscience
that he ought to protest ard warn the
! dSSu pIlSSl WIN was ttHOJH6I ldtISE 10
the boy REQUIRED again and again
There would be struggle for it would
hurt the heart of the man he loved,
it might mean that he would be ban
ished from his place of service. that
he would disappoint his Mothers
dream, but the insistent call was still
there, 'You ought to tell Eli" Night
Wolld brig no stoppage and It is not
strange that he heard Eli call and
went to him to be assured that God
was speaking TO him. That gave the
last impulse to His demand ard with
the day he poured out all the fears
and warnings that had come to him
and his soul was singing over the VIC
tory. "All Israel knew that Samuel
was established to be a prophet"
Certainly, when the battle has been
fought and won within the banners
are seen outside and the world knows
the master himself.
THE WORK OF THE PROPHET.
Samuel set himself the hard task
of clearing the understanding of its