Evening star., 1924-03-01
Sunday School Lesson

plements. They we're forced to go to
heather blacksmiths, less in their De,
sire for independence they should
make weapons Of warfare. During
the twenty years the people had not
been allowed to hold public worship,
SO that Samuel must have prepared
for this public meeting by a secret
ministry among the people.
Every true revival Is based upon
the study of Gods word. He preached
the word until the people were nlled
with spirit of repentance. Samuei
insisted that the people, who had pc
Philistines and worshipers OF Baal
and Ashtaroth, should prove their re-
pentance by putting away their IDOLS
and returning to the worship OF de
hovah. If the people would give
themselves up to hearing and doing
Gods word, then they were assured
that the Lord would deliver them
from the hands of the Philtstines."
The nation assembled at Mizpah rec
ognized Samuel as their leader. Ihey
proved by their presence and by the
observance of Il solemn declaration the
reality of their penitence and dedica-
ton to the Lords service. The drawing
Of the water and the pouring or It
before the Lord proclaimed their re-
pentance and was confession OF their
sin and a consecratlon Of their life to
God. They held solemn fast III
accordance with the requirements for
the observance Of the great day OF
atonement and confessed with their lips
the peoples wish Samuel assumed the
judgeship of Israel and became that
day the supreme spiritual, civil ana
military ruler of the nation.
The Philistines could not permit the
Israelites to assemble in great ma
tional meeting that threatened their
supremacy without making an EFFORT TO
crush the revolution against their gov
ernment. They proposed to scatter the
feeble Hebrews, who had assembled at
down their revolt. The appearance OF
the approaching Philistine forces filled
the Israelites with fear. They We're
nervous, but showed an evidence of faith
nation. In their fear and superstition
they sent for the ark, that was a sign
Of Gods presence with them.
Before Offering the prayer for the
nations protection against their
enemy, Samuel offered Il sucking
lamb as Il whole burnt offering for
the penitent people. Jehovah an
swered his servants prayer, as He
has more than once in crucial hours
of the worlds history. Apparently
there appeared to be no hope for
Israel against the hosts of the armed
Phtlistines, whose approach was seen
by the Hebrews. but God interviewed.
He sent thunder storm that broke
recognized In the miraculous manifes-
tation the thunder of Jehovah. 1t
gave power to Israel so that they
pursued the fleeing enemy and de-
feated the Philistines at Beth-car
The Philistines of the modern world
would all be destroyed, If the forces
of the Lord Jesus would recognize
that the supremacy or Christ, out
law war" confess their sins and place
their absolute confidence in His pro-
tecting care.
The success of the revival which
had g'ripped the peoples hearts and
united them to the Lord might pass
from the memory of men, so Samuel
through all coming time tell the
story of how God had come to their
rescue in the honor OF emergency at
Mizpah in answer to their penitence
men that Gods aid is always
equal to the needs of men. 1t would
tell them the conditions under which
|. they could expect His help. 1t would
encourage them to trust in the power
of prayer. penitence and the value Of
cooperation with God in mastering
the nations enemies.
One reason for the permanent re-
suits from the revival under Samuel
at Mispah was due to the organiza-
in an effort by their leader to con-
solidate and preserve the results of
the revival. Many great spiritual
awakenings have lacked permanency
because they have not been followed
by teaching ministry. The mobili-
zation of Israel for fasting and re-
penrance produced q great national
revival and a demonstration of Gods
power. that Samuel perpetuated by
organizing the prophetic order among
men who were spiritually fitted and
We're educated in the word of God
through prayer and personal instruc-
ton in the affairs of Jehovah, as
Samuel had been trained by Eli. This
served to consolidate the tribes into
a national life and perpetuate the
spirit of dependence upon God for
protection and all~forms of life as a