The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-12-23
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared Especially for Readers of
The Republican by Rev. U. S.
Wright, D. D.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1926.
Review: MOSES TO SAMUEL.

oOANDh DiNSAIAl loiIls GOJ IOAO.
Review: MOSES TO SAMUEL.
Surely his salvation is nigh them that
fear him, that glory may dwell in
our land.-Psalm $50.
THE CHRISTMAS LESSON.
Following Christmas Day there is
scarcely a possibility of getting away
from the birthday of our Lord, and
many will give the whole time to its
consideration. 1t is the familiar story
from Luke of the shepherds and the
song. 1t was the coming of a Saviour,
Christ, the Lord; one who meets our
need at its deepest point by saving to
the uttermost so that all minor things
are included. 1t is one who is anoint-
ed or commissioned for the carrying
out of Gods purpose for His world of
which He could say, 81 have finished
the work Thou gavest Me to do" 1t
marks the arrival of the Master over
every passion and power both within
and without the soul. And He en-
tered the low point of life conditions
so that he was Graded in a borrowed
manager, within stable provided by
some bit of human kindliness for a
woman's need. The earliest word of
His arrival was sung to toilers in the
fields, probably slaves, herders of
sheep that were not their own. The
message was to the lowest of men as
men classify them, so that all may
share in His life, for the line that
can reach the depths can touch every
level of the sea. One singular thing
is that after they had caught sight of
the thrilling wonder of loving God
STOPPING over mans deepest need and
had gone from their visit to Bethle-
hem with souls elate and had told the
story, wonder was the only thing that
remained in their minds. They allowed
all else to fade and die, for when
there was another enrolment and Je-
sus was choosing his followers there
were fishermen and tax collectors and
a revolutionist, but not a shepherd
among them. The tragedy of Christ
mas is here; that we share in the ioy
of it, behold the wonder of its good
will and then spend the years refus-
ing to join up with the King, to lis
ten to His call and to follow Him.
Heirs of centuries of privilege but re-
fusers of responsibility for making
Him Lord of His world proclaim US as
heirs of the shepherds and not of the
disciples.
FOUR HUNDRED YEARS.
Leaving Mount Sinai, the Isrealit-
ish people plunged into the wilder
ness journey that brought them to
the southern borders of the land they
coveted. Carefully exploring the ter
ritory, they received the reports of
the spies that differed only in the ad-
vice of procedure. Caleb and Joshua
were all for action while the rest
counseled delay and impotency The
company voted to turn back, proving
their unfitness as yet for nation
building. Such venture is always
one of faith and those who fear are
hopelessly handicapped So Moses
set to work training their children in
the hard wilderness schools that left
practically all the fathers in graves.
When he had built up a force ade-
quate to the renewed attempt, climb
ing among the mountains, giving a
view of the territory, death claimed
the old leader. He was ever noun
tain man and the close came among
scenes such as he had always loved.
Joshua took up the march, crossed
the Jordan, led in the capture of Jer-
icho and then proceeded to battle for
the territory in the south and north
He settled the tribes into place and
gave Caleb his request for Hebron
and its giants and its rugged fields
LOT overcoming. linen came IHe near
three centuries of tribal rule with
Judges here and there and no central
lied authority. They were disastrous
years, yet showed growth in the mas
terry of the changes from men of tents
to city jewellers and from herders and
nomade to farmers and settlers. Slow
ly they conquered the inhabitants
much as our forefathers did the In
dams, but there We're constant forays
from without by those who wished to
possess their wealth. The Judges were
the strong figures brought out in such
warfare, and Samson, Deborah, 9th
MEL, Gideon and Jephthah left their
record upon the storied pages.
Then Samuel emerged, the last and
easily the greatest Of the Judges, who
became the Father of Israel. For
under his leadership the scattered and
often wrangling tribes were brought
under one rule and a government was
set up that lived until the final over
throw of the land after five hundred