The times-news., 1938-08-18

uSI
Scripture Samuel :9-18; 2:
1-5.
Golden Text: Her children arise
I'D, and call her blessed.-Prov-
erbs 1928. 49,. ..s
The story of Samuel the seer
and statesman opens with q sane
tuary scene at Shiloh showing a
mother at prayer, 4 home scene
in the village of Ramah where he
was born, and a dedication scene
at Shiloh where his mother sur
rendered him to the perpetual
service of Jehovah, her song OF
praise featuring the ceremonies.
HANNAH'S SORROW
G Samuel 1:9)
THE MOTHER HEART ached
in Hannah's sorrow. The national
sanctuary was at Shiloh in cen
tral Palestine where the Taber-
nacle and Ark had rested since
Joshua's day. Hither from the
village of Ramah not far away
had come on their annual pilgrim
age for worship one of the most
patriotic and spiritual Of the He
brew households. It's head was
Elkanah, perhaps of the tribe of
Levi, a well-to-do landowner, a
man who took time for spiritual
service, who fulfilled his vows,
lived piously in his own home,
came and brought his family reg
ularly to the national sanctuary
where he offered sacrifices and
worshiped Jehovah. With him were
his two wives: Peninnah, mother
of his children, jealous of his love,
and ardent in the persecution OF
her rival; and Hannah, of lofty
soul and humble heart, with whom
love conjugal was no adequate
substitute for love maternal. And
though here in the courts of Je-
hovah and overwhelmed by the
love Of her husband, she yet griev'
ed that she was childless, and this
feeling received infinite aggraNa-
ton under the insistent, spltefuI
reproaches of Peninnah. Even
the sanctuary is not without its
sadness and spite.
HANNAH'S SUPPLICATlON
U Samuel l:l0.lD
THE MOTHER LIPS grieped
in Hannah's supplication. Unsatis'
fled by Eikanah'S love, and stune
by Peninnah's hate, she sought q
spiritual refuge in the house OF
prayer. There she poured out her
soul unto the Lord in utter hu.
mility and with intense earnest
ness, beseeching him to remove
her reproach, not for her sake
alone, but for his glory. For the
gift of a son she prayed; every
Hebrew mother was hoping that
her son should fulfil prophecy in
the bruising of the. serpent's
head. In keeping with. this ferVent
hope, and with her bitter re-
proach, she made her memorable
vow devoting the longed-for sor
first to sanctuary service, ano
then to a cOnsecrated life. he
should serve in the house Of God
not for period like the Levite:
generally, but for all his days
and he should be lifelong Naz
arite with no wine to weaken hi:
powers, no external mourning tt
interrupt his work, and no razor
to mutilate the outward pledge
of inward devotion. A most far
reaching vow, to be sure; but i
shows the intensity of her feel
| inEs and the eagerness Of her ma
ture to honor Jehovah.
HANNAHS ASSURANCE
q Samuel 1:l2.l7) 49,.
THE MOTHER SPIRIT wa:
soothed and satisfied in Hannah:
assurance. That her manifest agl
tation of mind and anguish OF
soul should be attributed by Ell
to wine must have been q fresf
thrust in her heart; but in quiet
dignity Hannah freed herself
from the unjust suspician ant
won the high priests benediction
"The God Of Israel grant thee tn!
petition" Satisfied that her pray
er would be answered, she "wen
her way, and did eat, and hel
countenance was no more sad.
Back, then, to Ramah, with it:
round of duties, but also now witt
its radiance Of hope; on swlf'
wings the weeks and the month:
( fly by, and then the gates Of life
are opened to little Samuel, tht
child of prayer, destined to bt
the last of the judges, forerunnel
Of the kings, founder of JeWisf
schools, and one Of the creates
Of the prophets.
HANNAH'S SACRIFICE
U Samuel l:lS)
THE MOTHER SELF shOne il
Hannah's sacrifice. (l) In tn
village of Ramah the infant eye
of Samuel looked into the face O.
mother whom Wordsworth ha
characterized as "the most spirit
ually minded woman of her age.
/ His father rises out of obscurit!
and above the common level as
man of unusual piety and patriot
ism. His birthplace and early hom
formed suitable framework TO
the picture of his life; Ramah, tn
Arimathea of the Gospels; a. vii
lage, where human nature is NOR
open and more easily studied