T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
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MAY e, 1983 SAMUEL: JUDGE AND PROPHET Golden Text: Only fear Jehovah, and serve him in tru th w ith all your h ea rt; for consider how g reat things he h ath done for you. 1 Sa. 12:24. LESSON TEXT 1 Sa. 12:1-5; 20-25. (Read 1 Ch. 9 :22 ; 29:29; Ps. 99:6; Je r. 15 :1 ; He. 11:32, 33.) Devotional Reading— Ps. 33:1-9. Outline: ; ( i ) The W itness to a F aith fu l Life, vs. .1-5. : ( 2 ) The W itness to a F aith fu l Lord, vs. 6-12. (3) The W itness against a F a ith less People, vs. 14-19. (4) Words of W arning and Com fort, vs. 20-25. Introduction: " A n d la b o u r , w o r k in g w ith o u r o w n h a n d s : b e in g re v ile d , w e b le s s ; b e in g p e r s e c u te d , w e s u ffe r it.” The prevailing evil of using position for self-aggrandizement and personal power has characterized many leaders in th e sta te and -in th e church. They have oppressed th e poor and weak, have defrauded men of th e ir dues, and have prevented th e meting ou t of ju s tice.''. ■ ■ n , ■■>':" './¿ 'l
Samuel had th e approval of his own conscience, and he demanded th a t the people set th e ir seal to his own testi mony. He holds up h is life for exami nation. His lip and life were in full accord. His career had manifested a sincere thoughtfulness of th e people’s interest, a heavenly wisdom in direct ing th e affairs of Israel, and fidelity to all of th e ir interests. His life testified to an unselfish devotion to God and to th e people. t A study of his life reveals th a t his influence was second only to th a t of Moses. He organized a train in g school — the first of its kind-—for train ing in th e Word of God and music, out of which grew th e O rder of Prophets. He re-organized the Tabernacle worship, and laid th e foundation for David’s Temple ritu a l and worship. He set an example of pu rity of life. He was: ( 1 ) Conspicuous as a Judge and Leader. ( 2 ) Consecrated to God and the people. (3) taught. Consistent. He lived what he (4) Courageous. He never feared as to results. (5) Completed a life well rounded and finished. (2) THE WITNESS TO A FAITH-
A year had passed since Saul was publicly recognized as R ing ov er'Israel, and had gone back home to th e herd of sheep. When th e call came from th e people for his help, he LESSON had responded, arous- EXPOSITION ed the people and had T. C. H orton trium phed over Am mon. Samuel had then called th e people to Gilgal to re view the kingdom. Saul was publicly anointed and heralded as •King. This was followed by a feast of rejoicing. Then Samuel gave a proclamation of th e kingdom to th e people as recorded in our lesson today. (1 ) THE WITNESS TO A FAITH FUL L IFE , vs. 1-5. “Ye have not found ought in my hand.” Samuel is laying down his official of fice as Judge. He insists th a t he has not peen deposed for any offense against th e people, bu t He acquiesces in God’s manifest plan and unites in honor ing th e King. He vindicates his of ficial pu rity of life. He has not enriched himself. There had been much of g raft and greed as th ere always has been and still is in government affairs, bu t he has not been a p arty to it. He testified th a t his hands were clean as did Paul to the Corinthians. (1 Cor. 4 :1 2 ).
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