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th e conscience. It is a fearful thing to fall in to th e hands of an angry God. It would be well for America today to have th is lesson burned into her heart. Israel was driven to confession and repentance and God spoke to th em the words which follow: (4) WORDS OF WARNING AND COM FORT, vs. 20-25 “Only fear th e Lord and serve HIM in tru th .” Samuel urged th e people to be tru e to God. “F ear not. God forgives sin. You deserve the w rath of God, bu t God loves you. Serve th e Lord. Turn away from idols; they a re vain things.” All things are vain which stand be tween man and God. G ratitude should prompt men to love and serve God. Consider how great things He h ath done. Israel owed all she was and had to God’s gracious providence in tak ing her to H imself and segregating her from all people. They were a separate peo ple under covenant care of God; as be lievers are a separate people and under a blood covenant. Jesus said on th e night of His betrayal when He insti tu ted th e communion service, “The cup of th e new covenant in my blood.” Samuel dem onstrated the power of prayer in bringing rain. “Now,” he says, “I will pray for you.” How it must have comforted th eir hearts! W hat value th ere is in prayer for those who can pray! How little is made of it. E lijah closed th e windows of heaven by prayer and he opened them again by prayer. This is th e privilege of every believer, if they fulfill the conditions. I t is an obligation resting upon us to pray. The closing words are very solemn (vs. 25). “ B u t i f y e s h a ll s t i l l d o w ic k e d ly , y e s h a ll b e co n sum ed !, b o th y e a n d y o u r k in s;.” Had not God dealt fairly w ith Israel? Did they not provoke Him to w rath and were these words no t fulfilled?
FUL LORD, vs. 6-12 “The righteous acts of the Lord.” vs. 7. , Samuel also challenges Israel. “Stand still while I reason w ith you.” He re counts th e story of God’s ' gracious dealings w ith Israel. When they fol lowed the Lord He kept them , He blessed them . When they forsook the Lord, He punished them by giving them over to th eir enemies, and when they repented, He took them back. God had been tru e to them and to His promises, and when they forsook Him and chose a King, He gave them Saul. (3) T H E ' WITNESS AGAINST A FAITHLESS PEOPLE!, vs. 14-19. {'■‘‘T hat ye may perceive and see th a t your wickedness is g reat.” Saul gave an ocular demonstration of his charge against them . Israel was very wicked in forsaking God and ask ing for a king. They were self-willed, and were fighting against God. Samuel asked the Lord to send rain in the h a r vest time, when it never rained in Pales tine. This was to convict them of th eir sins and to convince them th a t God hates sin. How could Israel, w ith its long history of God’s choice of them and God’s over-shadowing presence and favor to them , doubt God’s Word and God’s purpose? Samuel produced the proof by a judgm ent upon th e ir crops, and compelled them to believe th a t he was God’s representative and spoke w ith authority. God used th e same means in Egypt in convincing Pharaoh of Moses’ authority. ’ (Ex. 9 :2 8 ). “Entreat the Lord (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunder- ings and hail; and I w ill let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.’’ This illu stration of God’s method should m ake a prdfohnd impression upon the people of our own day. God speaks sometimes to individuals and sometimes to nations in an unm istak able m anner to m anifest his anger against violations of H is law and sends judgm ents to awaken fear and quicken
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