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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
July. 1933
AUGUST 20, 1933 SAMUEL 1 S amuel , C hapters 3, 7, and 12
forward, Samuel occupied the threefold office of judge, priest, and prophet—the only one, except Moses, to occupy this threefold position. That Samuel fully believed God is re vealed by his after life. He stood firmly for God when the people rebelled and asked that a king be given to them. By instituting a passover which was not equalled until Josiah’s time, he proclaimed that only the blood gave Israel any stand ing before God. He anointed Saul to be king at the word o f the Lord, even though he knew the type o f king Saul would be. And he could anoint David to be king in Saul’s place even when he knew such an action might lead to the loss of his own life. III. T he F arewell of S amuel (12:1-4). At the end of his life, when he was “old and grayheaded,” he gathered Israel before him to take his farewell. He had acceded to their request in anointing Saul to be king, and now, as far as his direct dealing with them was concerned, his work was done. But before he took his leave of them, he desired to have it on record that he had ever acted justly and truly with them. Unlike Eli’s sons, who had misused the people, Samuel would put on record that he had never been self-seeking. He had dealt with the people righteously and in true justice, had never lowered the stan dards because of a bribe, and had never defrauded them o f anything. In those days, when every man’s life, and especially the lives of all public men, was an open book, Samuel’s words revealed his faithfulness to God and to the people, his uprightness and probity, his simplicity of life, and courage of character. The people unanimously acknowledged that his words were true, and they gave to him their full endorsement. The highest and best Christian evidence that can be produced, and evidence which does more_ before the w.orld than even preaching,_is a life lived in public view in such fashion as to merit the endorsement o f all who come in touch with it. Lesson Questions 3 :1. What does the word “precious” mean here? Name some of the other pre cious things mentioned in the Bible (Psa. 116:15; 126:6; 139:17; Matt. 26:7; 1 Pet. 1:7, 19; 2 :7 ; 2 Pet. 1:1, 4). Vs. 2-10. When, in relation to his regu lar course of duty, did Samuel’s call come? Who else had a similar experience (cf. Judg. 6:11-16) ? God was seeking one through whom He could reveal Himself; what can you say of Samuel’s qualifica tions? his alertness? his devotion to duty? his persistence ? his surrender to the Lord ? 12:1-4. Contrast Samuel’s life and lead ership with those o f Eli’s sons. Golden Text Illustration At a private meeting of friends, on one occasion, George Whitefield, after refer ring to the difficulties attending the gospel ministry, said he was weary o f the bur dens of the day, and was glad that in a short time his work would be done, and he should depart to be with Christ. All present owned to having the same feeling, with the exception o f Mr. Tennant. On seeing this, Mr. Whitefield, tapping him on the knees, said, “Well, Brother Tennant, you are the oldest man among u s; do you not rejoice to think that your time is so near at hand when you will be called home?” Mr. Tennant replied that he had no wish about it. Being pressed for something more definite, he added, “ I have nothing to do with death. My business is to live as long as I can, and as
Lesson T ext: 1 Sam. 3:1-10; 12:1-4. Golden T ext: “ Serve the Lord with all your heart” (1 Sam. 12:20). Altar Boys “ 3 Í nd the child Samuel ministered unto Jehovah hefore Eli.” Thus begins our lesson today. The cus tom o f ancient time has been carried down to the present, and in many of the churches o f Palestine—Latin, Greek, Armenian, or
strument to select and anoint the first kings, Saul and David. The influence o f the times reached even to the high priest’s household, in which Samuel was brought up. He would thus be surrounded by the evidence o f failure, be cause the priestly house o f Eli had failed, and Eli had been told that the Lord was about to remove the priesthood from his family (1 Sam. 2:27-36). Samuel would also be surrounded by the weakness seen in Eli’s dealing with his disobedient sons which would be a temptation for Samuel to follow in their footsteps. But in spite o f all, Samuel kept himself from the evil and diligently applied himself to the duties which fell to his lot to perform. II. T he C all of S amuel (3:2-10). 1. The circumstances o f his call. It was part of Samuel’s duty to wait upon Eli whenever the high priest had need o f him. Eli was an old man whose failing eyesight required such an assistant. Sam uel’s alertness is seen in that when the Lord called him, he thought it was Eli who called and at once he responded. Whatever might be the shortcomings o f Eli, those were not for Samuel to discuss; they were Eli’s own responsibility. Samuel was responsible only to hear the voice of Eli and obey, as Eli should have heard the voice o f God and obeyed it. When Eli told Samuel he was mistaken, he returned to his bed. But once more he thought Eli called him, and once more he responded, only to be told the second time that Eli had not called. The third time, he heard the call, and again he obediently went in response. Most boys would have come to the conclusion that the old man was in his dotage and paid no further attention. But as long as Samuel was under the authority o f Eli, he would render dili-, gent service and prompt obedience. Eli, being now convinced that it was the voice of the Lord calling, told Samuel what he should do if the call came again. And when the call did come again, Sam uel at once responded as Eli had bidden him. 2. The character o f his call. This is typical o f all God’s calls to ser vice. With the simplicity that marks His dealings with His own, He called Samuel to his high place, and Samuel became the first o f the kingdom prophets. But it was not his place alone that made Samuel one o f the outstanding men of Old Testament times; it was rather his childlike trust in and obedient response to God. It was not the_ place, but the character o f the boy, which developed until his name appeared upon the scroll o f honor found in Hebrews 11, and until it made him one o f the great men of all time (Jer. 15:1; Psa. 99:6). 3. The completion o f his call. From this time forward, God’s word rested with Samuel, and from this time BLACKBOARD LESSON SAMUEL SERVICE AND FAITHFULNESS ✓ TASTILI. OV
Coptic— b o y s serve iri the duties of the chu rch . M any o f their duties are quite menial, but they con sider it the greatest honor to have a part in the religious ser vice of their church. Some of them sweep floors, k in d le fires,
light candles, lamps, and tapers, and per form many o f the duties of a janitor. At the Dominican monastery, in which we stayed while in Jerusalem, a native Arab boy sat at the gate and opened it for those who wished to enter. While not engaged in opening and closing the gate, he studied his Bible and other books which were given him by the monks. When a boy has served his apprentice ship, so to speak, in the more menial tasks, he attends the priest at the altar. Some times he lights candles just before the ser vice; he brings books which are needed, and assists in the formal services o f wor ship. This is a further period o f training and discipline for him. If he performs these duties faithfully and appears to have other qualifications for the office of priest, he is finally ordained as a fullT fledged minister of the church. He then goes out to serve his own people. It is quite likely that the training re ceived by the boy Samuel was similar to that received by the altar boys in the Christian churches in Palestine today. We know that he was faithful in things per taining to God, arid as a result, he was chosen to succeed Eli. He was the last of the judges, and the first of thé prophets o f Israel. Outline and Exposition I. T he T imes of S amuel (3 :1 ). Samuel was appointed as prophet just at the close o f the times o f the judges, when there was no authoritative leadership for the people. The nation was rapidly drift ing into a state of anarchy. “There was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judg. 21:25). Because o f the condition of the people, especially the priesthood, “the word o f the Lord was precious . . . there was no open vision.” The word “precious” may better be translated “ rare,” and the word “open” by the word “ frequent,” or “widely spread,” as it reads in the margin. There, was no one to whom God could entrust His W ord ; therefore His messages were sent only at rare intervals. There was need for a voice with author ity to arouse the people from the terrible state of indifference to God into which they had fallen, and to lead them into the place and purpose for which God had chosen them. This need was met by Samuel, who became the last judge and the first king dom prophet. There had been other proph ets before him, but now the kingdom was to be set up, and Samuel was the chosen in
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