May 1924
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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the man who desires to live a happy, restful, peaceful, vic torious Christian life,— the very attitude which the Son of God manifested to. His Father, “ X delight to do thy will.” The call to Samuel was direct—he heard his name. It was decisive— three times-—a trinity of calls— a call from the Triune God. It was a duty call— a call to service. Three things are to be noticed here as suggestive of Sam uel’s character. (1) His unconscious worth. He did not think God would call him— a twelve year old lad. But God could use many of them today if He could get them. (Matt. 21:16). (2) His unconditional obedience, “ Speak, Lord.” (3) His unfeigned devotion, “ Thy servant hear- eth,”— “Here am I— send me.” (Isa. 6:8). (3) THE CUBSE UPON ELI'S SONS, 3:11-14. “ I will judge his house forever” v. 13. This was a hard message for God to give to Samuel. A curse was to come upon the house of Eli. Judgment was to begin at the door of the tabernacle. (1 Sam. 2:27-31). Samuel feared to tell Eli, but the old judge insisted, and Samuel told him all the truth concerning God’s purpose. Eli bowed his head and his will to God’s decree “ It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good.” (v. 18). Topics for Study (1) Every command of God is a call, and every call, a command. (2) The ways and work of God are not after the wish and wisdom of man. (3) God gives a certificate and credentials to all whom He calls. (4) A mother's prayers proved of moment to a whole people. (5) Even a child is known by his doing, whether his ways are pure, and whether his ways be right. (6) If you want your girls and boys to be the best, do your best to give them a good start with the Bible. (7) In one, short hour God transformed a little lad into a princely prophet. (1:1 ) He was a Levite, as we see by 1 Chron. 6:33, 34, and if it is surprising that he should have practiced poly gamy (v. 2) we must remember the moral condition of the people at this time, but not imagine that God approved it. —Gray. COMMENTS (1:9-18) As Hannah was the wife of FROM THE a Levite*./a son would in any event COMMENTARIES have belonged to the Lord (v. 11), but V. V. Morgan if this one was to be a Nazarite from his birth (Num. 6:5; Judges 13:5) it meant that his residence and service in the sanctuary must begin at an earlier period than usual.—Gray. (1:12) It was not a common thing in those degenerate days’ for Eli to see a devout and deeply-moved worshipper in the house of God. His eyes were not accustomed to the sight of a soul so absorbed in wrestling with God, and so filled with a sense of the Divine presence as to be oblivious of all external things.H-Hom. Com. (1:13) A devout prayer must proceed from the very bot tom of the heart, and may be offered without outward words (Psa. 19:14, 27:8, 72:8, Isa. 29:13, 14).—Chrysos tom. (1:20-22) The solemn expression of his concurrence in Hannah’s vow was necessary to make it obligatory. Men only were obliged to attend the solemn feasts. (Exod. 23:17). But Hannah, like other pious women, was in the habit of going, only she deemed it more prudent and be coming to defer her next journey till her son’s age would enable her to fulfill her vow.—J. F. & B. (2:1 ) Allusion is here made to a peculiarity in the dress of Eastern females about Lebanon, which seems to have
obtained anciently among the Israelite women, that of wearing a tin or silver horn on the forehead, on which their veil is suspended. Wives, who have no children, wear it projecting in an oblique direction, while those who be come mothers forthwith raise it a few inches higher, inclin ing towards the perpendicular, and by this slight but ob servable change in their head-dress, make known, wherever they go, the maternal character which they now bear.— J. F. & B. Hannah’s song will recall that of Mary in Luke 1:46-55, and must not be regarded simply as a natural song of thanksgiving, although it came from Hannah’s heart. I-t was a prophecy of the Holy Spirit within her, making her joy to overflow in praise for those greater blessings in Christ of which the whole race will partake, and of which Samuel’s birth was an earnest and pledge.—-Gray. (2:11) Qualification for the service of God is not always on the side of years. A child may have a more correct idea of how to serve God than a man.—Horn. Com. (2:18) Samuel was the direct product of agencies that operated upon him in youth; and he is a striking rebuke to the practise of neglecting the very young, because they can not understand. Childhood is specially quick and apt to imbibe, and to receive impressions and impulses. To them the silent teaching of example is most potent. That godly home, that praying mother, that religious father, that tem ple service and atmosphere— all form a subtle net-work of spiritual forces which enclasps and secures him.—Coon. (3:1 ) The meaning is that direct revelations from God had become exceedingly rare. This was because of the sin fulness of the priest-hood and the people. As sinfulness in the individual heart drives away the Holy Spirit, so in the Hebrew nation it drove away the spirit of prophecy.— Whed. Com. Literally, no divine communication was spread; that is, published abroad, made known.— Terry. (3:4 ) Faithful in little, and therefore entrusted with more, being the next famous prophet to Moses, and called the first (2 Chron. 35:18).— Trapp. (3:7 ) He had not the special knowledge of God which was given by extraordinary revelation.—Lange’s Com. ■ I H
ELEMENTARY Kate H. Haus
Once there was a good woman whose name was Hannah. She wanted a baby boy so much, that she prayed to God for one, promising God, if her prayer was granted she would dedicate him to the service of God. Her prayer was
granted, and when the baby boy was born, she called him Samuel, because God had granted her prayer. Draw out of the children as much of the story of Samuel as they can tell you, then supply the details they lack. Impress upon them that even very little ones may become very earnest Christians. Impress upon them the truth that they must prove to all older people that they do love Jesus, by being just as good as they can be. No scowling, no crying for
temper, no ugly looks or acts, or the big folks will not be lieve they love Jesus. By our gootjness we prove to others how much we wish to show that we love Jesus. Samuel served God in the Tabernacle, and when he grew older, he served God wherever he was. I know some boys who say they are going to Sunday School until they are 14 years old, then they are going to quit. Samuel never talked that way. He served all his life. We cannot really have given our hearts to Jesus if we get tired of His ser vice, and take our hearts back. If we once really come to
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