July 23, 1950 SAMUEL THE UPRIGHT JUDGE Pointers on the Lesson 1 Sam. 7:3-6; 15, 16; 12:1-5 Samuel brings to a close the period of the judges. He is the last of the judges and the first of the prophets. He was the worthy son of Hannah, the mother to whom he was given in di rect answer to prayer. See chapter 1. The great sorrow of his life was that Israel demanded of him that he should make them a king like the nations round about, whereas God wanted Israel to be a peculiar people unlike the other nations. In the chapter before us today we see Samuel in the climax of his pub lic service. He was able to get a revival started in Israel. With the capture of the ark by the Philistines the nation seemed to lapse into a condition of leth argy. From this condition Samuel stirred the people into concern for spir itual matters. The Call To Separation 1 Sam. 7:3-6 Separation, like repentance, is two fold. There is first a turning away from those things which are contrary to the life of godliness. Israel had need to turn away from the false gods which they had taken unto themselves. It seems that God’s people had fallen into the ways of the Canaanites and were giving heed to the worship of Baalim and Ashtaroth. Before they could ex pect God to deliver and bless them, these evil alliances must be severed. Secondly, separation includes a defi nite turning to God. Samuel got Israel to heed his plea to come to Mizpeh that he might pray for them (v. 5). In connection with this meeting there was a mighty heart searching and confes sion of sin (v. 6). The pouring out of water on this occasion seems to have been a symbolic act which showed the people’s sincere desire to pour out their hearts in repentance and confession to God. Like Daniel, of whom we read later (Dan. 9:5,8, etc.), Samuel identi fied himself definitely with his people in this confession. He said, “ We have sinned against the Lord” (v. 6). The Care of God’s People 1 Sam. 7:15, 16 Samuel has been called the first “ cir cuit rider.” In this passage we see the faithful servant of God going from pl^ce to place in his ministrations. We may be sure from what we have seen of him in the former part of the chap ter, that Samuel was always seeking to gfet the people to live close to God. He continually was God’s mouthpiece unto them. And it is worthy of note, as seen in verse 17, that in all his ministrations he did not forget the “ altar.” No one can serve God acceptably who forgets the cross and daily dependence upon the Lord. The closer to God a man lives, the more effective will be his service.
The Character of God’s Servant 1 Sam. 12:1-5 had not called. The third time Eli told Samuel that the Lord was speaking to him and that he was to answer: “ Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.” After the Lord had talked with Samuel, all Israel knew that God had called this boy to be a prophet. When Samuel grew to manhood, he did become God’s prophet and priest. His boyhood train ing in the temple and his readiness to obey God’s commands made him a great leader for the people of God. What Samuel did and was as a boy had much to do with his power and influence when he became a man. When God’s people began to worship idols, Samuel brought them back to God and prayed for them. Each year he traveled from one end of the land to the other judging his people and keeping them true to their God. The faithfulness with which boys and girls serve and worship their Lord will determine largely what God can do with them .when they “ grow up.” If you cannot speak to your friends or your family about the Lord Jesus now, why should He send you across the ocean to speak to others when you are older? If you cannot get up in time to go to His house on Sunday morning, why should He trust you to do bigger and more im portant things for Him?. Put your name in place of “ Samuel” in the mem ory verse and pray that you might grow to be a real servant for your Lord. FACING A HAPPY FUTURE In this brief section Samuel speaks of the general character of his life which had been lived before them. His life had been consistent. It had been unselfish. Samuel had a reason for speaking as he did. He was preparing the people for the advice he was about to give them in his farewell address. Since his life had bedn above reproach in the past, Israel could well afford to listen to his advice as to their actions in the days ahead. There is an impor tant principle here, namely, that if we expect to have people listen to what we have to say with respect to the gospel, we must have a life that confirms our testimony. Samuel acted upon this prin ciple. Helps for the Children When Samuel Grew Up 1 Sam. 2:26; 3:1-10, 19-21; 7:3-6, 15, 16 Memory Verse: “ Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him” (1 Sam. 3:19). Samuel’s father and mother had given him to the Lord to serve with Eli, the priest, in the temple. As Samuel became older, he grew in favor with God and with men. One night, Samuel heard his name' being called three different times. Each time he quickly ran to Eli to see what it was that he wanted. Eli
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