THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
490
MAY 16, 1920
VICTORY UNDER SAMUEL “ Direct your hearts unto Jehovah,' and serve him only.“ LESSON TEXT
1
Golden Text:
Sam. 7:3.
1 Sam. 7:2-17. (Read 1 Sam. 7:2-17; Isa. 55.) (2) And it came to pass while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORI). (3) And Samuel spake unto all the ‘house of Israel, saying, If ye do re turn unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you,, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out “of the hand of the Philistines. (4) Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. (5) And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh and I will pray for you unto the LORD. (6) And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, ana fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Sam uel judged the children of Israel in Miz peh. (7) And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Phil istines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. (8) And tne children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. (9) And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD:
and Samuel cried unto tne LORD for Is rael ; and the LORD heard him. (10) And as Samuel was offering up the burnt of fering, the Philistines drew near to bat tle against Israel: but the LORD thun dered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Is rael. (11) And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philis tines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car. (12) Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. (13) So the Philistines we.re sub dued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and . the_■hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. (14) And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Is rael were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. (IS) And Sam uel judged Israel all the days of his lifei (16) And he went from year to year in. circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Miz peh, and judged Israel in all those places. (17) And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD. slidden Israel. Samuel is in the fore ground and seeks to bring the people to real repentance. He desired their re turn with their whole heart. There can never be any whole-hearted service while any idols are retained. Idols have to do with the heart. The heart has to do with God. Put them out of your heart, and out of your sight. Our hands must be empty if we would clasp His hand. Our hearts must be clean if we would cling to Him. Outline. (1) Repentance of Israel and Re turn Unto the Lord, vs. 3-8. (2) Revived Worship of the Lord, and Routing of the Enemy, vs. 9-11. (3) Raising of Ebenezer and Re pression of Philistines, vs. 12-14. (1) REPENTANCE OF ISRAEL AND RETURN UNTO THE LORD, vs. 3-8.
Introduction.’ Twenty years have passed since the Ark was taken and Israel defeated. There was no blessing upon the Philis tines by reason of the Ark’s presence among them, but LESSON rather a curse. The EXPOSITION Ark was without T. O. Horton power with impeni tent Israel, but with power in the camp of the Philistines. Its very presence overthrew the god Dagon. It produced an epidemic amongst the people. It brought a plague of mice, and finally it was taken to a place of rest in Israel where it rested dn the house of Abinadab, at Kirjath jearim, for fifty years. Samuel was busily engaged in lead ing the people back to their proper place in fellowship with Jehovah. A brighter day had dawned upon back
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