492 so Ezra prayed at the evening sacrifice (Ezra 10:1). So the High Priest prayed on the day of atonement, and so our Lord prays incessantly as our Interces sor. The people were in fear, and so urged and plead with Samuel to pray unto God for them (Isa. 62:6, 7). In such times men want a praying man. During the Scotch Reformation a great gathering of people met at Grey- friars Church. Lord Alexander Hender son prayed and confessed the sin of the nation and the desire of the people to return unto the Lord. When he fin ished the people pressed forward and signed Scotland’s covenant with the Lord. When the people of America met for prayer the Lord answered and the armistice’ was signed. There is much sin charged against us now as a nation, and if there could be a great “Within- the-Church” gathering for fasting and prayer it might mean more than all else that is being done. Prom this time Samuel was recog nized as Judge of Israel. (3) RAISING OP EBENEZER and RE PRESSION OP PHILISTINES, vs. 12-14. Following the prayer, Samuel took a little lamb for an offering— a type of our Lord Jesus (Isa. 53:7). He offered it as a whole burnt offering (Ex. 29: 36-42). Samuel does not depend upon Israel’s penitence, nor upon her resolu tion— notwithstanding they had taken the right position— in order that God might act in their behalf; but Samuel depended upon the Lord as the substi tute for all their sins. Jesus was a whole burnt-offering. God has never had "but one way by which sin could be covered and put away; but one basis upon which He could forgive sin and justify the sinner; but one way of access to Himself; and that has been through blood.
THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S Israel had sinned— Jesus was without sin. Israel had been disobedient—He was obedient. Jesus was devoted to God as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. The Philistines were gathering. The time was short. The need great. Help was imperative, and there was hope but in One, and He was mighty to save and strong to deliver. It was a bad time for the Philistines to come when Israel, repentant, was leaning upon the blood of the Atone ment. God thundered against them. Thunder is the voice of God (John 12: 28-31). The lightning is the flash of His eye. He speaks, and it is done. The Philistines were confounded. Is rael fell upon them and made them their prey. Victory was complete, and Samuel raised a memorial stone— Ebenezer— “ Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” Yes, and henceforth will He help us. Satan is always at the same game against God’s people, but no enemy can successfuly wage war against us, for if we “ keep ourselves in the love of God, that Wicked one toucheth us not.” It was a great victory, attended with great results, for God and for Israel. Our memorial is found in 2 Cor. 4:8-11. , “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always deliv ered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made mani fest in our mortal flesh.” PRACTICAL POINTS (1) The presence of the Ark was a pledge of God’s mercy. V
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