Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1915 — VOICE OF THE LORD TO LITTLE SAMUEL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

VOICE OF THE LORD TO LITTLE SAMUEL

I Samuel 3:1-13, 19, to—Feb. l}. Samuel Devoted* to God Before His Birth —An Opening For Service. Faithfulness In Service Called to Higher Service—Samuel ths First of israel’s Prophets. • “Speak, Lord; lor Thy servant heareth.”—i Samuel 3s. CODAY’S Study gives a little insight into the .family conditions of the Israelites shortly after the days of Samson and of Ruth. It shows the deep religious sentiment prevailing amongst many of the people. The Tabernacle of the Lord, in this Study styled the Temple, was located at Shiloh, a few miles north df Jerusalem. The priest in charge was Eli. The people by Divine direction went annually to worship the Lord, to offer sacrifice, etc., at the Passover. The father and the mother of Samuel were of these annual worshipers

before Samuel was born. On one of these visits Hannah made earnest prayer to the Lord for a son, vowing that if her petition were granted, her son should be devoted to the Lord's service for life. Her prayer was answered. The child was born and named SamueL

When he was weaned he was presented to the Lord through Eli. to be his servant in the Tabernacle service and In his home. The word weaned we may understand to signify the time when the child was able to do without bis mother’s care—probably ten years old. God’s Reproof of Eli. Our lesson opens with the declaration that the child Samuel “ministered unto the Lord before Eli’’; that is, he was a servant of the Lord by virtue of his being a servant to Eli, the Lord’s representative and priest. “The word of Jehovah was precious in those days”—it was seldom that God sent special messages at that time. “There was no open vision”—visions and revelations were not then being given. The Divine Plan was hidden. The Urim and Thuminim answers of the Lord to the people’s inquiries had ceased. It is supposed that Eli at this time was about seventy years old—some think nearer eighty. His vision was dim. He was sleeping in one apartment, and little Samuel 1n another: The latter heard a voice calling him. and three times went to Eli to ask what service he could render,~bnly to be told that he had not been called. But by the third time Eli realized that it was God who had called Samuel; and he instructed the lad that if the voice should again be beard, he should say, “Speak. Lord; for Thy servant heareth.” The voiee came again, and apparently the angel of the Lord appeared to Samuel at thp same time. Then the Lord gave a message to Samuel, foretelling the sad death of Eli’s two sons and Eli’s own death, and that Eli's family should nevermore serve the Lord as priests. The inference ?s given that Eli’s sons misused their position as under priests, taking more of the sacrifices than they were allowed in the Divine arrangement, and practising immorality, thus misleading the people into unrighteousness. Divine Disapproval of Weak Character. In the morning Eli inquired of Samuel whether the Lord had spoken any further, and what He said. It was a trial to Samuel to tell his friend and benefactor the Lord’s judgment against himself and his family; but Eli demanded to know the full particulars, and “Samuel told him every whit.” Thus it Is often with the Lord’s faithful servants; their tenderness of heart might prompt them to hide matters which their sense of duty may require them to speak boldly. In every ease the individual’s conscience must be followed, but conscience must be educated through the Word of God. When Eli heard what the Lord had declared respecting bis family, he answered most loyally, “It is the Lord:

let Him do what seemeth Him good.” But however faithful and submissive be may thus appear to have been, we know that his character was not satis factory to God. He would have been more pleasing to the Lord had he had more firmness of

character—a clearer appreciation of his duty toward the Lord as His servant, and toward his own children as their father. We may be sure that strong characters are most pleasing to everybody. They may in some respects be the more difficult to deal with, but. nevertheless, firmness of character is a jewel, highly esteemed by all wise people, as well as by the Lord. Samuel grew in favor with God and with Eli, and with all Israel, as they rame to know him. They perceived that the Lord’s Spirit was with him and that he would be a representative of God amongst them Samuel is styled the first of the Prophets of Israel; and our Lord informs that John the Baptist was the last. (Matthew 11:11.) Failure to discern the change from the Jewish to the Christian Dis pensation. which began at Pentecost, leaves many Christians in confusion.

Samuel consecrated.

Eli the Priest.