SAUL CHOSEN. THE GOLDEN TEXT. AND Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh; And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. ye Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands. And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken and when they sought him, he could not be found. Therefore they enquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come thither. And the Lord answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.- -I SAMUEL X. 17-27. GOOD RESOLUTIONS. A LITTLE girl, six years old, was a short time ago called home to God. About a year before her death she had a small writing-desk given her. After her death her mother unlocked it and found this writing-it looked like her first writing "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."-1. Pet. ii. 17. Subject.-"Saul Chosen."-1 Sam. x. 17-27. OUTLINE LESSON. In the passage for reading, who is the chief figure? Samuel still! Why is he here at Mizpeh, after being so ungratefully superseded? Because he was unselfish, and loved the people. When they would have a king, he did his best to find the man and help him. How different from some who, even at a game, "won't play" if they can't have their own way! But see now 1. Who chose the king? Not the people, but God. They forsook Him, but He forsook not them. Surely He is "longsuffering, and of great goodness." And this would show Israel that kings, as well as judges, high-priests, prophets, were all His viceroys or deputies. Whatever the ruler might be called, he must rule in God's name. See 2 Sam. xxiii. 3. 2. How was the king chosen? Ver. 20, 21 only give part of the process. Read all the 9th and 10th chapters, and see how many little events were guided and overruled to work together for God's purposes. 3. What kind of man was chosen? (a) He had one quality that pleased the people, ver. 23. (¿) But he was not of a leading tribe, Judah or Ephraim, but of the smallest, ver. 21. (c) And so obscure and ignorant, that he did not even know the great prophet and ruler! see chap. ix. 6, 18. Why was this? See I Cor. i, 27-29. It was to make the people feel, After all, it is in God we must trust. Now when they had got their king, how did they treat him? Some honoured him (ver. 24, 26); some despised him (ver. 27). Honour because God had chosen him; contempt because of what he was in himself. Which was right? Which is right for us? See G. Text. A happy thing when we can honour sovereigns for their own goodness (as we can); but anyhow, honour them as the rulers God has given us. FOR HOME STUDY. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT KINGS:- Reign under God's authority. Prov. viii. 15; Dan. ii. 21; Rom. xiii. I. "The minute I wake up in the morning I will think of my mother made me a painter." We will give the anec God. "I will mind my father and mother always. "I will try to have my lessons perfect. "I will try to be kind, and not get cross. dote referred to: "A little boy named Benjamin West, living in Pennsylvania, was set to watch a baby asleep in a cradle. He looked at it kindly, and felt pleased to see it smile in its baby; and seeing a piece of paper on a table, with pen and ink, he tried what he could do. When his mother came in he begged her not to be angry with him for touching the pen, ink, and paper; and then he showed her the picture he had made. His mother saw baby's likeness, and was so much pleased that she kissed her little boy. Then he said if she liked it he would make a picture of some flowers she held in her hand and so he went on from that time, trying to do better and better, until he became one of the best painters in the world." In after life he said that it was this kiss from his mother that made him an artist. EARLY PIETY. In the soft seasons of thy youth, In nature's smiling bloom, Ere age arrives, and trembling waits. For Him thy powers employ, He shall defend and guide thy course Through life's uncertain sea, Till thou art landed on the shores Of blest eternity. The soul that longs to see His face, Is sure His love to gain, And those who early seek His grace, His service is its own reward, With peace and pleasure crowned; The honey wears no sting, no thorns Are in the roses found. Then seek the Lord betimes, and choose The ways of heavenly truth; The earth affords no lovelier sight A SERMON BY A CHILD. A GENTLEMAN near London went to visit a woman who was sick. As he was going into the room he saw a little girl kneeling by the side of the poor woman's bed. The little girl rose from her knees as soon as she saw the gentleman, and went out of the room. "Who is that child?" the gentleman asked. "Oh, sir," said the sick woman, "that is a little angel, who often comes to read her Bible to me, to my great comfort; and she has just now given me sixpence." The gentleman was so pleased with the little girl's con duct that he wished to know how she had learned the Word of God, and to be so kind to poor people. Finding that she was one of the scholars of a neighbouring Sunday-school, he went to the school, and asked for the little girl, who was afraid when she was called by the gentleman; but he was very kind to her, and asked her if she was the little girl that had been to read the Bible to the sick woman. She said she was. The gentleman said, "My dear, what made you think of doing so?" She answered, "Because, sir, I find it is said in the Bible that pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction."" "Well," said he, " and did you give her any money?" "Yes, sir." "And where did you get it?" "Sir, it was given to me as a reward.” |