_And Samuel said unto all Israel._
A STATESMAN’S RETROSPECT
The closing years in the life of Samuel, the last and greatest of the
judges, witnessed a transition in the method of governing the nation
of Israel from the theocracy to the monarchy. By the wise, unselfish
action of Samuel, this transit... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am now old and grey-headed._
A GOOD OLD AGE
A good old age has been cynically defined as “an age at which a man
is good for nothing;” but it is our own fault if we are good for
nothing in old age. The old can help the rising generation by sympathy
and advice, and do much to prevent them from ri... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, here I am, witness against me._
AD MAGISTRATUM
A bold and just challenge of an old judge, made before all the people,
upon his resignal of the government into the hands of a new king. In
which words are observable both the matter and form of Samuel’s
challenge. We may observe concerning S... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Samuel maid unto the people._
SAMUEL’S DEALINGS WITH THE PEOPLE
Having vindicated himself (in the first five verses of this chapter),
Samuel now proceeds to his second point, and takes the people in hand.
But before proceeding to close quarters with them, he gives a brief
review of the histor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt._
GOD’S LEADING
A child might say to a geographer: “You talk about the earth being
round! Look on this great crag; look on that deep dell; look on yonder
great mountain, and the valley at its feet, and yet you talk about the
earth being round.” The ge... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when they forgot the Lord their God he sold them into the hand of
Sisera._
NATIONAL JUDGMENTS THE CONSEQUENCE OF NATIONAL SINS
Let us learn from this transaction the important lesson, that national
judgments are the certain consequences of national transgression! A
lesson, taught not merely in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now, therefore, behold the king whom ye have chosen._
SAMUEL’S FAREWELL ADDRESS
I. One could hardly fail to note what is here taught respecting the
condition of true prosperity. Samuel plainly tells people that, in
gaining their desire, they had not made sure of blessing. It still
remained that th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Continue following the Lord your God._
CONTINUITY IN SERVICE
It has been said that one reason (perhaps the chief one) why the late
Emperor of Brazil was dethroned by his own subjects, was because he
was a man of peaceful pursuits and tastes, fond of literature, science
and art, and the society of... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will call unto the Lord, and He will send thunder end rain._
THE POWER OF PRAYER
The evidence of history to the truth is most invaluable. It makes an
appeal to the judgment which can be readily appreciated and, next to
experience, is one of the most convincing demonstrations of the
divinity of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God._
INTERCESSORY PRAYER
1. This Lesson contains Samuel’s official farewell to the
people--that is, as Judge. There is something touching in all
farewells. Retirement from long and distinguished service has ever a
shade of melancholy; it reminds us of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not._
DANGER OR DESPONDENCY
It is, I believe, no very unusual thing, however unwilling we may be
to avow it, for persons to give way to a kind of despair, when they
are called on to repent of their sins. They say to themselves, “It
is too late now: it is no us... [ Continue Reading ]
_Turn ye not aside._
POINTS OF DEPARTURE
Samuel assumes that the true path was clear before Israel; it knew its
calling and destiny. To love God alone and to serve Him was the simple
royal pathway. And Samuel here reminds the people that the imminent
danger was not that they would execute a right-... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the Lord will not forsake His people._
GOD NEVER FORSAKES HIS PEOPLE
I. Let us consider how God has made our nation His peculiar people.
1. It hath pleased the Lord to separate us in a peculiar manner from
other nations.
2. It hath pleased the Lord to make us the objects of His peculiar
car... [ Continue Reading ]
_God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for
you._
SAMUEL: AN EXAMPLE OF INTERCESSION
It is a very great privilege to be permitted to pray for our fellow
men Such prayers are often of unspeakable value to those for whom they
are offered. Intercessory prayer is a benefit to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart._
THE RELIGIOUS CAPABILITY OF MAN
I. That man can reverence God. “Only fear the Lord” Reverence
implies:--
1. A sense of Divine greatness. For none can reverence the
contemptible or the small
2. A sense of Divine excellance. For none... [ Continue Reading ]
_But if ye shall do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your
king._
SIN RUINS A KINGDOM
Such was the language of Samuel to the Jews. He requires of them
nothing superstitious; nothing merely ceremonious; nothing only
external and temporary--but the exercise of piety flowing from the
feet of... [ Continue Reading ]