patriarchs and prophets-第154章
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to regard the ark with superstitious fear。 Eager to be free from its
presence； yet not daring to remove it； the Beth…shemites sent a message to
the inhabitants of Kirjath…jearim； inviting them to take it away。。 With
great joy the men of this place welcomed the sacred chest。 They knew that it
was the pledge of divine favor to the obedient and faithful。 With solemn
gladness they brought it to their city and placed it in the house of
Abinadab； a Levite。 This man appointed his son Eleazar to take charge of it；
and it remained there for many years。
During the years since the Lord first manifested Himself to the son of
Hannah； Samuel's call to the prophetic office had come to be acknowledged by
the whole nation。 By faithfully delivering the divine warning to the house
of Eli； painful and
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trying as the duty had been； Samuel had given proof of his fidelity as
Jehovah's messenger； 〃and the Lord was with him； and did let none of his
words fall to the ground。 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew
that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord。〃
The Israelites as a nation still continued in a state of irreligion and
idolatry； and as a punishment they remained in subjection to the
Philistines。 During this time Samuel visited the cities and villages
throughout the land； seeking to turn the hearts of the people to the God of
their fathers； and his efforts were not without good results。 After
suffering the oppression of their enemies for twenty years； the Israelites
〃mourned after the Lord。〃 Samuel counseled them； 〃If ye do return 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。〃 Here
we see that practical piety； heart religion； was taught in the days of
Samuel as taught by Christ when He was upon the earth。 Without the grace of
Christ the outward forms of religion were valueless to ancient Israel。 They
are the same to modern Israel。
There is need today of such a revival of true heart religion as was
experienced by ancient Israel。 Repentance is the first step that must be
taken by all who would return to God。 No one can do this work for another。
We must individually humble our souls before God and put away our idols。
When we have done all that we can do； the Lord will manifest to us His
salvation。
With the co…operation of the heads of the tribes； a large assembly was
gathered at Mizpeh。 Here a solemn fast was held。 With deep humiliation the
people confessed their sins； and as an evidence of their determination to
obey the instructions they had heard； they invested Samuel with the
authority of judge。
The Philistines interpreted this gathering to be a council of war； and with
a strong force set out to disperse the Israelites before their plans could
be matured。 The tidings of their approach caused great terror in Israel。 The
people entreated Samuel； 〃Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us；
that He will save us out of the hand of the Philistines。〃
While Samuel was in the act of presenting a lamb as a burnt offering； the
Philistines drew near for battle。 Then the
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Mighty One who had descended upon Sinai amid fire and smoke and thunder； who
had parted the Red Sea and made a way through Jordan for the children of
Israel； again manifested His power。 A terrible storm burst upon the
advancing host； and the earth was strewn with the dead bodies of mighty
warriors。
The Israelites had stood in silent awe； trembling with hope and fear。 When
they beheld the slaughter of their enemies； they knew that God had accepted
their repentance。 Through unprepared for battle； they seized the weapons of
the slaughtered Philistines and pursued the fleeing host to Beth…car。 This
signal victory was gained upon the very field where； twenty years before；
Israel had been smitten before the Philistines； the priests slain； and the
ark of God taken。 For nations as well as for individuals； the path of
obedience to God is the path of safety and happiness； while that of
transgression leads only to disaster and defeat。 The Philistines were now so
completely subdued that they surrendered the strongholds which had been
taken from Israel and refrained from acts of hostility for many years。 Other
nations followed this example； and the Israelites enjoyed peace until the
close of Samuel's sole administration。
That the occasion might never be forgotten； Samuel set up； between Mizpeh
and Shen； a great stone as a memorial。 He called the name of it Ebenezer；
〃the stone of help；〃 saying to the people； 〃hitherto hath Jehovah helped
us。〃
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Chapter 58
The Schools of the Prophets
The Lord Himself directed the education of Israel。 His care was not
restricted to their religious interests； whatever affected their mental or
physical well…being was also the subject of divine providence； and came
within the sphere of divine law。
God had commanded the Hebrews to teach their children His requirements and
to make them acquainted with all His dealings with their fathers。 This was
one of the special duties of every parentone that was not to be delegated
to another。 In the place of stranger lips the loving hearts of the father
and mother were to give instruction to their children。 Thoughts of God were
to be associated with all the events of daily life。 The mighty works of God
in the deliverance of His people and the promises of the Redeemer to come
were to be often recounted in the homes of Israel； and the use of figures
and symbols caused the lessons given to be more firmly fixed in the memory。
The great truths of God's providence and of the future life were impressed
on the young mind。 It was trained to see God alike in the scenes of nature
and the words of revelation。 The stars of heaven； the trees and flowers of
the field； the lofty mountains； the rippling brooksall spoke of the
Creator。 The solemn service of sacrifice and worship at the sanctuary and
the utterances of the prophets were a revelation of God。
Such was the training of Moses in the lowly cabin home in Goshen； of Samuel；
by the faithful Hannah； of David； in the hill dwelling at Bethlehem； of
Daniel； before the scenes of the captivity separated him from the home of
his fathers。 Such； too； was the early life of Christ at Nazareth； such the
training by which the child Timothy learned from the lips of his grandmother
Lois； and his mother Eunice （2 Timothy 1：5； 3：15）； the truths of Holy Writ。
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Further provision was made for the instruction of the young； by the
establishment of the schools of the prophets。 If a youth desired to search
deeper into the truths of the word of God and to seek wisdom from above；
that he might become a teacher in Israel； these schools were open to him。
The schools of the prophets were founded by Samuel to serve as a barrier
against the widespread corruption； to provide for the moral and spiritual
welfare of the youth； and to promote the future prosperity of the nation by
furnishing it with men qualified to act in the fear of God as leaders and
counselors。 In the accomplishment of this object Samuel gathered companies
of young men who were pious； intelligent； and studious。 These were called
the sons of the prophets。 As they communed with God and studied His word and
His works； wisdom from above was added to their natural endowments。 The
instructors were men not only well versed in divine truth； but those who had
themselves enjoyed communion with God and had received the special endowment
of His Spirit。 They enjoyed the respect and confidence of the people； both
for learning and piety。
In Samuel's day there were two of these schoolsone at Ramah； the home of
the prophet； and the other at Kirjath…jearim； where the ark then was。 Others
were established in later times。
The pupils of these schools sustained themselves by their own labor in
tilling the soil or in some mechanical employment。 In Israel this was not
thought str
