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told the sad message to poor old Eli. If Eli had taken pains to make his own two sons obedient when they were as young as Samuel, he would not have had such heavy sorrow in his old age. Dear children, try always to submit patiently, and even cheerfully, to the restraints your fathers and mothers lay upon you. We are told that the reason of God's anger with Eli was that "his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not." So that if fathers and mothers were to let children go their own way without reproof, they would disobey God, and bring their own heads.

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Whose son was Samuel?

How came he to be taken to serve so early in God's house? Who was Eli? and what message did God send him by Samuel?

What punishment came upon Israel through the sins of Eli's sons?

Who took the ark of the Lord from Israel?

What happened to the idol Dagon ?

Did Samuel judge Israel?

Saul is made King over Esrael.

SRAEL grew weary of the Lord,

And, full of murmuring,

They would not hear good Samuel's word,

But still desired a king.

He said, It is not for your good:

A king will work you woe;

But to their wicked will they stood-
Nay, we will have it so.

And so it was-God heard their prayer,
And granted all they sought;
Samuel young Saul anointed there,
And he their battles fought.

At first he kept God's holy will,
Was humble, and obeyed;

Whilst Samuel taught all Israel still,
And for them watched and prayed.

But when the hour of trial came,
In spite of Samuel's word,

Saul feared the voice of human blame,

And disobeyed the Lord.

Then Samuel cried, O king, the price

Is heavy thou must pay;

For, far above all sacrifice, 'Tis better to obey.

CHAPTER XX.

Israel desires a King. Saul is anointed by Samuel. Saul disobeys God's command.

OW when Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. But they walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and said unto him, Make us a king to judge us, like all the nations. But this thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Make us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee, for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now, therefore, hearken unto their voice. Howbeit, yet protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king, and explained to

them how a king would oppress them. And he added, And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen; and the Lord will not hear you in that day. Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel, and they said, Nay, but we will have a king over us, that we may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

Now, there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, and he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly. There was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he; from his shoulders and upwards he was higher than any of the people. And the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to his son, Take some one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses. And they went seeking, but they found them not. And when they came to the land of Zuph, Saul's servant said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man, all that he saith cometh surely to pass. Now let us go thither; perhaps he can show us our way that we should go. Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was. And behold, Samuel came out for to go up to the high place, for it was a day of sacrifice.

Now, the Lord had told Samuel a day before Saul came, saying, To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be king over my people Israel. And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spoke to thee of. This same shall reign over My people. Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's (or prophet's) house is. And Samuel answered Saul, I am the seer; ye shall eat with me to-day, and to-morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart. And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them, for they are found. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. And they arose early, and about the spring of the day Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and he and Samuel went out. And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us (and he passed on), but stand thou still awhile, that I may show thee the word of God.

Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it on Saul's head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over His inheritance? And it was so that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart. And behold a company of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. And Samuel called the people together to Mizpeh, and said, Ye have this day

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