patriarchs and prophets-第114章

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of　our　God　and　to　His　desire　to　make　His　children　happy。　His　prohibitions
and　injunctions　are　not　intended　merely　to　display　His　authority；　but　in　all
that　He　does　He　has　the　well…being　of　His　children　in　view。　He　does　not
require　them　to　give　up　anything　that　it　would　be　for　their　best　interest　to
retain。

The　opinion　which　prevails　in　some　classes　of　society；　that　religion　is　not
conductive　to　health　or　to　happiness　in　this　life；　is　one　of　the　most
mischievous　of　errors。　The　Scripture　says：　〃The　fear　of　the　Lord　tendeth　to
life：　and　he　that　hath　it　shall　abide　satisfied。〃　Proverbs　19：23。　〃What　man
is　he　that　desireth　life；　and　loveth　many　days；　that　he　may　see　good？　Keep
thy　tongue　from　evil；　and　thy　lips　from　speaking　guile。　Depart　from　evil；
and　do　good；　seek　peace；　and　pursue　it。〃　Psalm　34：12…14。　The　words　of　wisdom
〃are　life　unto　those　that　find　them；　and　health　to　all　their　flesh。〃
Proverbs　4：22。

True　religion　brings　man　into　harmony　with　the　laws　of　God；　physical；
mental；　and　moral。　It　teaches　self…control；　serenity；　temperance。　Religion
ennobles　the　mind；　refines　the　taste；　and　sanctifies　the　judgment。　It　makes
the　soul　a　partaker　of　the　purity　of　heaven。　Faith　in　God's　love　and
overruling　providence　lightens　the　burdens　of　anxiety　and　care。　It　fills　the
heart　with　joy　and　contentment　in　the　highest　or　the　lowliest　lot。　Religion
tends　directly　to　promote　health；　to　lengthen　life；　and　to　heighten　our
enjoyment　of　all　its　blessings。　It　opens　to　the　soul　a　never…failing
fountain　of　happiness。　Would　that　all　who　have　not　chosen　Christ　might
realize　that　He　has　something　vastly　better　to　offer　them　that　they　are
seeking　for　themselves。　Man　is　doing　the　greatest　injury　and　injustice　to
his　own　soul　when　he　thinks　and　acts　contrary　to　the　will　of　God。　No　real
joy　can　be　found　in　the　path　forbidden　by　Him　who　knows　what　is　best；　and
who　plans　for　the　good　of　His　creatures。　The　path　of　transgression　leads　to
misery　and　destruction；　but　wisdom's　〃ways　are　ways　of　pleasantness；　and　all
her　paths　are　peace。〃　Proverbs　3：17。

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The　physical　as　well　as　the　religious　training　practiced　in　the　schools　of
the　Hebrews　may　be　profitably　studied。　The　worth　of　such　training　is　not
appreciated。　There　is　an　intimate　relation　between　the　mind　and　the　body；
and　in　order　to　reach　a　high　standard　of　moral　and　intellectual　attainment
the　laws　that　control　our　physical　being　must　be　heeded。　To　secure　a　strong；
well…balanced　character；　both　the　mental　and　the　physical　powers　must　be
exercised　and　developed。　What　study　can　be　more　important　for　the　young　than
that　which　treats　of　this　wonderful　organism　that　God　has　committed　to　us；
and　of　the　laws　by　which　it　may　be　preserved　in　health？

And　now；　as　in　the　days　of　Israel；　every　youth　should　be　instructed　in　the
duties　of　practical　life。　Each　should　acquire　a　knowledge　of　some　branch　of
manual　labor　by　which；　if　need　be；　he　may　obtain　a　livelihood。　This　is
essential；　not　only　as　a　safeguard　against　the　vicissitudes　of　life；　but
from　its　bearing　upon　physical；　mental；　and　moral　development。　Even　if　it
were　certain　that　one　would　never　need　to　resort　to　manual　labor　for　his
support；　still　he　should　be　taught　to　work。　Without　physical　exercise；　no
one　can　have　a　sound　constitution　and　vigorous　health；　and　the　discipline　of
well…regulated　labor　is　no　less　essential　to　the　securing　of　a　strong　and
active　mind　and　a　noble　character。

Every　student　should　devote　a　portion　of　each　day　to　active　labor。　Thus
habits　of　industry　would　be　formed　and　a　spirit　of　self…reliance　encouraged；
while　the　youth　would　be　shielded　from　many　evil　and　degrading　practices
that　are　so　often　the　result　of　idleness。　And　this　is　all　in　keeping　with
the　primary　object　of　education；　for　in　encouraging　activity；　diligence；　and
purity　we　are　coming　into　harmony　with　the　Creator。

Let　the　youth　be　led　to　understand　the　object　of　their　creation；　to　honor
God　and　bless　their　fellow　men；　let　them　see　the　tender　love　which　the
Father　in　heaven　has　manifested　toward　them；　and　the　high　destiny　for　which
the　discipline　of　this　life　is　to　prepare　them；　the　dignity　and　honor　to
which　they　are　called；　even　to　become　the　sons　of　God；　and　thousands　would
turn　with　contempt　and　loathing　from　the　low　and　selfish　aims　and　the
frivolous　pleasures　that　have　hitherto　engrossed　them。　They　would　learn　to
hate　sin　and　to　shun　it；　not　merely　from　hope　of　reward　or　fear　of
punishment；　but　from　a　sense　of　its　inherent

602

baseness；　because　it　would　be　a　degrading　of　their　God…given　powers；　a　stain
upon　their　Godlike　manhood。

God　does　not　bid　the　youth　to　be　less　aspiring。　The　elements　of　character
that　make　a　man　successful　and　honored　among　menthe　irrepressible　desire
for　some　greater　good；　the　indomitable　will；　the　strenuous　exertion；　the
untiring　perseveranceare　not　to　be　crushed　out。　By　the　grace　of　God　they
are　to　be　directed　to　objects　as　much　higher　than　mere　selfish　and　temporal
interests　as　the　heavens　are　higher　than　the　earth。　And　the　education　begun
in　this　life　will　be　continued　in　the　life　to　come。　Day　by　day　the　wonderful
works　of　God；　the　evidences　of　His　wisdom　and　power　in　creating　and
sustaining　the　universe；　the　infinite　mystery　of　love　and　wisdom　in　the　plan
of　redemption；　will　open　to　the　mind　in　new　beauty。　〃Eye　hath　not　seen；　nor
ear　heard；　neither　have　entered　into　the　heart　of　man；　the　things　which　God
hath　prepared　for　them　that　love　Him。〃　1　Corinthians　2：9。　Even　in　this　life
we　may　catch　glimpses　of　His　presence　and　may　taste　the　joy　of　communion
with　Heaven；　but　the　fullness　of　its　joy　and　blessing　will　be　reached　in　the
hereafter。　Eternity　alone　can　reveal　the　glorious　destiny　to　which　man；
restored　to　God's　image；　may　attain。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　59

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　First　King　of　Israel


The　government　of　Israel　was　administered　in　the　name　and　by　the　authority
of　God。　The　work　of　Moses；　of　the　seventy　elders；　of　the　rulers　and　judges；
was　simply　to　enforce　the　laws　that　God　had　given；　they　had　no　authority　to
legislate　for　the　nation。　This　was；　and　continued　to　be；　the　condition　of
Israel's　existence　as　a　nation。　From　age　to　age　men　inspired　by　God　were
sent　to　instruct　the　people　and　to　direct　in　the　enforcement　of　the　laws。

The　Lord　foresaw　that　Israel　would　desire　a　king；　but　He　did　not　consent　to
a　change　in　the　principles　upon　which　the　state　was　founded。　The　king　was　to
be　the　vicegerent　of　the　Most　High。　God　was　to　be　recognized　as　the　Head　of
the　nation；　and　His　law　was　to　be　enforced　as　the　supreme　law　of　the　land。＇*
SEE　APPENDIX；　NOTE　8。＇

When　the　Israelites　first　settled　in　Canaan　they　acknowledged　the　principles
of　the　theocracy；　and　the　nation　prospered　under　the　rule　of　Joshua。　But
increase　of　population　and　intercourse　with　other　nations　brought　a　change。
The　people　adopted　many　of　the　customs　of　their　heathen　neighbors　and　thus
sacrificed　to　a　great　degree　their　own　peculiar；　holy　character。　Gradually
they　lost　their　reverence　for　God　and　ceased　to　prize　the　honor　of　being　His
chosen　people。　Attracted　by　the　pomp　and　display　of　heathen　monarchs；　they
tired　of　their　own　simplicity。　Jealousy　and　envy　sprang　up　between　the
tribes。　Internal　dissensions　made　them　weak；　they　were　continually　exposed
to　the　invasion　of　their　heathen　foes；　and　the　people　were　coming　to　believe
that　in　order　to　maintain　their　standing　among　the　nations；　the　tribes　must
be　united　under　a　strong　central　government。　As　they　departed　from　obedience
to　God's　law；　they　desired　to　be　freed　from　the　rule　of　their　divine
Sovereign；　and　thus　the　demand　for　a　monarchy　became　widespread　throughout
Israel。

Since　the　days　of　Joshua　the　government　had　never　been　conducted　with　so
great　wisdom　and　success　as　under　Samuel's

604

administration。　Divinely　invested　with　the　threefold　office　of　judge；
prophet；　and　priest；　he　had　labored　with　untiring　and　disinterested　zeal　for
the　welfare　of　his　people；　and　the　nation　had　prospered　under　his　wise
control。　Order　had　been　restored；　and　godliness　promoted；　and　the　spirit　of
discontent　was　checked　for　the　time。　But　with　advancing　years　the　prophet
was　forced　to　share　with　others　the　cares　of　government；　and　he　appointed
his　two　sons　to　act　as　his　assistants。　While　Samuel　continued　the　duties　of
his　office　at　Ramah；　the　young　men　were　stationed　at　Beersheba；　to
administer　justice　among　the　people　near　the　southern　border　of　the　land。

It　was　with　the　full　assent　of　the　nation　that　Samuel　had　appointed　his　sons
to　office；　but　they　did　not　prove　themselves　worthy　of　their　father's
choice。　The　Lord　had；　through　Moses；　given　special　directions　to　His　people
that　the　rulers　of　Israel　should　judge　righteously；　deal　justly　with　the
widow　and　the　fatherless；　and　receive　no　bribes。　But　the　sons　of　Samuel
〃turned　aside　after　lucre；　and　took　bribes；　and　perverted　judgment。〃　The
sons　of　the　prophet　had　not　heeded　the　precepts　which　he　had　sought　to
impress　upon　their　minds。　They　had　not　copied　the　pure；　unselfish　life　of
their　father。　The　warning　given　to　Eli　had　not　exerted　the　influence　upon
the　mind　of　Samuel　that　it　should　have　done。　He　had　been　to　some　extent　too
indulgent　with　his　sons；　and　the　result　was　apparent　in　their　character　and
life。

The　injustice　of　these　judges　caused　much　dissatisfaction；　and　a　pretext　was
thus　furnished　for　urging　the　change　that　had　long　been　secretly　desired。
〃All　the　elders　of　Israel　gathered　themselves　together；　and　came　to　Samuel
unto　Ramah；　and　said　unto　him；　Behold；　thou　art　old；　and　thy　sons　walk　not
in　thy　ways：　now　make　us　a　king　to　judge　us　like　all　the　nations。〃　The　cases
of　abuse　among　the　people　had　not　been　referred　to　Samuel。　Had　the　evil
course　of　his　sons　been　known　to　him；　he　would　have　removed　them　without
delay；　but　this　was　not　what　the　petitioners　desired。　Samuel　saw　that　their
real　motive　was　discontent　and　pride；　and　that　their　demand　was　the　result
of　a　deliberate　and　determined　purpose。　No　complaint　had　been　made　against
Samuel。　All　acknowledged　the　integrity　and　wisdom　of　his　administration；　but
the　aged　prophet　looked　upon

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the　request　as　a　censure　upon　himself；　and　a　direct　effort　to　set　him　aside。
He　did　not；　however；　reveal　his　feelings；　he　uttered　no　reproach；　but
carried　the　matter　to　the　Lord　in　prayer　and　sought　counsel　from　Him　alone。

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　even
unto　this　day；　wherewith　they　have　forsaken　Me；　and　served　other　gods；　so　do
they　also　unto　thee。〃　The　prophet　was　reproved　for　grieving　at　the　conduct
of　the　people　toward　himself　as　an　individual。　They　had　not　manifested
disrespect　for　him；　but　for　the　authority　of　God；　who　had　appointed　th