patriarchs and prophets-第123部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


providence。　Ten　thousand　unnoticed　mercies

588

were　silently　falling　in　the　pathway　of　ungrateful；　rebellious　men。　Every
blessing　spoke　to　them　of　the　Giver；　but　they　were　indifferent　to　His　love。
The　forbearance　of　God　was　very　great　toward　the　children　of　men；　but　when
they　stubbornly　persisted　in　their　impenitence；　He　removed　from　them　His
protecting　hand。　They　refused　to　listen　to　the　voice　of　God　in　His　created
works；　and　in　the　warnings；　counsels；　and　reproofs　of　His　word；　and　thus　He
was　forced　to　speak　to　them　through　judgments。

There　were　some　among　the　Philistines　who　stood　ready　to　oppose　the　return
of　the　ark　to　its　own　land。　Such　an　acknowledgment　of　the　power　of　Israel's
God　would　be　humiliating　to　the　pride　of　Philistia。　But　〃the　priests　and　the
diviners〃　admonished　the　people　not　to　imitate　the　stubbornness　of　Pharaoh
and　the　Egyptians；　and　thus　bring　upon　themselves　still　greater　afflictions。
A　plan　which　won　the　consent　of　all　was　now　proposed；　and　immediately　put　in
execution。　The　ark；　with　the　golden　trespass　offering；　was　placed　upon　a　new
cart；　thus　precluding　all　danger　of　defilement；　to　this　cart；　or　car；　were
attached　two　kine　upon　whose　necks　a　yoke　had　never　been　placed。　Their
calves　were　shut　up　at　home；　and　the　cows　were　left　free　to　go　where　they
pleased。　If　the　ark　should　thus　be　returned　to　the　Israelites　by　the　way　of
Beth…shemesh；　the　nearest　city　of　the　Levites；　the　Philistines　would　accept
this　as　evidence　that　the　God　of　Israel　had　done　unto　them　this　great　evil；
〃but　if　not；〃　they　said；　〃then　we　shall　know　that　it　is　not　His　hand　that
smote　us；　it　was　a　chance　that　happened　to　us。〃

On　being　set　free；　the　kine　turned　from　their　young　and；　lowing　as　they
went；　took　the　direct　road　to　Beth…shemesh。　Guided　by　no　human　hand；　the
patient　animals　kept　on　their　way。　The　divine　Presence　accompanied　the　ark；
and　it　passed　on　safely　to　the　very　place　designated。

It　was　now　the　time　of　wheat　harvest；　and　the　men　of　Beth…shemesh　were
reaping　in　the　valley。　〃And　they　lifted　up　their　eyes；　and　saw　the　ark；　and
rejoiced　to　see　it。　And　the　cart　came　into　the　field　of　Joshua；　a
Beth…shemite；　and　stood　there；　where　there　was　a　great　stone：　and　they　clave
the　wood　of　the　cart；　and　offered　the　kine　of　burnt…offering　unto　the　Lord。〃
The　lords　of　the　Philistines；　who　had　followed　the　ark　〃unto　the　border　of
Beth…shemesh；〃　and　had　witnessed　its　reception；　now　returned　to

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　589

Ekron。　The　plague　had　ceased；　and　they　were　convinced　that　their　calamities
had　been　a　judgment　from　the　God　of　Israel。

The　men　of　Beth…shemesh　quickly　spread　the　tidings　that　the　ark　was　in　their
possession；　and　the　people　from　the　surrounding　country　flocked　to　welcome
its　return。　The　ark　had　been　placed　upon　the　stone　that　first　served　for　an
altar；　and　before　it　additional　sacrifices　were　offered　unto　the　Lord。　Had
the　worshipers　repented　of　their　sins；　God's　blessing　would　have　attended
them。　But　they　were　not　faithfully　obeying　His　law；　and　while　they　rejoiced
at　the　return　of　the　ark　as　a　harbinger　of　good；　they　had　no　true　sense　of
its　sacredness。　Instead　of　preparing　a　suitable　place　for　its　reception；
they　permitted　it　to　remain　in　the　harvest　field。　As　they　continued　to　gaze
upon　the　sacred　chest　and　to　talk　of　the　wonderful　manner　in　which　it　had
been　restored；　they　began　to　conjecture　wherein　lay　its　peculiar　power。　At
last；　overcome　by　curiosity；　they　removed　the　coverings　and　ventured　to　open
it。

All　Israel　had　been　taught　to　regard　the　ark　with　awe　and　reverence。　When
required　to　remove　it　from　place　to　place　the　Levites　were　not　so　much　as　to
look　upon　it。　Only　once　a　year　was　the　high　priest　permitted　to　behold　the
ark　of　God。　Even　the　heathen　Philistines　had　not　dared　to　remove　its
coverings。　Angels　of　heaven；　unseen；　ever　attended　it　in　all　its
journeyings。　The　irreverent　daring　of　the　people　at　Beth…shemesh　was
speedily　punished。　Many　were　smitten　with　sudden　death。

The　survivors　were　not　led　by　this　judgment　to　repent　of　their　sin；　but　only
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

590

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

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　591

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。〃





（592）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　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