In illnstration of the spiritual benefit of prayer let us consider how Samuel, who, :· prnyed nnto the Lord" in his trouble, and II rehearsed nil the words of the people 111 the ears of the Lord" (,·er. 21), was comforted and helped in time of need. What "-- ,)ifferent man he was when he came forth from communion with his Almighty J: nend to speak to the elders of Israel from what he was when he went from them, '-displeased" (ver. 6) and distressed, to pour out his heart before the Lord I II What profit slrnll we haYe if we pray unto him?" 1. Relief for a burdened heart.. It ie, often a great relief to tell our trouble to an earthly friend; much more is it to pour it forth into the bosom of God. 11 No other God but the God of the Bible is heart to- .heart" (Niebuhr). "They went and told Jesus" (Matt. xiv. 12). 2. Syrnpcillty under bitter disappointment, . Samuel seemed to have II laboured in vain and spent his strength for nought." But God sanctioned his work, identified himself with hi111, shared his disappointment, and took his burden on himself. In rejecting his faithful servants men reject the Lord. "Why persecutest thou me?" (Acts ix, 6). He sympathises with them (Heh. iv. 5); and one smile of bis more than compensatesc for apparent failure and the frowns of the whole world. "By degrees two thoughts calmed him. The first was the feeling of ulentiji,calion with God's cause. The other element of consolation was the Divine sympathy. Atheism and revolution here, as elsewhere, went hand in hand. We do not know how this sentence was. impressed by the infinite mind on Samuel's mind; all we know is, he had a con- Yiction that God was a fellow-sufferer" (Robertson). 3. Guidance in great per- plexity. The will of the Lord, it may be, is at first bidden or obscure, but in fellow- ship with him the mists and clouds that prevent our seeing it are cleared away, the- sun shines forth, and our way is made plain. We see "the lig·ht of this world" (John xi. 9). 11 The vocation of man is the sun in the heavens of his life," '' The secret of the Lord" (the counsel or advice, such as a man gives to his friend) "is. with them that fear him " (Ps. xxv. 14). God tells his secrets only to his friends. "The meek will he guide in judgment: the meek will he teach his way" (Ps. xxv. 9). "He will guide you into all the truth" (John xvi. 13). 4. Submission to the supreme will. That will is always wisest and best; it cannot be altered or made to bend to ours ; and one of the chief benefits of prayer is that thereby we receive grace which disposes us to accept humbly and cheerfully what at first appears evil in our sight. We are made of one mind with God. 5. Strength for painful duty. It may be to II protest solemnly" (ver. 9) against the course resolved upon by others, to alter our own course and expose ourselves to the charge of inconsistency, to face oppo- sition, danger, and death. But God never appoints us a duty without giving us strength to perform it. "Habitual prayer constantly confers decision on the waver- ing, and energy on the listless, and calmness on the excitable, and disinterestedness on the selfish" (Liddon). 6. Composure amidst general excitement. Whilst the elders clamour, ••Nay; but we will have a king over us," Samuel is unmoved. He calmly listens to their decision, takes it back to God in secret prayer, and then come!! forth and says, 11 Go ye every man to his own city." 11 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee : because he trusteth in thee'' (Isa. xxvi 3). Hurricanes revolve around a centre of perfect calm. Outside the chnrmed circle the tempest may rage furiously; within it all is peace. Such is the heart and mind kept (garrisoned) by the peace of God (Phil. iv. 7). 7. Cw.fidence in a gloriou~ future. "The Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake" ( eh. xii. 22). He works out his purposes by unexpected methods, overrules human pen·ersity, and makes the wrath of man to praise him (Ps. lxxvi. 10). "What will the end be? " it was said at a time of great and general anxiety to an eminent serYant of God (Dr. A. Clarke), who replied, with a beaming countenance," Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men."-D.
Ver. 22.-The unwise demand granted. The govemment by judges fell into di~- credit. Samuel, indeed, was without reproach; but when advancing age made 1lie burden of public affairs too heavy for him, his sons, to whom he naturally delrgated his anthority, proved unrighteous rulen!, They do not seem to have been licrnlic:us, like the sons of Eli, but they were covetous, and corrupted the fountains of j •~tice by 1:iki11g bribes. What a persistent thing sin is I How it repeats itself! How hard it OH, VIII, 1-22.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 157