What appears to have been Samuel's ordinary occupation after retiring from public life?
On what new occasion relating to the state was he called out?
What objection, did he raise and how did the Lord obviate it?
Was this in any measure repugnant to truth?
Whom was he bid to call to the sacrifice, and what else to do?
How did the men of Bethlehem receive him, and what was probably the occasion of their dread? N. B. Either conscious guilt led them to fear him as a messenger of wrath, or they dreaded the anger of Saul in case they entertained him. On grounds somewhat similar, "all Jerusalem was troubled with Herod" when they heard of the birth of Jesus in this very city of Bethlehem, dreading the effect of his jealousy.
What was Samuel's answer, and whom did he sanctify ? N. B. By this is principally meant, that he commanded them to sanctify themselves; according to a phraseology which we have had occasion to notice before.
Who was the eldest of Jesse's sons, what was Samuel's impression when he presented himself, and how was his error corrected?
Were the prophets themselves liable to mistake at times? 2 Sam. 7. 3.
How many of Jesse's sons came successively before Samuel and with what result?
How many sons had he in all? ch. 17. 12.
What followed upon the rejection of the seven? v. 10. 11.
How does the Pslamist speak of this? Ps. 78, 70,71.
What was David's personal appearance?
What is the import of his name? Ans. Beloved, from his being one of the most eminent types of the Beloved Son of God, who is frequently called David in the prophetic scriptures. See Jer. 30. 9. Hos. 3. 4, 5, He is supposed to have been at this time eighteen or twenty years of age.
What mark of honor was put upon him and what effect followed? 2 Sam. 23. 1, 2.
Did this anointing actually invest him with the kingly authority without the concurrence of the people? 2 Sam. 2. 4.
Whither did Samuel retire after this last public act?
What happened to Saul in consequence of his transgressions, and what is to be understood by it? N. B. It is implied that the peculiar tokens of divine favor which he had formerly enjoyed were withdrawn—that his good dispositions, together with his capacity for public business forsook him, and that he became a prey to fretfulness, rashness, suspicion, melancholy; at one time giving way to ungoverned bursts of anger, at another sinking into the terrors of despair;
Is something like this still the consequence of grieving away the spirit of God by wilful sin?
What expedient did his servants suggest for mitigating his distress, and what did he say to it?
Could they have given him much better advice, and what should it have been?
Does this strikingly represent the conduct of those who endeavor to drown conviction in the pleasures of sense?
What individual was recommended to Saul for this purpose, and on what grounds?
By what means was he brought to court, in what esteem was he held, and what the duty assigned him?
Had it the desired effect?
What other instance have we of music being resorted to to compose and exhilerate the spirits? 2 Kings 3. 15.
< Previous | Index | Next >