Study Helps - Lesson 4

Lesson 4 January 20 - 26

Prayers of Triumph: Hannah and Mary

Memory Text: (1 Sam 2:8 NIV) He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the Lord's; upon them he has set the world.

Sabbath Afternoon

Sunday

Briars In The Nest

(1 Chr 6:33-38 NKJV) And these are the ones who ministered with their sons: Of the sons of the Kohathites were Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, {34} the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, {35} the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, {36} the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, {37} the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, {38} the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.

(Num 16:1-50 NKJV) Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; {2} and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. {3} They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" {4} So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face; {5} and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, "Tomorrow morning the LORD will show who is His and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will cause to come near to Him. {6} "Do this: Take censers, Korah and all your company; {7} "put fire in them and put incense in them before the LORD tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom the LORD chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!" {8} Then Moses said to Korah, "Hear now, you sons of Levi: {9} "Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to serve them; {10} "and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthood also? {11} "Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD. And what is Aaron that you complain against him?" {12} And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, "We will not come up! {13} "Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you should keep acting like a prince over us? {14} "Moreover you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!" {15} Then Moses was very angry, and said to the LORD, "Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I hurt one of them." {16} And Moses said to Korah, "Tomorrow, you and all your company be present before the LORD; you and they, as well as Aaron.

{Num 16:17-50} "Let each take his censer and put incense in it, and each of you bring his censer before the LORD, two hundred and fifty censers; both you and Aaron, each with his censer." {18} So every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of meeting with Moses and Aaron. {19} And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation. {20} And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, {21} "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." {22} Then they fell on their faces, and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?" {23} So the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, {24} "Speak to the congregation, saying, 'Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.'" {25} Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. {26} And he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins." {27} So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little children. {28} And Moses said: "By this you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. {29} "If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the LORD has not sent me. {30} "But if the LORD creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the LORD." {31} Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, {32} and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. {33} So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly. {34} Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up also!" {35} And a fire came out from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense. {36} Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: {37} "Tell Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, to pick up the censers out of the blaze, for they are holy, and scatter the fire some distance away. {38} "The censers of these men who sinned against their own souls, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar. Because they presented them before the LORD, therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel." {39} So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned up had presented, and they were hammered out as a covering on the altar, {40} to be a memorial to the children of Israel that no outsider, who is not a descendant of Aaron, should come near to offer incense before the LORD, that he might not become like Korah and his companions, just as the LORD had said to him through Moses. {41} On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, "You have killed the people of the LORD." {42} Now it happened, when the congregation had gathered against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tabernacle of meeting; and suddenly the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. {43} Then Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of meeting. {44} And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, {45} "Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." And they fell on their faces. {46} So Moses said to Aaron, "Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun." {47} Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. {48} And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped. {49} Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the Korah incident. {50} So Aaron returned to Moses at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, for the plague had stopped.

(1 Sam 1:3 NKJV) This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

(1 Sam 1:8 NKJV) Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

(1 Sam 1:1-8 NKJV) Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. {2} And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. {3} This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. {4} And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. {5} But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb. {6} And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. {7} So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat. {8} Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

(1 Sam 1:14 NKJV) So Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!"

Monday

Trouble In The Sanctuary

(Deu 16:16 NKJV) "Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.

(1 Sam 1:3 NKJV) This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

(1 Sam 2:12-17 NKJV) Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD. {13} And the priests' custom with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling. {14} Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the fleshhook brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. {15} Also, before they burned the fat, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who sacrificed, "Give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw." {16} And if the man said to him, "They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires," he would then answer him, "No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force." {17} Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

(1 Sam 2:22 NKJV) Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

(1 Sam 1:11-13 NKJV) Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head." {12} And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. {13} Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.

(1 Sam 1:15 NKJV) And Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

(1 Sam 1:16-20 NKJV) "Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now." {17} Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him." {18} And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. {19} Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. {20} So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the LORD."

Tuesday

Gratitude

(1 Sam 1:11 NKJV) Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."

(1 Sam 1:1-23 NKJV) Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. {2} And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. {3} This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. {4} And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. {5} But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb. {6} And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. {7} So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat. {8} Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?" {9} So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. {10} And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. {11} Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head." {12} And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. {13} Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. {14} So Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!" {15} And Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. {16} "Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now." {17} Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him." {18} And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. {19} Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. {20} So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the LORD." {21} Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow.

{1 Sam 1:22-23} But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the LORD and remain there forever." {23} And Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the LORD establish His word." So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 570 - 571

Hannah uttered no reproach. The burden which she could share with no earthly friend she cast upon God. Earnestly she pleaded that He would take away her reproach and grant her the precious gift of a son to nurture and train for Him. And she made a solemn vow that if her request were granted, she would dedicate her child to God, even from its birth. Hannah had drawn near to the entrance of the tabernacle, and in the anguish of her spirit she "prayed, . . . and wept sore." Yet she communed with God in silence, uttering no sound. In those evil times such scenes of worship were rarely witnessed. Irreverent feasting and even drunkenness were not uncommon, even at the religious festivals; and Eli the high priest, observing Hannah, supposed that she was overcome with wine. Thinking to administer a deserved rebuke, he said sternly, "How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee." {PP 570.1}

Pained and startled, Hannah answered gently, "No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto." {PP 570.2}

The high priest was deeply moved, for he was a man of God; and in place of rebuke he uttered a blessing: "Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of Him." {PP 570.3}

Hannah's prayer was granted; she received the gift for which she had so earnestly entreated. As she looked upon the child, she called him Samuel--"asked of God." As soon as the little one was old enough to be separated from his mother, she fulfilled her vow. She loved her child with all the devotion of a mother's heart; day by day, as she watched his expanding powers and listened to his childish prattle, her affections entwined about him (p. 571)

more closely. He was her only son, the special gift of Heaven; but she had received him as a treasure consecrated to God, and she would not withhold from the Giver His own. {PP 570.4}

Once more Hannah journeyed with her husband to Shiloh and presented to the priest, in the name of God, her precious gift, saying, "For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him: therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord." Eli was deeply impressed by the faith and devotion of this woman of Israel. Himself an overindulgent father, he was awed and humbled as he beheld this mother's great sacrifice in parting with her only child, that she might devote him to the service of God. He felt reproved for his own selfish love, and in humiliation and reverence he bowed before the Lord and worshiped. {PP 571.1}

The mother's heart was filled with joy and praise, and she longed to pour forth her gratitude to God. The Spirit of Inspiration came upon her; "and Hannah prayed, and said:

"My heart rejoiceth in the Lord;

Mine horn is exalted in the Lord;

My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies;

Because I rejoice in Thy salvation.

There is none holy as the Lord:

For there is none beside Thee:

Neither is there any rock like our God.

Talk no more so exceeding proudly;

Let not arrogancy come out of your mouth;

For Jehovah is a God of knowledge,

And by Him actions are weighed. . . .

Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 570 - 571 (Continued)

The Lord killeth, and maketh alive:

He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich:

He bringeth low, and lifteth up.

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust,

And lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill,

To set them among princes,

And to make them inherit the throne of glory:

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,

And He hath set the world upon them.

He will keep the feet of His saints,

And the wicked shall be silent in darkness;

For by strength shall no man prevail.

The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;

(p. 572)

Out of heaven shall He thunder upon them:

The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth;

And He shall give strength unto His king,

And exalt the horn of His anointed." {PP 571.2}

(1 Sam 1:26-28 NKJV) And she said, "O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. {27} "For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. {28} "Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD." So they worshiped the LORD there.

(1 Sam 2:1-10 NKJV) And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. {2} "No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God. {3} "Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the LORD is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed. {4} "The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are girded with strength. {5} Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble. {6} "The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. {7} The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. {8} He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. "For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, And He has set the world upon them. {9} He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. "For by strength no man shall prevail. {10} The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed."

Wednesday

Victory!

(1 Sam 1:1-3 NKJV) Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. {2} And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. {3} This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

(1 Sam 1:1 NKJV) Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

(1 Sam 1:5 NKJV) But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb.

(1 Sam 1:21 NKJV) Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow.

(Dan 8:3 NKJV) Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last.

Thursday

Mary's Triumph

(Gen 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

(Gen 4:1 NKJV) Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the LORD."

(Isa 11:1 NKJV) There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

(Mat 2:23 NKJV) And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

(Luke 1:46-55 NKJV) And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, {47} And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. {48} For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. {49} For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. {50} And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. {51} He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. {52} He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. {53} He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. {54} He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, {55} As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever."

(Psa 34:2-3 NKJV) My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. {3} Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.

(Psa 138:6 NKJV) Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.

(Psa 71:19 NKJV) Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?

(Psa 103:17 NKJV) But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,

(Psa 98:1 NKJV) Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.

(Psa 98:3 NKJV) He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

(Luke 1:52 NKJV) He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.

(Luke 1:49 NIV) for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name.

(Luke 1:49 NKJV) For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.

Friday

{1 Sam 2:10} The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed."

Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 569 - 574 (Not included with lesson help)

Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 299 - 300

So it should be now. The people of the world are worshiping false gods. They are to be turned from their false worship, not by hearing denunciation of their idols, but by beholding something better. God's goodness is to be made known. "Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God." Isa. 43:12. {COL 299.1}

The Lord desires us to appreciate the great plan of redemption, to realize our high privilege as the children of God, and to walk before Him in obedience, with grateful thanksgiving. He desires us to serve Him in newness of life, with gladness every day. He longs to see gratitude welling up in our hearts because our names are written in the Lamb's book of life, because we may cast all our care upon Him who cares for us. He bids us rejoice because we are the heritage of the Lord, because the righteousness of Christ is the white robe of His saints, because we have the blessed hope of the soon coming of our Saviour. {COL 299.2}

To praise God in fullness and sincerity of heart is as much a duty as is prayer. We are to show to the world and to all the heavenly intelligences that we appreciate the wonderful love of God for fallen humanity and that we are expecting larger and yet larger blessings from His infinite fullness. Far more than we do, we need to speak of the precious chapters in our experience. After a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, our joy in the Lord and our

(p. 300) efficiency in His service would be greatly increased by recounting His goodness and His wonderful works in behalf of His children. {COL 299.3}

These exercises drive back the power of Satan. They expel the spirit of murmuring and complaint, and the tempter loses ground. They cultivate those attributes of character which will fit the dwellers on earth for the heavenly mansions. {COL 300.1}

Such a testimony will have an influence upon others. No more effective means can be employed for winning souls to Christ. {COL 300.2}

We are to praise God by tangible service, by doing all in our power to advance the glory of His name. God imparts His gifts to us that we also may give, and thus make known His character to the world. Under the Jewish economy, gifts and offerings formed an essential part of God's worship. The Israelites were taught to devote a tithe of all their income to the service of the sanctuary. Besides this they were to bring sin offerings, free-will gifts, and offerings of gratitude. These were the means for supporting the ministry of the gospel for that time. God expects no less from us than He expected from His people anciently. The great work for the salvation of souls must be carried forward. In the tithe, with gifts and offerings, He has made provision for this work. Thus He intends that the ministry of the gospel shall be sustained. He claims the tithe as His own, and it should ever be regarded as a sacred reserve, to be placed in His treasury for the benefit of His cause. He asks also for our free-will gifts and offerings of gratitude. All are to be devoted to the sending of the gospel unto the uttermost parts of the earth. {COL 300.3}

Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 299 - 300 (Continued)

Service to God includes personal ministry. By personal effort we are to co-operate with Him for the saving of the world. Christ's commission, "Go ye into all the world, and (p. 301) preach the gospel to every creature," is spoken to every one of His followers. (Mark 16:15.) All who are ordained unto the life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellow men. Their hearts will throb in unison with the heart of Christ. The same longing for souls that He has felt will be manifest in them. Not all can fill the same place in the work, but there is a place and a work for all. {COL 300.4}

(1 Sam 1:18 NKJV) And she said, "Let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.