The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-08-17
SAUL REJECTED.
International Sunday-schooi Lesson for
August 10, 1880.

International Sunday-SchOOl Lesson for
August Is, 1880.
Especially arranged from S. S, Quarterly.l
LESSON TEXT Sam. 15:l0-23
GOLDEN TexT-Because thou hast rejected
the word Of the Lord He hath also rejected
thee from being King. ISam. 1898.
CENTRAL TRuru-God proves and tests us
whether we we will obey him or no.
TIME-Probably b. c., 1865; ten years
after Saul began to reign according to
others, b. c. 1879.
PLACE-Gi!gal, near Jericho. Samuel
about eighty years old, living ut Ramah.
A prophet and priest Saul about fifty
years old Reigning at Gfbeah, four miles
| north of Jerusalem. For his family, see
IA 40.
INTRopuCTioS-Ten years have passed
away. Saul has done much Us King, gained
many victories, All this time God was
testing him as to what kind OF King he
would make
HELPS OVER HARD PLACEs-Saul had been
| sent to destroy the Amalekites, wild
heather nation south Of Palestine, who
| were injuring Gods people. Nothing could
make them good. Therefore they were de-
| stroyed. H. IL rcpenteh me. That is. God
| changed His actions toward Saul, because
| Saul had changed. God was not sorry for
what He had done, but He acted as a man
who had repented. II Carmel: not the
mountain, but town seven miles south OF
| Hebron. Set him up q place. "a hand" a
monument Gil0dl: SEQ Place. 10. And SdM
said, They hare, etc. Saul laid the blame on
the people. II seemed a pity to destroy so
much wealth. To sacrifice: one motive, but
they had the sacrifices TO eat. Doubtless
they wanted the cattle. 22 Hath the Lord
as sreas delight, etc: no gifts or sacrifices
could take the place of obedience. The
object Of the sacrifices was to help the PEG
pie to obey. Fat Of rams; the richest part
| of the sacrifices. %. "A the sin Of piteh-
craft: seeking to find out the future means
of bad spirits. 1t was rejection OF jehovah
IdOldtrv: teraphim, household idols.
LESSON FACTs-Ten years have passed
away since Sauls inauguration. His reign
had not been altogether promising, for he
had more than once shown q willful and
rash disposition. In the course Of time he
was commanded to go up against the Anal
ekites, and utterly destroy all the people and
their substance. 1t was on his return from
this expedition that the events Of the lesson
Of to-day took place By special revelation
God informed Samuel that Saul had not
obeyed IN the matter Of the Amalekites.
Samuel therefore goes forth to meet the
SHINING monarch. He finds that he has pre-
served much Of the spoil taken from tho
enemy, contrary to Gods command. Also
that Saul had set up q monument to his
own glory, o thing that no other
Israelite had dared to do. On their
meeting, Saul greets the prophet as though
l. h,,ts nj nN,tHy ps
by the question, what meaneth this bleat-
ing of the sheep in mine earsl" Con-
victed at the start, Saul offers an excuse to
the effect that the sheep were spared for
the purpose Of sacrifice. On Samuers re-
fusing to accept this excuse as valid, Saul
takes less arrogant ground, and acknowl'
edges that the deed was contrary of God 8
command. Still the stern denunciation Of
the grand old prophet rolls on, and he at
one stroke lays bare the hypocrisy OF
Sauls argument, saying, "Behold, to obey
is better than sacrifice" Once more Saul
tries to avert from himself the RESPONSE
bility, and says, because / feared the
people, l did this" And at last the lesson
closed with the solemn words Of Samuel,
"Thou hast rejected the work Of the Lord,
and the Lord hath rejected thee from being
king over Israeli These are main facts OF
the lesson, and should be drawn out from
the class by appropriate questions.
CoMMENTs-Bible principles are eternal
principles, and human temptations remain
pretty much the same as the centuries roll
around. How many are there to-day, who
having done wrong, begin to hunt around
for excuses, or for some scapegoat upon
whom to roll the responsibility of theil
misdeeds. The truant from school urges
the temptations land in his way by his com
rade. The profane boy excuses himself
by saying that the men in the shop "made
him mad" The vituperative girl, when
demonstrated with, answers: "Well, She
abused me first" Further along in life the
business man who INDUCES in tricks Of the
trade says: "Well, we must live, you know
all men do these things. The Sabbath
breaker who opens his store on Sunday
says: swell, have to, because l fear the
competition of my neighbors." Thus 1t Is
apt to be all along the line OF human action
What Saul ought to have done was to stand
by God command through thick and thin
1t might have cost him struggle, but |,
would have ended better than did the
course he actually pursued. And what we
as teachers, want to impress upon our schol
ars Is the duty of standing by duty at all
hazards. He who does his duty only when
it is perfectly safe and pleasant, but who
flinches when opposition arises, Is but q
poor servant.-Rev. A. f. Schauilier.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
l. God has prepared Kingdom for us.
O. Heproves and tests us whether we
are fitted to use and enjoy 1t.
B. The great question Of life is whether
we will obey God or not.
4. Sin is sure to be revealed. "Be sure
your sin will find you out"
5. Sin leads men to be mean as we'll as
wicked.
g. Obeyng portion of Gods commands
is no excuse for disobeying in other things
Z. No sacrifices or forms are substitutes
for obedience.
s. Those who disobey God lose the King
dom Of Heaven.
MEN often commit grave mistakes in theii
judgment Of each other. God, however
makes no mistakes in His judgment Of men
The Bible tells US that he, "without respec,
Of persons, judgeth according to every
mans work" The deepest secrets Of the