The National tribune., 1889-08-08
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

TOne reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
Indicated above.l
SUBJECT: SAUL's DESTINED DISAPPOINTMENT
FOR DIsoBEDIENoE ANNOUNCED TO HIM
BY SAMUEL.
/. Time.
We date the lesson 1925 A. NJ, or 1919 B. c.,
in tho year 1900 A. M. He had hence been
King for about 10 years. About 16 years after
our lesson Samuel anointed David to be King.
But Saul lived about seven years after the Sc
lection Of David to become King. Meanwhile
Saul and David were enemies, and kept up
constant conflict against each other. At the
time of our lesson Samuel was about 30 years
Of age.
The interview between Samuel and Saul took
place at Gilgal. Gilgal was one of the points
in samueps judicial circuit a.: 49, At the
time Samuel anointed Saul he requested him
to meet him at Gilgal for a formal inaugura-
ton into the kingship. 90: 81 The corona
ton occurred ut Gilgal. III: Ia, 49, Gilgal
was near the Jordan, on the west side, about
two to three miles east of Jericho. There, after
crossing the Jordan, by the direction of Joshua,
IL memorial stones were set up by the Israeli
ties. Gigal which witnessed the coronation,
saw also the dethronement Of Saul.
Samuel was at Ramah when God informed
him of Saul's destined rejection, and directed
him to go and tell Saul Of Jehovah's displeas-
ure at his conduct. Ramah was SamuePs place
of residence. (7:17.) With mission to Saul,
Samuel sought his whereabouts. The battle
between Saul and the Amalekites was fought
on the Amalekite territory. southwest of Pales-
tine. Looking about for SauPs headquarters
Samuel heard that Saul, after fighting with tie
Amalekites went to Carmel and erected mon
ument in memory of his victory, and that
thence he had gone 10 Gilgal Samuel there
fore left Ramah for Gilgal. The places were
about Is miles apart.
We are not to confound the Carmel men
toned in verse IL with Mount Carmel, the
scene of Eliiah's victory over Ahab. SauPs
monument was erected at Carmel place seven
to eight miles southeast of Hebron, Ia Judah.
The modern name Is Kurmul.
g. The Accuser.
We see the contrasts OF life. The very one
whom God instructed to anoint Saul as King
was sent to tell Saul of his ultimate dethrone-
ment. Samuel as reluctantly informed Saul of
his overthrow as be had hesitatingly inaugu-
rated him to be ruler of Israel. Both the coro-
nation Of Saul and the announcement to him
mand of God. (See o 16 and 10: 10. 49, While
Saul had been King Samuel had continued in
the Office of Prophet.
4 The accused
The case was the King of Kings w. King
Saul. Human rulers all subject to Jeho-
yah. Saul had been King for we may say, is
years. when " in verse IL carries US back to
the time when news was told Saul Of his des-
tined Kingship. At that time Saul was con-
seious of his inferiority. Compare verse IL
with o 81 and 10: 22.) He was chosen King
and annointed. ". IT. See O.: 10; 10: /; 10: !;
Ex., 29:7)
5. Circumstances.
Saul proved unfaithful. Serious charges
were made against him. He turned back ".
H. He lost his JUNCTION. He began 10 con-
slider self moro than God. Ruling others he
forgot TO govern himself. He left of following
God. ". III No one Is safe without divine
light ahead to guide him. He disobcyed God.
How sin grows As soon as one lets 60 bis
grip on Gods Commandments he is apt TO run
TO ruin. (Yerses Ii, 10, 90 22)
God repented he had consented TO allow Saul
to become King. Tvs. IL, 81 God cannot re-
pent in the sense in which we nse that word.
Verse 20 OF the paragraph which we study
shows this fact. One of Gods attributes is un-
| changeablsness. God is always the same OF
| the same mind, in the same state or condition.
| On this very account he will seem different as
man changes In conduct God eternally ap-
| proves the good aud opposes the evil If man
DO good God seems at one with him IL man
change aud become evil, God seems his oppo-
nent. But wo notice IL was the man that
| changed; not God Now, when human being
| repents he changes his course of action. Since,
| seemingly. whom q instead OF being q
| friend OF God becomes an enemy, Gods atti-
| tude Is modified, 10 has been customary in
| Biblical language to speak OF God repeating.
But We must keep in mind Gods position as to
pleasure with the good aud opposition to the
| evil is eternal. When Saul approved himself
| 20 God their mutual relations were agreeable.
| When Saul disobeyed God there became fric-
ton. Notice Saal changed God remained the
same.
When news reached Samuel of Saul's conduct
! and destiny Samuel was grieved. He took il
90 heart. lie was jealous for God. He was in
| terested for his nation. He was sorry for Saul.
! ti5 49, As WAS fitting. no prayed-he prayed
earnestly, cried. He thus fervently prayed all
night. lie prayed for his people. He proha-
4 bly, prayed for Saul. Possibly God was about
to dethrone Saul on tho spot but it may be
| that through Samuel's prayer he was spared
| immediate punishment. There is probably q
hiatus in tho account. We do not read that
| God sent Samuel 70 Saul. lie is implied in
! verse 10. Between verses IL and ~ we are "a
! understand that u command was given Samuel
10 look up Saul and declare TO him the dis.
| pleasure of Jehovah with his rash, self-impor-
tant and self-dependent conduct.
g. The accusation.
| 1. Preliminary. We have O statement oil
Gods grievances against Saul; Of Samuel's
sadness and prayer; of Samuels search for
| Saul.
| 2. The time Of the meeting of Samuel and
| Saul. Probably might" in verse 10 CORE
spends with might" in verse IL. We would
think tho two met early in the morning, but
since Ramah, the scene OF tho prayer in verse
| IL, Is about Is miles from Gilgal, the place OF
| the meeting of The two Samuel must have
risen very early (V. 12) IL he reached Saul in
the morning. 1t is possible might" in verso
16 is night succeeding the one mentioned in
verse IL. and that the morning Of verse 10 is
the morning of the day following the second
night.
| 8. Notice the salutation of Saul BLESSED
| be thou of the Lord" (y. 1877 Taken in con-
neetion with the account and we seem to recog-
nize tone Of outlines apparent antici-
patton OF a possible Gliding from Samuel.
| 4. There seems q hiatus between the saluta-
tion In verse Is ending with the word Lord I"
aud the beginning of the words :" have per-
| formed" We would think that after the salu-
tation Of Saul, which Samuel probably return
| cd, Samuel accused Saul of retaining tho sheep,
oxen, etc, and of sparing Agag It may be,
| however, that. from his conscious guilt in this
| respect and from apprehension Samuel was
about TO speak to him rebukingly, Saul burst