The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-08-15
SAUL REJECTED.
lASefaatlsnal 0undsy.Scheel Lessen -
Auguss 10, 1883.

MtesaaAlsnal 0undsy-Sohoel Lessen -
Auguee ao, 1850
Especially sSrangsd from 9. 8 ousrtssiy.1
LnssoN TnxT-l 6om. l6:10A
CoLDHN NTHxf-Because thou hast rejected
the word Of Ne Lord, He hath also re5eCted
thee from being Kin6. Sam. 10 "a
OnNfRAL TRuTH-0od proves and tests us
whether we We win obey him or no.
TMI-Probsbly B. O., 1905; ten years
after Saul began 70 reign. (According 70
others, b. @. 107v).
PLACE. Gilgsl, near Jericho. Samuel
about eighty years old, living ct Ramah.
A prophet and priest. Saul about nifty
years old. Reigning at Gibeah, four miles
north Of Jerusalem. For bis family, sec
MAo.
IHrRoDucrroN-Ten years have passed
away. Saul has done much as King, gained
many victories. All this time God was
testing him % 10 what kind Of King no
would make. -
HELPS OVER HARD PLAcRs-Saul had been
sent to destroy the Amslekites, Q Wild
heather nation south Of Palestine, who
were injuring Gods people. Nothing could
make them good. Therefore they were dc.
stroycd. II. II repsnteth 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 man
who had repented. 10. Cdrmcl' not the
mountain, but town seven miles south Of
Hebron. Set him up place: "a hand,"e
monument. 0tlodI see Place. 15. And Saul
said, They hduc, etc. Saul laid the blame on
the people. 1t seemed pity to destroy 30
much wealth. To sacrifice: one motive, but
they had the sacrifices to eat. Doubtless
they wanted the cattle. %. Hath the Lord
az great delight, etc. : no gifts or sacrifices
could take the place Of obedience. The
object Of the sacrifices was to help tho peo-
pie to obey. Fat Of rams: the richest part
Of the sacrifices. %. As the stn Of toitch-
craft: seeking to find out the future means
Of bad spirits. It was rejection Of Jehovah.
Idoldtrv: teraphim, household idols.
LESSON FACTs-Ten years have passed
away since Saul's inauguration. His reign
had not been altogether promising, for he
had more than once shown willful and
rash disposition. In the course Of time he
was commanded to 70 up against tho Anal
ekites, and utterly destroy all the people and
their substance. II was on his return from
this expedition that the events Of tho lesson
Of to-day took place. By special revelation
God informed Samuel that Saul had not
obeyed in the matter Of the Amalelsites.
Samuel therefore goes forth to meet the
SHINING monarch. He finds that he has pre-
served much Of the spoil taken from the
enemy, contrary to Gods command. Also
that Saul had set up monument to his
own glory, o thing that no other
Israelite had dared to do. On their
meeting, Saul greets the prophet as though
all had gone on well, but Is at once rebuffed
by the question, "What meaneth this bleat-
ing of the sheep in mine earsp Con-
victed at the start, Saul offers an excuse to
the effect that the sheep were spared for
the purpose Of sacrifice. On Samueps re-
fusing to accept this excuse as valid, Saul
takes less arrogant ground, and acknowl-
edges that the deed was contrary Of Gods
command. Still the stern denunciation Of
one stroke lays bare the hypocrisy Of
Saul's 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 Israel" 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 their
nisdeeds. The truant from school urges
the temptations laid In his way by his com.
rade. The profsne 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 frst." Further along In life the
business man who indulges In tricks Of the
trade says: swell, we must live, you know;
all men do these things. The Sabbath.
breaker who opens his store on Sunday,
says: "Well, have to, because fear the
competition Of my neighbors." Thus II is
apt to be all along the line Of human action.
What Saul ought TO have done was to stapd
BY Gods command through thick and thin.
1t might have cost him struggle, but 1t
would have ended better than did the
course he actually pursued. And what we,
% teachers, want to impress upon our schol.
ars II the duty Of standing by duty at all
hazards. he who does his duty only when
1t is perfectly safe and pleasant, but who
uAuCncS Wuou OpPooAtiou brlSeS, ID OUT
poor servant.-Rev. A. r. Schauf1er.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
1. God has prepared Kingdom for US.
Q. Heproves and tests us whether VIC
are fitted to use and enjoy 1t.
8. The great question Of life Is whether
we will obey God or not.
1. Sin Is sure to be revealed. "Be sure
your sin will find you out"
g. Bin leads men to be mean as well as
wicked.
9. Obeying portion Of Gods commands 8
Is no excuse for disobeying in other things.
Z. No sacrifices or forms are substitutes
for obedience.
6. Those who disobey God lose the King.
dom Of Heaven.
MEN often commit grave mistakes In their
Judgment Of each other. God, however,
makes no mistakes In His Judgment Of men.
The Bible tells US that he, "without respect
Of persons, judgeth according to every
mans work." The deepest secrets Of the
human heart are known to Him. We can
commit no sin that He will not see, and for
what He will mot hrin0 ia In IN ind 0mapt nj