The National tribune., 1889-08-15
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught By Study OF the Inter-
national Sunday school Lesson Appointed for
Aug. 20. 1 SAM. 10 f-l3,


Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures
indicated above
SUBJECT: THE SELECTION AND ANoINTMENT
OF DAVID as KING.
1. Preliminary.
Saul proved utterly unfit to be King of the
lsraelites. He who disobeyed his God could
not be q ruler worthy of the respect reverence
and subsection of whole nation. (15:22 23.)
He who could not rule himself was not n suit
able person to make rules for others. He who
rebelled against the discipline of Jehovah could
not command his subjects i'll a becoming way or
spirit. Sauls conduct rs to the spoils of the
battle with the Amalekites, and his disposition
of Agag, were fragrant violations of God COM
mands. u5:3, o. Jehovah would not counte-
nance such misrue and rebellion. He sent
Samuel to declare to Saul the adverse will of
Heaven against such self-dependeuce, stubborn
ness aud disobedience. t15 49, About 16 years
pass by, leaving Saul nominaly the King
Then God babe Samuel anoint David to become
King. The son of Jesse was soon brought into
great prominence. He thus stirred up the
jealousy and hatred of Saul. Thus the two
continued in more or less of clashiug and I'M
pleasantness for about seven years. until the
death of Saul. This lesson deals with the Sc
lection and amounting of the second King Of
the Israelites.
Samuel was living at Ramah, his home dur
ing all his career. q: 10; 7:17.) He mourned
for Saul. Us: 49, He regretted the naughty
aud rebellious spirit Of the King he was sad
that a man had lost such grand chance for
lifting up and strengthening his nation. 1t
crushed his spirit when he thought of the mod
est young manufacturing kingly honors,
hiding when wanted after his election, and
| blushing at his northumberland to a stub
| horn. fpbplIinua nnuatpr IN % Thpn ha
lamentcd the evil consequences inflicted upon
| his people, the Israeites, by reason of such a
| failure in the capacity and disposition Of the
King. No use mourning, however over the
matter tActs H. Saul bad not reformed.
God cannot change. The rejection was final.
| Something must be done. The interests Of the
| people rise above all personal considerations.
| In some way understood by Samuel God
made revelations to him. ". IL There was
| great intimacy between Jehovah and Samuel,
reminding one of the close relations between
God and Moses. Samuel was the prophet of his
day Amounting was religious rite, and Sam
ue was the only person most fit to perform the
ceremony. He had anointcd Saul I0:1.)
he was now to inaugurate Saul's successor.
Curiously enough Samuel had an excuse.
When God commands he knows all the con-
tingeneies. Jehovah knew all about the hate
fnl tendencies of Saul We must, however.
commend Samuel for not insisting Oh declen-
sion. Ii Is also TO his credit he did not continue
demanding an answer to the inquiry he made
as to how to face the murderous Saul. Samuel
did that which the Lord spake. ". A. The
trouble with Saul had been disobedience and
ii would have been unfortunate indeed bad
Jehovah's trusted prophet fallen into the same
sin.
3. The Sacrifice
Some have called the sacrifice a mere pre-
text. Was 1t Gods intention, on the start, and
so before the excuse Of Samuel was offered, to
order sacrifice? We recall the fact sacrifice
was offered at the formal coronation of Saul.
III: IL, 49, Was the sacrifice in our lesson a
mere cover, q makeshift TO Offset the appre-
tensions OF Samuel? Why not understand
that Jehovah proposed the performance of both
acts at Bethlehem-thc sacrifice and the anoint.
ing-and that Samuel If asked, need not tell
all his business, but state such single object of
his visit rs best fitted the edifcation of the
time aud circumstances? We cannot see room
TO charge God and Samuel with want Of
veracity. No ono can imagine Calvin bending
n particle from sternest ethic principle and yet
he says of this transaction There was no
assimilation or falsehood in this, since God
really wished his prophet to find safety under
the pretext of . sacrifice. A sacrifice was
therefore really offered, aud the prophet was
protected thereby, so that he was not exposed
10 any danger until the time of full revelation
arrived"
Tho Offering of the sacrifice served two pur-
poses First, IL set the people at rest. They
saw tho prophet intended no harm. Persons
are not afraid OF religious services. Secondly,
the sacrifice gave Samuel an opportunity to be
at Bethlehem for tho purpose Of amounting David
without exciting the people politically and
without attracting the suspicious attention of
Saul.
Samuel was not priest, nor was the taber-
nacle located ut Bethlehem. How then could
he offer sacrifice? The prophets were specially
privileged as class. At vaTious times they
adapted themselves to the emergencies which
called for their office and rose above priest and
King
As 10 the heifer see Gen, 1879; Nu. 10: 9
s. o; Deu., 81 3, @. Religions services should
always BIO feature ut inaugurations, corona
tions, and the like.
Notice the preparation essential for accept
able religious service. One should lay aside
working apparel aud enter the sanctuary with
cleanly body aud raiment.
4. The Place.
The place OF the sacrifice OF the selection of
the King and OF the amounting was Bethlehem.
We may suppose all the proceedings took place
at Jcssos residence.
8. The Time.
We date the lesson A. NJ. 29lI, or b. C. 1868.
That was 2,952 years ago. We may judge Sam
uel was about i07 years Old David may have
been about 20 years of age.
G. The Selection.
Samuel knew from what family the King
was to be chosen, but he was not able 10 tell
which son was destined to the office. Jesse
had eight sons. No popular election took
place. God made the choice, first as 10 the
family; secondly, rs to the particular member of
said family Probably after the sacrifice aud
just before tho feast, which, as rule followed
sacrifice (11:i5l, the selection occurred.
Possibly no one but Samuel knew the object of
the selection. After the final settlement of
the question Samuel may have confdentially
told David. We would suppose that such in
formation would have been given jointly with
the amounting. We see how different was the
decision of God from what that of Samuel
would have been. The prophet would have
chosen Elab on sight. There was in that day
great Difference for the first born, originating
the right of primogenture And, then, the
splendid physique, the kingly bearing of
Eliab, recommended him. But Samuel should
have remembered that though Saul possessed
such qualifications, he made very bad King
(9:2 10 :23.) The choice fell on David, the
youngest son, shepherd boy, so insignificant
in Jesse's mind that the father had not thought
to have him present at tho selection. The
youth had fine personal appearance. Com
pare 9:2; 1923
z. The Anointing.
The custom of amounting is very ancient
God furnished a receipt for the composition of
I'm In ~