The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-11-07

Samuel T. Coleridge (1772- 1884 wrote:
! alt is worthy of special observation that tho
Scriptures are distinguished from all other writ
! ings pretending to inspiration by the strong
! and frequent recommendation of knowledge
| and spirit of inquiry. NATURALIZATION, it
! is evident that neither the one can be acquired
! nor the other exercised"
| We see the call for deep thought in reading
! the Bible, and careful meditation after reading
! it. The Bible courts inquiry and imparts
/ knowledge We need to cultivate the spirit OF
| inquiry when we study the Holy Scriptures.
| If we read Alright we shall often find ourselves
| in deep contemplation on the lessons the Bible
! teaches.
| SUBJECT: SAUI's DESTINED DETHRoNEMENT
FOR DrsoBEDrENcE ANNOUNCED TO HIM
| BY SAMUEL.
Sam, Is: 1923.
References.
Verse IL. IT repenteth me- V. 80; Gen., 6: 6.
! z; Deu, %: So; judi. 2: IS; 2 Sam. "a IS; l
! Chr, 81 rs; Ps., I0I 10; JOG 40; 1875: ii
Jer., 4: 28; 10: g. 1S:7-10; 20: 16; 20: B. -,
| 10; 42: 10: Eze., 81: Ii Hos, II: 8; 13: II
! Joel. :l3, II Am, Z: 3, g; Jonah, 3: 9, 10;
( Az; Zee, 8: ID. In 1 Sam, 10: 20, 1T is de-
cared God will not repent. Ro., IL: 90. Prayer
] is offered 10 God to lead him to repent. Ex.,
81: II; Ps., so: Ii.
| He is turned back. JOS, %: 16: XII, Q:
| Hath not performed my commandments. 10:
Is. Compare VS.. and D.
| Grieved Samuel, 80; 16: L.
| Verse I2. Carmel. JOSH 10: 90; ! Sam, %
2, 5, T. 2 Ch., %: 10.
! Verse 13 Blessed be thou of the Lord.
| Gen, Ia: 10; Jud.. 17:2; Ru., $40.
| Verse 10. Spared best of sheep, ETC., to sacri-
fee. vs. 8. 81.
The people did it. Saul throws fault on them.
| Gen., 3: II: Ex.. 81 % %; Prov, %: b.
Verse II. When thou vast small. 9: 81.
| The Lord anoirted thee. 8: 16; 10: L; Ex.,
| 29:7.
Verse 18 Utterly destroy Amalekites. Why ?
a. Against Israeites at Rephidim. Ex, II :S-
| 16; Deu.. %: 17-19; l SAM, 1873.
| b. Against Israelites at Kadesh- Barnea. Nu.,
14:45
c. Oppressed Israelites in Canaan. Jud., 6: 3.
d. Sam. 10: 3. 80, shows Amalekites cruel.
! C. Haman was an Amalekite. Est, 3: LIS.
! Compare l SAM, 10: IL.
Utterly destroy. JOSH 6: II, 10.
| Verse 20. | have obeyed. V. IL.
Verse 81. People took spoil. vs. Q, 15
Verse %. Lord delights in obedience more
than sacrifice. Ps, 40: 9; so: 8, 8; 81: Is, IL,
10; Prov, 81: 3; Eco, 5: IS, 1: 1l-13, is,
| II; Go: q 3; Jer., Z %. %; Hos, 6 6: Mic,
/ 6: 66; st. Matt, 5: "a; o: ID; 1877; st. Mark,
! II: 80; Heb. 10: 60
Verse %. Wiichcraft. Deu., 10: 10.
Thou hast rejected the Word of the Lord ;
hence the Lord has rejected thee 13: Ii.
Time
| We date the lesson 1925 A. NJ, or 1919 B. c.
| or 1874 years ago. Saul was formally crowned
in the year 1909 4. NJ. He had hence been
King for about l6 years. About IS years after
orr lesson Samuel anointed David to be King
| But Saul lived about seven years after the Sc
of IN aAaco ip1 l. iFo
! Saul and David were enemies, and kept up
constant conflict against each other. At the
I time of our lesson Samuel was about 90 years
of age. vac
Place.
The interview between Samuel and Saul took
place at Gilgal. Glgal was one Of the points
in Samuel's judicial circuit. 7:16. At the
time Samuel anointed Saul he requested him
to meet him at Gilgal for formal Inaugural
ton into the kingship. 1873 The corona
ton occurred at Gilgal. II: IA, 10. 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.
~ memorial stones were set up by the Israel
ties. Gilgal, which witnessed the coronation,
saw also the dethrOnement of Saul.
Samuel at Ramah when God informed
him Of Sans destined rejection. and directed
! him to go aud tell Saul of Jehovah's displeas-
ure at his conduct. Ramah was Samuels place
of residence. 7:17. With a mission to Saul.
Samuel sought his whereabouts. The battle
between Saul and the Amalekites was fought
on the Amalekitc territory, southwest of Psles
tine Looking about for Saus headquarters
Samuel heard that Saul, after fighting with the
Amalekites went TO Carmel and erected a mon
ument in memory of his victory, and that
thence he had gone to Glgal. Samuel there
fore left Ramah for GiIgal. The places were
about 10 miles apart.
q tn
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 in Judah.
The modern name is Kurmul.
The AccRser.
We see the contrasts of life. The very one
whom God instructed to anoint Saul as King
sent to tell the same Saul of his ultimate
dethronement. Samuel as reluctantly informed
Saul of his speedy overthrow as he had hesita-
tingly inaugnrated him TO be ruler OF Israel.
Both the coronation of Saul and the announce
mcnt to him of Jeh0vah's rejection were at the
direct command of God. See g.: Is and 10: 10.
is. While Saul had been King Samuel had
continued in the Office Of prophet.
The accused.
The case was the King of Kings vs. King
Saul. Human rulers are all subject to Jeho-
yah. Saul had been King for, we may say, IS
years When" in verse IL, carries us back
10 the time when news was told Saul of his
destined kingship. At that time Saul was con-
scious of feeling of inferiorty for so great
dignity as royalty. Compare verso II with 9:
81 and 10: %. lie was chosen King aud
anointea (set apart, consecrated) to that Office
Verse IL. See s.: 49, TO-: l; ISL; Ex., 29:7.
circumstance.
Saul proved unfaithful Serious charges were
made against him. He turned back. " IL.
He lost his JUNCTION. He began to consider self
more than God. Ruling Others he forgot to
govern himself. lie left Off following God.
V. IL. No one is safe without n divine light
ahead to guide him. Saul disobeyed God. How
sin grows! As soon as one lets go his grip on
Gods commandments, he is apt to run to ruin.
Verses IL, 49, 90. %.
God repented he had consented to allow Saul
to become King. Us. IL. 30. God cannot re-
pent in the sense ia which We that word.
Verse 80 Of the paragraph which we study
shows this fact. One OF Gods attributes is un-
changeableness. God is always the same, of
the same mind. in the same state condition.
On this very account he will seem different as
man changes in conduct. God eternally mp
proves the good and opposes the evil. If man
be good God seems Mt one with him; il man
change and become evil, God seems his oppo-
nent. Bat notice it was the man that
changed, not God. Now, when human being
repents he changes his course of action. Since,
seemingly, when a man instead of being
friend of God becomes an enemy, Gods atti-
tude 10 modified, it has been customary in
Biblical language to speak of God repentng.
But we must keep in mind Gods position as to
pleasure with the good and opposition to the