The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-11-15
SABBATH SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON For
NOVElIISER IL.

i minded iy Samuel that il they would only
obey the Lurd and serve Him In truth all
might be well (chapter xiii, IA, 24). But
saul had only reiSned two years when he
proved disohedient aud was told that the
kingdom would be given to another even a
man after Gods own heart (chapter kill, I,
13. 1D. In the chapter for to-day another
act OF disobedience Is recorded. which brings
matters to n crisis. As to the Lords repent
ings 80 often referred to, we must remember
that He never changes His mind, nor is sorry
for anything He does (verse 80; Mum. xiii.
19), but when He comes to q point where He
from eternity He knew that He would just
at that point, He is said to repent. See Acts
xv.. 18.
II. "He set him up Il place" Or, as in III
Sam. xviii, 1S, pillar after his own name.
1t was not. us in chapter xiv, IS, an altar
unto the Lord. but something to magnify
himself. Jesus never magnihed Himself, but
always His Father (John xviii, ~. Paul de-
termined that Christ should be magnifled in
his body other by lie or death (Phil H. 2O)
1B. "Blessed be Thou the Lord; have per
formed the commandment of the Lord"
When we compare verses 3 and of this
chapter, we wonder how Saul could say that
he had performed The commandment. Either
he misunderstood the command, or pervert-
ed it, or deliberately lied. There is a gem
GRAFTON that are pure in their own eyes, but
who's covereth his sins shall not pros
per prov. KIN. II; xviii. 13). Unless we
seek only His pleasure the devil will make us
believe that blacl; is white (II Thess. H.. 10,
1D.
IA. what 'meaneth then this bleating OF
the sheep in mine ears and the lowing OF the
oxen which hear?' 1t is an old word but
true as God Himself. BE sure your sin will
find you out" (Num. xxxii.. 23). The word
was to Smite Amalek and utterly destroy all
that they had (vsrse -. Dead sheep and
oxen tell no tales. bat these were telling that
Saul mad not obeyed God.
Is. The people spared the best Of tho
sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice unto the
Lord thy God" Under the plea OF ''for q
good object" Saul seeks to Justify the thing
it, Is seen in his saying that the people did
it, and it is also seen in his saying, ''the
Lord thy God, instead OF 1.-THE Lord our
God" God wants nothing from the enemy
either for sacrifice or service.
16. Then Samuel said to Saul. Stnv and
will tell thee what the Lord hath said to
mo this night. And he said unto him. Say
on" We look back to the morning when
Samuel said to Saul. ''Stand thou still
awhile that l may shew thee the word OF
God" (chapter ix., 27), but what Il con-
trast! Then it was message OF grhcc. but
now one of judgment Observe that as in
SamUefs childhood. so now in his advanced
years God still talks with him in the night
season.
II. When thou vast little in thine own
sight. the Lord anointeh theo king over Is
rael.' See chapter iX., 81, aud compare
Judges vi, 10. 1t is good to he and to con-
tinua ltte i'll our own estimation. II is
better to say with Paul, Il know that in me
that is. in my fiesh-dwclleth no good
thing" (Rom. VIII. 1S). We read that King
UzEiah was marvelously helped till he was
strong: but when he was strong his heart
was lifted up to his destruction II Chron.
xvi, IS, l6). My highest place is living
low at my Redeemer's feet.
1S. The Lord sent thee on a journey,
and said, Go. and utterly destroy the sim
ners the Amalekites.' The reason OF this
the lords determination is in verse IA.
But He is long suffering, not willing that
any should perish, and so He suffered them
to continue for over 400 years-surely an
abundant time for repentance, but thcy
continued sinners before God.
10. ''Whcrcforc then didst thou not obey
the voice OF the Lord?" Being redeemed
To God bv the precious blood of Christ the
great word Cor all the rest of our life is
willing and obedient' Elsa l.. IS, 49, See
EN-. XiX., ., 4. 1t is not ours to question or
reason or 10 put our-construction upon His
commands. but simply and cheerlullv to
obey. Consider the obedience OF the Levites
in EX. xXXii.. 1928 and see the commenda-
tion in Nal. H., 4-6.
20. Yea. have obevei the voice of tho
Lord, and have gone the way which tho
Lord sent me, and have brought Agag. tho
king of Amaek." Hero ne confesses to
have saved the king, who was certainly in
clucd in tho destruction, and vet insists
that he had obeyed the Lord. 1t is the old
story so common to-ray OF pervertinG the
word OF the Lord DER. xiii, 36) and Of
thinking that He does not mean just what
He says. but His language is generally fig
urative or has some other meaning.
81. But the people took OF the spoil to
sacrifice unto the Lord thy God" He still
puts some blame upon the people, but now
acknowledses that tho sheep and oxen
should have been utterly DESTROYED. An
opinion of our own as to how the Lord
wants things done is very dangerous His
commands arc very plainly stated Deut
xvii, 3; Hab. H., %, and our part is prompt
implicit and unquestonipg obedience. His
thoughts and ways are rs far above and
better than ours as heaven than earth. Why
then, question them?
22 Behold, TO obey is better than sacri-
flee and to hearken than the fat of rams"
Mercy aud the knowledge Of God are moro
desirable than sacrifice or burnt Offering
(Hos. vi, G). See the Saviour's indorse-
mcnt OF this in Math. iX., 13; xii, 7. All
sacrifice and burnt Offering pointed to Him,
and He was the perfection of obedience and
submission to His Father. wholly yielded to
Him that He might do all the WORKS and
speak ali the words The command to obey
the voice OF God preceded any reference
whatever to burnt Offering AMI sacrifice
(Jrr. VIII. -, 23N.
%. "Brraus" thou hast reic ted the word
oi.hN Lord He hG.H also rejected thee from
l"iu,c iia-" s.. also vcrsy rs, Truth i,
th' rharaci"ri,tic of Father. Son and Holy
SpirE. L!i whoever Hr Gets the word OF God
mHk"~ h'w Il Ijur / Joan V. lO) and thus
cuts AliH-"ii oil lr'a all fellowship with
God. H"W! now couI"S5"s his sin and
a"EH"" lodges lhat h" sought to plrase tho
people rather than 60! overs, ~. That hc
was not, however. Il truly humb!,d man is
.,"uG IN that lie desired Samuci - honor him
before the pcopic (vcr>1 3Ub. See Gal. i.,