The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-07-24
GOLDEN TENT.-To obey IL bette
fhan sacrINce-l Sam. I3,22
NOTES AND COMMENTS

NDiy ABOUT 100 II. G.
PLACE.-Gilgai and Mictmash
NOTES AND COMMENTS
When Saul was made king he was
charged TO implicitly obey the com
ma nds of Jehovah. For DISC Dedience
he was twice rejected; first. as to his
house (l3:l3, 14). and. second. as to
himself (l5). One vii; have 10 study
the whole story of Saul's reign in order
TO ascertain all the reasons that led TO
his rejection.
The news Of the union OF the scat
tered clans of Israel under King Saul.
and their victory in Gilead. soon
reached their longtime oppressors,
the Philistines. They immediately
plan TO invade the land. to reassert
their authority and again to terrorize
the people into subsection. The He
brews flee. some finding refuge in the
mountains. others leaving the coun-
try.
Saul bravely recruits the faithful
ones AZ Gilgal. where Samuel had in
structed him to wait before strik-
ing the first blow for independence.
at the non-arriyal of the prophet. the
king prepares TO begin the campaign,
and as the initial step. sacrifices burnt
offerings. At this juncture Samue'
appears and severely rebukes Saul for
disobedience. threatening to wrest the
kingdom from him. SauIs sin was not
the mere act of assuming prlesfly
functions. as has been traditionally
supposed. II was his impatient self
assertiveness in failing 10 wait for
Samuels advice as to God's will in this
great national crisis
Yet Sauis little army succeeds in re-
puising the Philistines. through the
personal bravery Of his son jonathan
and the strange panic he causes among
the foe. Saul leads the triumphant
pursuit. with constantly growing
forces. This chapter show. plainly
that Saul's devotion was 70 .he FORM
Of religion. rather than It's spirit.
Some years after this first campaign
with the Philistines. the events Of to-
days lesson occurred Samuel. still
supreme as the adviser Of the king.
brought word TO Saul that rs-ael's
ancient foe. the Amalekites. must be
DESTROYED. Such Wholesale slaughter
could not be justified in Christian
times. The Cambridge Bible saws:
"Such commands were an accommodate
ton TO the moral and religions st<te
OF the nation TO which they were
given. Revelation is progressive. ard
Gods dealings with the chosen people.
while designed 10 raise and educate
them. were necessarily conditioned nv
their moral state at the given period"
Meeting Samuel awkwardly on RS
return. Saul greets him with piors
expression Of welcome. laws upon the
soldiers the blame for his own dis
obedience. and untruthfully claim.
that all the animals spared were in
tended for sacrifice.
Jehovah anointed thee" Saul Is \
that he is answerable 70 Ore
higher than himself: We. he has dis.
pbeyed Gods prophet. "Didst fiy upon
the spoil:" Descriptive Of a Wild |
carnival Of eager. selfish greed. Yet /
Samuel had intended the expedition 10
De- religious one. TO execute what lie I
believed TO be the divine will. "To
obey Is better than sacrifice" Moral
conduct 10 more than rituaI-one Of
the loftiest thoughts Of the Old Tesla
ment and the keynote Of all prophetic
teaching. "God rejects Saul from be-
ng king over Israel. since he had re-
|ected God from being King over
Saul "-A6ams.