The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-01
FOR AUGUST 2.

/ sad fate Of Saul. the reignlng King.
There is a world Of parhos and a world
of nobility in the statement that Sam
uel mourned for Saul" II shows US
how a cody mans heart grieves for an
ungodly man. ITO many a transgress-
ing boy. his godly father appears IN
feeling as a rock. whereas the fathers
| heart is breaking over the lads way
wardness." God rouses Samuel from his
sadness and grief by saying, How long
wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing !. have
rejected him from being King over Is
TaeI? Fill thy horn with oil, and go;
viii send thee to Jesse. the Bethle-
hemite, for I have provided me a King
among his sons"
Mourning for prodigal and castaway
may go too far. "Samuels grief was
very near becoming an arraignment Of
the wisdom. justice. and mercy of God.
No sorrow should go that far" When
disappointment comes in our lives we
must look for some new avenue and field
Of work for God and humanity open to
us in the providence of God. THE best
cure for grief Is activity. The cure for
SamueIs grief over Saul was-securing
David. The sight OF David was enough
10 reconcile him TO the Lords will"
Samuel received exact directions how
TO proceed so as not TO excite the anger
OF the despot Saul against him as the
new royal candidate. The amounting was
10 be private. not public Gods plans
and counsels are secret except to those
he chooses to reveal them. Samuel was
ordered to offer sacrifice at Bethlehem
and bid the neighbors there to the sac
ri6ce and to dine with the family OF
Jesse and among his Sons consecrate
one to be king.
Samuel was to have two missions to
Bethlehem. One was 70 be stated to all
inquirers. the other was to be reserved
for reasons OF prudence. We must tell
the truth in whatever We say, but the
occasion must decide whether We shall
tell all the truth or not The world has
not the right to know all our mind all
the time. II is never iustihabe to tell a
lie, but 1t is justihabIe sometimes to
conceal the truth
When the aged prophet approached the
little hamlet OF Bethlehem, the elders Of
the place were anxious concerning the
meaning OF the old leaders visit. They
knew not whether to rejoice or TO lear.
They inquired, CONTEST thou peace
ably?" Their consciences were a little
uneasy lest the prophet meant to call
them to account for some questionable
deed. The coming OF a messenger Of
God into a community always means Joy
or sorrow to that community II may
be his duty to rebuke or to commend and
reward Samuel answered the elders.
"Peaceably."
What q blessing a Cody servant Ct
God is TO any community. His advent
often means revival Of good there-the
beginning of heavenly things.
The people OF Bethlehem were called
upon by Samuel to sanctify themselves
for the worship TO take place in their
midst The ceremony was q symbol CT
inward purity. What a beautiful scene
Of family and community religion was
enacted here. what q holy thing family
piety is
The Choice.
Samuel soon proceeded TO carry out
the business he had on hand for God
with the household OF Jesse. One after
the other Of Jesse's sons were presented
70 Samuel, and as they did so Samuel
made up his own mind as TO which one
God meant to choose. Eliab, the eldest
and most royal looking outWardlv. was