Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-07-24
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
July 26.
Subject: Saul Rejected as King, Sam. xy,
l@3-GoIden Text, Sam. XIV, Z2-Mem-
cry Verses, zO.22-Commentary on
the Days Lesson.

Connecting Links. After Samuel had
made his farewell address to the people
at Gilgal, Saul quietly assumed the work
of king of Israel. His reign seems to have
been one of almost constant warfare.
Chapters 1915 of Samuel contain de-
tailed record of three great errors. OF TINS
first king of Israel |. His disobedlence IN
failing to wait at Gilgal for the coming
of Samuel to offer burnt offerings; and
there, where he had been confirmed in the
kingdom, it was solemnly declared to
him that his kingdom would not DE per
petuated in his own posterity I! SAM
1878, A. 2. His rash and foolish vow,
which he was unable to fulfill but which
brought great suffering to the people and
well-nigh cost the life OF Jonathan his son
Il Sam. 4:24-45). g. His failure to execute
the divine judgment on the Amalekltes as
Jehovah commanded, the details OF winch
are given in this fifteenth chapter. All
the subsequent misfortunes or Saul and
his insane pursuit of David were fruits OF
judicial blindness, the penal consequences
of these three fatal errors.
l. Saul's act of disobede9ce Tvs. lO-l4).
The command was to utterly destroy the
Amaekites and their possessions; but the
great wealth which they possessed was IL
strong temptation to Saul and his army,
and the command no doubt appears UNI
TPdSOUdDIc W lbClll' IHCl ~ was ti"O my
Welded to the temptation to appropriate
to themselves the riches of their con-
ouered foe and with SauPs consent the
people brought home the best of the hocks
and herds alive for their farms, destroying
only the poor and worthless. This re-
yealed their covetousness and their dispo,
sition to satisfy themselves rather than
obey Gods pain command, ~
l3. H. Samuel came" The. Lord IN.
Id;
Samuel was grieved and spent the whole
night crying to God. His great soul was
stirred to its profoundest depths. l. He
was disappointed in Saul g He saw the
evil effect SauPs act would have on the
morals of the people. 3. He saw that this
rejection of Saul would result in great
calamity to the new government and to
the prosperity of the country. He prayed.
no doubt, that the king might be forgiven
said" Saul was either blinded by partial
and delusive self-love, or he was in hi.
declaration to Samuel acting the part of
a bold and artful hypocrite. Perhaps Saul
tried to persuade himself to believe that
because he had gained victory he would
not be brought to a strict account for his
actions; but success will not take the
place Of obedience; neither will a partial
obedience answer. Samuel sad. Samuei
had q very uUpltuSduI uuJ) " pNllOi 49,
but after praying all night he was fully
prepared for it. Saul is convicted OF false
hood bv the voices of the animals which
he has spared contrary to Gods comman |.
Ills eagerness to declare his obedience. was
evidently an effort to quiet his conscience
and cover his sin. -,
III. SauPs vain excuses Tvs. l1-2l). ID
"Saul said" After distinctly stating that
he had performed the commandment of the
T Il - rronoaAo to rnaya thrpp
cuses for not having performed it.: l. The
people we're to blame. 2. Only. the best
had been spared. g. They disobeyed for
the Lords sake. "The people spared"
This was a shameful excuse for strong
king like Saul Had his people overrued
him and spared these animals; then ne
would have had cause to plead his sorrow
to Samuel, when they met. ITO sacrifice,
What goodness could they claim by such
be sacrificed to Him in the field, and there
fore will give no thanks to those who bring
them to be sacrificed at His altar. "A good
intention will not justify bad action.
God hates robbery for burnt offerings.
fa! SEQ pretens as "Wifll tell thee" Here
follows an oracle of prophecy as direct,
fearless and powerful as any in the Bible
"Lord hath said" Samuel carefully avoids
hear Gods message about the matter. lie
had not come against him to set forth
his own opinions, but only offered Gods
word. "Wast little" 1t would help Saul
to look back to the time when Samuel had
anointed him, and when the people had
chosen him for their king. and to remem'
Der his modesty and humility at that time.
He would more quickly see the eh GohtT God
had assigned to Saul would have been
more like a prosperous journey. than IA
war, had he gone in the strength OF the
Lord. God would have so abundantly
supplied his needs, that there would have
been no call to spare any of the enemies
spoil. "The sinners" Here we see the
real reason why the AmalekiteS were TO
be destroyed. ,
1921. "But didst fly" With great
H its prev % Il evil" Disobedience is
the great sin in Gods sight. Such DIS DIS
position will include all forms of sin. Il
have obeyed." Saul still contends for his
uprightness. He had gone against the
Amalekites, and so far he obeyed, and he
will not accept the charge offered against
him. "Have brought Agag.". God babe
him kill all, and yet he puts in among the
instances of his disobedience, that ne mao
brought Agag alive, which he thought was
as good as if he had killed him. He in
sists that he had utterly destroyed the
Amalekites themselves, which was the
main thing intended. Agag was probably
an official title like pharaoh among the
Egyptians and like president" among, us;
(Which should have been" Here Saul
admits his knowledge of Gods command
ment in telling what should have been
destroyed.
III. Saul condemned and rejected Tvs
22-3D.
%. GAS great delight" Nothing can
take the place of obedience. Greater zeal,
obeying outward ordinances, many prayers,
greater generosity-none of these things
will answer. Outward forms are nothing
if the heart is not moved; God wants our
love- our trust, our life. ''To obey is bet
ter" For because of disobedience is the
very reason why sacrifices are required;
1t is much better not to take poison ana
then be obliged to call the physician and
take his remedies. -,
%. Northumberland The mean
ing is that Saul's rebellious and stubborn
opposition to God was as bad as witch
craft and ido.atry. A witch was, liable to
be put to death according to law Elk.
?2:lS; Lev. 1925, 81; Deut. 1870. Ter,
aphim" These were small household
gods. Hath also rejected" A man dls'
obedent to God is unfit to govern his
people. BY disobedience, Saul turned him.
self out Of office. God would not subject
His people to the rule Of man who re-
jected Gods rule over him.