The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-18

the truth. The reason for Gods repentance
| Is clearly stated Saul had turned back
| from following as a servant and became
disloyal Samuel was de,nly affected N
hearing this intelligence. Although he had
! predicted such result tCh. xiii. ~. h crl"a
/ all night unto the Lord seeking 10 reverse
the decision. der. xiii. 10
GREBTING-Next morning Samuel went
forth to meet Saul But the latter. instead
o. turning as he ought 10 have done 10 re-
| port to the prophet and give thanks for
victory. turned aside to the little town OF
/ Carmel. in the mountains of judah. GoSh.
XIV. 55j There he built him a place -
erected Il triumphal monument. In this he
Gen. iii. 1oy, anxious to escape from Samuel
o., by pride and ambition. being etdted by
success. Thence he passed on to G!iSii'
Samuel; informed Of these movements
followed on The King greeted Samuel
| with these words: blessed be thou OF the
Lord have performed the commandment
OF fear. falseho0d and hypocrisy. He knew
that he had not fulfilled the commission TO
execute the long-deiayed Judgment OF God
And yet he assumed a sanity bearing,
| using speech often employed by GOOD men
Gen. xiv, Pa PRAYER and Compliment
| combined. Judges xviii - IL This way.
even without reason. he may have hoped TO
| conciliate Samuel. whose presence At that
time must have been the source OF d!scom-
REBUKE-samuel was not won by fat
tering words. neither deceived by vain pro
fessions He had been too long in the
service of God to hesitate in the discharge
OF duty, His all-night prayer. with 20
| answer changing the message, left no doubt
in early earl childh hoo still giowed in his heart
. awakening fresh enthusiasm for righteous
ness He felt no fear of the King whom he
had anointed. and whom he regarded as
| vicegenerent of God. Moreover. while an-
p'oachtng the camp he had obtained kn0wl-
edge. Of the ill-gotten spoil. While saul was
speaking Samuel heard sounds that gave
/ the lie to his words. Numb. XXXIi, -.
Then came the rebuke: What rneaneth the
bleating OF the sheep in mine ears and the the
dumb beasts gave testimony. The conse-
quence OF wrong-doing had risen up 70
Is no spot in all the whole universe OF God
whore a sinner may hide and be secure
against detection. Gen. "; 40 Saul fed
! from Samuel. but he could not flee from
sin
EXCUsE-It is probable that. Samuel
pentance. thereby restoring him to divine
| favor. Jer. xviii. 81 Most men break down
when their faults are exposed This fact
| was the basis OF the prophetic service usa.
| lvi!: II But those men who lack moral
| courage will attempt TO extenuate their Of
lenses whenever favorable construction
can be put on damaging facts In d9ins
| this they NAV tell the truth or part of IL;
| Gen. iii. l2l That truth or half truth VIII
! generally expose their weakness. II Will be
| an effort to excuse conduct by relating pal
| lating circumstances. II originates in all
| desires to escape the full charge OF evil. to
/
therefore explained to Samuel that the
people had spared the best of the sheep and
claimed personal responsibility in the mat
ter. lying upon others the blame, but endeav-
ored to justify the act by the motive which
| prompted it His statement may have been
! true. or partly true. or wholly false.
MDSSAGE-Saul was not permitted to
ease his conscience, and terminate the inter
vastly worse for him and the nation had he
succeeded In doing 50, Concealed sin ger
inmates and grows. PROV. xviii. 49, Like
Nathan III Sam. vii 81. Samuel determined
TO prooe the Kings heart and Law open it's
secrets. The attempted excuse made pain
as Saul was about to retire. and 1 will tell
| thee what the Lord hath said Permission
being giTen. Samuel rehearsed the case He
reminded Saul that when he was little in
his own eyes" God had amounted him to be
! head of the tribes" Here We're two
i thoughts-Saul had been made King by di-
| vine favor when he had nothing TO com
mend himself Samuel next referred to the
Instructions to utterly destroy the ArIale-
kites" Here was severe logic. Saul had de-
rived an ONCE and received commands from
Gcd. His obligation to God was therefore
paramount. He had no liberty OF choice
you not obeyed?" was the searching ques-
ton, the faithful gsntlensss OF which is ad-
mirable and even wonderful. under the pc
DEFENSE-Samuel'sw words failed of their
intended purpose, and Saul endeavored to
defend his s action In part he repeated
slight change. Still claiming that the peo-
pie had preserved the animals for sacrifice.
he admitted that they should have been
destroyed, no longer attempting. as before,
to shield the traEsgressors from blame.
For himself he protested obedience. say
Ing: 81 have gone the way which the Lord
sent and utterly destroyed the Amlekites."
Here his plea broke down. for he was COM
the King Roe alive T ffa defenae aed
Admitting that the people preserved the
cattle for motives mentioned. Saul. was
ity to control the people Furthermore. he
had not more right to spare the Amalekite
kirg than the hJ!mblest man, It IS prob,
able that a sinister motive was behind ali
Sauls actions. In imitation OF the Kings
Of other nations he expected to establish
his own glory by exhibiting at Carmel the
Industrious captive, and by Offering at Gill
ga! immense sacrifices to the Lord. For
illustratiUn see similar procedures in pro-
JUDGAIENT-After two unsuccessful eff
forts TO convert Saul-the first gentle ex-
CURRY Samuel had done his full duty 10 the
King. Two qualities had been closely eN-
fihited: the rebellion and stubbornness.
obstirItely defended his conduct. He had
even sought TO prostitute the ordinances
of religion to initiate his conceit II was
useless TO make further entreaties. There
are times when men may be abandoned TO
their own ways, inasmuch as there is no
soPs for reform 1t 1t remains then for
and leave him. He first instructs. He
informs the King that obedience is more
than sacrifice. The perfunctory Offering of
animals the, alter. after. prescribed
form, when the heart and life are not
right. is an abomination lisa. |. 49,
Wicked men. often engage in righteous
forms TO maintain their reputation. (Mat
Nv. 81 Samuel told Saul that rebellion
was the sin of witchcraft. an evil by which
| he was destined to be ensnared Il Sam.
xviii. H. and ended by declaring that God
| had rejected him.
REFLECTIONS What turned Saul's
heart away from God? That which has
caused many to fall in all ages and lands
the honor of office the applause of men.
the love of power. dan ~. 90 When first
| anOnted Saul was humble Verse 10 and
when he went against the Ammonites he as
ISOLATED Samuels name with his own In the
proclamation. feeling the need of counsel
and assistance. But when in the popular
assembly he was q second time proclaimed
Kirg. none daring to question och ri. 49, he
first began TO trust In army. and then
went to battle without Samuel (Ch. xii. s. 81.
deeming himself sufficient for both priestly
and kingly duties. Next he made rash
| and ineXcuSable oath and was ready to put
his son TO death. Ch. xiv. A. Finally il
seemed to him proper after destroying a
nation whom God would punish to save its
King tina. he might be honored. and to
bring sheep and oxen for sacrifice TO in
crease his fame. Thus he labored not for
God. hut for self