The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-25
Che International SUNDAY School Lesson
26.>

The soul Of Samuel was so knit to Saul's
that he mourned over him more than
over HIS own sons. OF magnificent ply
sique. of marvellous courage, battling un-
daunted against terrible odds. causing
IsraeTs oppressors to loosen their hold,
he was the pioneer in royalty. making
possible David's kingship and kingdom. +"
Saul's Sin.
Saul's sin was, fundamentally, the
want of a believing heart. Saul failed
because he never did, and never could.
spiritually understand God nor his
ways-"the things of God are spiritually
discerned.' Saul had respect for God
and his holy religion. He had a kind of
traditional and intellectual faith in God.
but he seems never to have had any heart
faith in God nor any personal knowledge
of or trust in him. He tried to serve God
not in Gods way but in his own way.
His service was conventional rather than
reverential. Saul's intention was in a
way good. but his way would soon have
exalted the King OF earth over the King
OF heaven. IF God was to be worship
ed as the Hebrew monarch thought best,
the government would become an abso-
lutte monarchy. IL the King of England
attempted. disregarding the rights and
will of the people. to rule them as he
preferred. 1t would be declared treason.
small act of treason justif1es vehement
protest and punishment. The present
age needs this lesson Within the
church are some, without the church are
multitudes, who acknowledge God AZ
their God, who do many things for him
and for his cause, but who assume tho
privilege of serving him as they prefer.
according to the dictates OF their Judg-
ments, without regard to his specific
commands. The peril OF the day is not
iafidelity. but Saulism-doing for God
what man chooses rather than what God
requires Many of these are uncon-
scious, as was Saul, OF the grievous char
acter OF their seemingly righteous deeds.
They suppose that, of course, their ser
vice is acceptable 20 God; but ii cannot
be. No man would be satisfied with this
| in his dealings with his fellow-men. He
asks OF his employe not simply service
but the service commanded. The ply
| stefan is not satisfied IL his patient takes
some medicine; he insists on the medt
cine prescribed. No righteous father is
content with a flial devotion that fol-
lows it's own sweet will without reference
, TO the parental requirements.
Gods command to Saul was: GO
and utterly destroy the sinners. the
/ Amalekites."
This war was to be strictly a holy
war. a punitive war not war for glory
or Acknowledgement. But Saul mace II
both and saved the best of the spoils-
gold. silver, and cattle-for himself and
the nation, and saved Agag, the Amaie-
kite King, alive also-presumably, we
may suppose, to grace his triumphal
march homeward. God was righteously
Indignant at such q service as this or
such an occasion as this. Saul explained
that the cattle were saved for the pur-
pose OF being used on the affairs Of
God as a sacrifice to him. There are
times when an excuse is not acceptable
to either God or man. This excuse o.
Saul did not excuse him to the hol!
and righteous God.
Samuel explained to him that 70 th'
true God: Obedience is better than AM
form of worship and that Righteousness
In his sight is more acceptable thar
anything we can give him
1t is interesting to try to determine
whether Saul was more self-deceived o.
more hypocritical In his defense OF hi
conduct in his conversation will
Samuel.
He was probably both. The bleatint
OF the sheep and the lowing of the cat
tie that he had brought home with hin
exposed his sin. Our sins have an un
comfortable way OF bleating out at tn
wrong timei