The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-07-22
The SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
July 26.
Subject: Saul Rejected as King, Sam. xv.,
l3.23--dolden Text, Sam. xv., 2z-Mem.
ory Verses, zo.z2-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 II de-
tailed record of three great errors OF this
first king of Israel: !. His disobedience 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 so,emnly declared to
him that his kingdom would not De per-
petuated in his own posterity Il Sam.
1878, lI). .. His rash and foolish vow,
which he was unable to fulfill, but which
brought great Suffering to the .peop.e and
wel.nigh cost the life of Jonathan his son
q Sam. l4:2445J. 3. His failure to execute
the divine judgment on the Amalekites as
jehovah commanded, the details OF which
are given in this fifteenth chapter. All
the subsequent misfortunes OF saul and
his insane pursuit of David were traits OF
judicial blindness, the penal consequences
OF these three fatal errors.
|. Saul's act of disobediercc Tvs. l0.l4.
The command was to utterly destroy the
Amalekites 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 un-
reasonable to them. Then it was that they
yielded to the temptation to appropriate
to themselves the riches OF their con-
qrered foe, and with Saufs consent the
peop,e brought home the best OF the hocks
and herds alive Tor their farms, DESTROYING
only the poor and worthless. This re-
vealed their covetousness and their dispo.
sition to satisfy themselves rather than
obey Gods pain command.
-, II. Samuel came The Lord in
formed Samuel of Saul's disobedience. and
Samuel was grieved and spent the whole
night crying to God. His great soul was
was disappointed IN Saul. 2. He saw the
evil effect Sauis act would have on the
morals OF the people. 3. He saw that this
rejection OF Saul would result in great
ca.amity to the new government and to
the prosperity OF the country. lie prayed.
no doubt. that the king might be forgiven
and the threatened calamity ayerted. saul
said" Saul was either blinded by partial
md delusive seif-.ove, or he was in his
declaration to Samuel acting the part of
bold and artful hypocrte. Perhaps Saul
tried to persuade himself to believe that
because he had gained victory he would
not be brought to strict account for his
actions: but success will not take the
place of obedience; neither will partial
obedience answer. Samuel said Samuel
had very unpleasant duty to perform,
but alter praying all night he was iully
prepared for it. saul is convicted o. false
hood by the voices of the animals which
he has spared contrary to Gods comman |.
His eagerness to declare his obedience was
evidently an effort to quiet his conscience
and cover his sin.
II. Sauls vain excuses Tvs. l5-2D. ID
"Saul said" After distinctly stating that
he had performed the commandment OF the
Lord he now proceeds to make three cX-
cuses, for not having performed it, l. The
n nsr
had been. spared. 3: They disobeyed for
the Lords sake. THE people spared"
This was shameful excuse for a strong
king like Saul. Had his people overruled
him and spared these animals, then he
would have had cause to plead his sorrow
What goodness could they claim by such
an act? God appointed these animals to
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. y good
intention will not justify bad action.
God hates robbery for burnt offerings. :,
false pretenses. "Will tell thee" Here
follows an oracle Of prophecy as direct,
fearless and powerful as any in the Bible.
Lord hath said Samuel carefully avoids
further reasoning, until he should let Saul
hear Gods message about the matter. He
had not come against him to set forth
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-
ber his modesty and humility at that time.
He would more quickly see the contrast;
had assigned to Saul would have been
more like prosperous journey. than a
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 anv OF the enemies
spoil. The sinners" Here we see the
real reason why the Amaiekites were to
be destroyed.
1921. "But didst fy." With great
greediness, as a hungry bird or beast upon
its prey. "Dldst evil" Dsobedence il
the great sin in Gods sight. Such dis.
position will include all forms OF sin. II
have obeyed." Saul still contends for his
Amalekites, and so far he obeyed, and he
will not accept the charge offered against
him. Nave brought Agag." God bade
him kill all. and vet he puts in among the
instances of his disobedience, that he had
brought Agag alive, which he thought was
sists that he had utterly destroyed the
Ama.ekites 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
22-3l).
80. "As 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
il the heart is not moved; God wants our
love, our trust, our life. ''To obey is bet.
ter" For because OF disobedence is the
very reason why sacrifices are required.
1t is much better not to take poison and
then be obliged to call the physician and
take his remedies.
23 "Rebellion-witchcraft 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 lex.
22:ls; lev. 1926. 81; Deut. 1870. Ter.
aphim." These were small household
gods. Hath also rejected" A man dis.
o5edient 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 ruS OF man who re-
iected Gods rule over him.
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