The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-07-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
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-MenOry verses, SosSS-SoH"enesNy
on the Days Lesson.
Connecting Links. After Samuel had
made his farewell address to the people
at Gilgal Saul quietly assumed the work Z
of king of Israel. His reign seems to have
been one of almost constant warfare.
Chapters 1915 of Samuel contain a de
tailed record OF three great errors OF this
first king of Israel: l..;His disobedience in
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 be per-
petuated in his own posterity Sam.
1913, l4). 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 "a 2445). 8. His failure to execute
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 fruits OF
judicial blindness, the penal consequences
Of these three fatal errors. - ( . 4 30
|. SauPs act of disobedience Tvs. l0-l4l.s
The command was to utterly destroy the
Amalekites and their possessions; but the
great wealth which they possessed was q
Strong temptation to Saul and hisfainys.
and the command no doubt appears r1-
reasonable to them. Then it was that they
yielded to the temptation to appropriate
to themselves the riches of their eon-s
ouered foe, and with SauPs consent the
people brought home the best of the Hooks
and herds alive for their farms, destroying
only the poor and worthless. Thls re-
vealed their covetousness and their dispo-,
sition to satisfy themselves rather than
obey Gods plain command.
7 Is, l4. Samuel came" The Lord M
formed Samuel of Saul's disobedience, and
Samuel was grieyed and spent the whole
stirred to It's profoundest depths. !. He
was disappointed in Saul. 2. He say the
evil effect Saups act would have on the
morals of the people. 8. 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
and the threatened calamity ayerted. 1Sa1I
said" Saul was either blinded by partial
and delusive self-loye, or he was IN MS:
declaration to Samuel acting the part of
a bold and artful hypocrite. Perhaps saul
tried to persuade himself to believe tbats
because he had gained a 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 said. Samuel
had a very unpleasant duty to perform,
but after praying all night he was July
prepared for it. Saul is convicted OF talse-.
hood by the voices of the animals which
he has spared contrary to Gods eommand.
His eageTness to declare his obedience waB
evidently an effort to quiet his conscience
and cover his sin. .'..;-f q;
II. Saul's vain excuses (vs. 1921 l5..
"Saul said" After distinctly stating that
he had performed the commandment OF the
Lord ne now proceeds to make three sx-,
cuses for not having performed it,: a. IheS
people were to blame; 2. Only the pess3
had been spared. 9: They disobeyed ior
the Lords sake. "The people spared,
This was a shameful excuse for a strong
king, like Saul. Had his people oyerrnlsd
him and spared these animalsi then ne
would have had cause to plead his sorrow
to Samuel, when they met. TO sacrifice.
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. a coed
intention will not justify bad action
God hates robbery for burnt offerings.
1913. "Stay." Step these shallow Ind and
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 Sapl.
hear Gods message about the matter. He
had not come against him to get torsh'
his own opinions, but only offered Gods
word. "Wast little" It 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 renlem-
ber his modesty and humility at that time
He would more quickly see the CONTRAST.
"On Journey" The work which God
had assigned to Saul would have been
more like prosperous journey tnan g.
war, had he gone in the strength OF the
supplied his needs, that there would have
been no call to spare any of the enemies,
spoil. 1.-The sinners" Here We see the
real reason why the Amalekites were 70
1921. 'But didst fly" With great
creedmess. as o hungry bird or beast upon
its prey. "Dldst evil" Disobedience ls
the great sin in Gods sight. Such dls,
position will include all forms Of SIN
have obeyed." Saul still contends for his:
uprigbtness. He had gone against the
viii not accept the charge offered against
him. "Have brought Agag." God bade
him kill all, and vet he puts in among the
instances of his disobedienee, that he had
brought Agag alive, which he thought was,
as good as # he had killed him. He I'M
sists that he had utterly destroyed: thS
Amalekites themselves, which was theV
main thing intended. Agag was probably
an official title like pharaoh" among the
Egyptians and like president. among ns;
(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 tes.
22.3D. ,,,
take the Dlaee of obedience. Greater ZEAL
obeying outward ordinances, many prayers,
greater generosity-none of these things
will answer. Outward forms are nothingS
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. -,
%. Rebellion -witchcraft." The mean.i
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 1Ex-
22.Is; Lev. 1926, 81; Deut. 1910. Ter,
Gods. Hath also rejected" A man dis
obedient TO God is unfit to govern his
neople, By disobedience, Saul turned him
self ont of office. God would not subject :
Ris people to the rule of q -.an who re- Z
iec:ed Gods rule over h'in.