The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-31

lCONIEhI.--On nearing SaEluel lnot
words (chap. xv:23). referred to In last
Sundays lesson, Saul repented, exclaim-
Ing, II have sinned In obeying the peo-s
pie rather than Cod" Pleading for par
don, he forclbly detained the prophet
who declared that the Kingdom had been
given to another. dan. v:2S) Samuel
tarried long enough for Saul to Worship
Then calling for Agag, the Amelekite
king, he hewed him In pieces, proclaim
Ing the judgment of God for offenses
After that the two men separated. never
to meet again. Saul returned to Gibeah
q doomed man. Samuel went to his homo
in Ramah. Borrowing for the rejected
king He could not dismiss from his
mind the fate Of one whom he had
anointed, with whom he had held sweet
counsel, from whom, because of prom
Using beginning (ch. x:26), he had reason
to expect valuable service Any disturb
ance in civil affairs brings anxiety to
the ministers Of religion, who are always
greved when rulers go astray, knowing
that the people also will suffer. Ger,
KID
MESSAGE .-samuels grief for Saul
may have continued for many months.
(ch. xv:11.) At last he was aroused BY
the voice of God. expostulatlng with him.
He was informed that the rejection was
absolute and final DER. vi:30), and that
longer mourning would be Improper. q
John, v:l6). 1t Is the duty of good men
to bow submissively to the Divine will.
(Matt., xxvi:42). Besides, He who re-
moveth one and setteth up another (Dan.,
ii:2D, had already found among the thou
sands OF Israel a successor to- Saul one
who would be true and faithful. (Acts,
xil:o2). God Is never disappointed. His
resources are unfailing. There is. there
fore, work for Samuel vastly more I'M
portant than to sit gloomlly lamenting
+ ipp vi 'tTj11
thine horn with oil Oh. Kings, ix:D.
was the message. Turn to the future
let the past be buried, Matt. viii.2.,.
~ will send thee to Jesse" he continued
pious man In Judah, as appears by his
sacrifices later on (ch. xx:eo) In which
ho was like a patriarch Job i:5) u
have provided me n king among his sons"
The old prophet must repeat a service
rendered "A few years ago (ch. x:D. only
then he took vial, now horn, the
supply Of oil being more plentiful, as
indicating more abundant blessing.
DANGER.-Samuel felt that the eXecu-
ton Of this commission would imperil
his life. He had openly reproved the
king and destroyed the trophy by which
vanity. He had withdrawn from tho
court and ceased to advise and bless,
All this was calculated to awaken Ill Will
in the heart OF one who had rejected
God. 1t was not to be expected that
Saul would allow another king to be set
up In his lifetime. How can | go''
Samuel inquired of the Lord, The ques-
ton did not proceed from fear-his former
action was proof on that point tCh,
Nv:33). But he desired instruction con-
corning the method OF procedure, In,
order to success. 1t was new eNpe-
rience to him. and he needed guidance
(Mntt,. x:l6). When the path OF duty
Is plain one may go forward without
hesitation. But when obstacles arise,
when peculiar trial is likely to come.
then prudence requires that the Divine
wisdom should be invoked 10 know how
to do. duke. xvi;SJ 1t Is not enough
to do what God dlrecs-man should so
do that afterward Gods purpose may be
attained. Failure frequently results from
i5
COUNSEL.-The desired advice was
given, Samuel was instructed to go to
Bethelhem to sacrifice He must take a
his his e errand. The Journey would attract
no particular attention. because he had
frequently gone on such business och.
mi wa an mo bn s 1 re
ligious act, Arriving. at Bethlehem no
was told to declare his purpose In com.
to tell the whole truth, but he was not
required to tell fasehood He was.
particularly directed to inviNe Jesse and
his sons to the feast that followed the
sacrifice, and wait for further instrue-
tion. Thus Samuel was to proceed, step
by step, as he might be personally led;
So was II With Moses OK. I, lX Z "a and
uel obeyed The elders n Of p, Bet 1n!. EN-
buke or chastisement. lios. VI:5o Quiet
Ing their fears, he called the people TO 70
washing their bodies. CHANGING their
clothes. and preparing their minds, IN
tering the home of jesse where probably
he took up lodgings, he must have made
known the real object OF ms visit, Elv'ns
the household.
sELECTIoN-The sons OF Jesse we're pre-
sented one at a time to the propheth that
he Almishty might name ea The chosen Z, one,
proper person. hut the Lord refused him.
saying mat He Looked I9t az Y, The OUTWARD
the heart e Sam Xly,25) .Abinadab
and Shamgar followed, but neither Was
chosen. Seven sons entered and retireo,
but no king. 1t was then learned that