The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1907-07-13
ness and Haul resumed DE pacing
hack and forth.

WAy 0A00A0 AONs ~ A@eeNs~'S~
to himself Am not king? and to
whom should the people look for en-
couragement but TO the kingf"
For nearly seven days now he had
held his little army together on the
promise and expectation that upon
the coming Of Samuel the fortune OF
the army OF Israel would change. But
each day a. he had waited he had
seen his army dwindle. and he knew
that even those who remained were
faint OF heart, and unflt to enter into
conflict with their powerful foe, the
Phiiistines.
The latter had gathered . strong
army and had come up upon the land
and encamped at Michmash. the peo-
pie fleeing before the advancing host
and hiding In the rocks and caves.
and the thickets and wheresoever
there was afforded shelter. In fact
many of the people became 80 panic
stricken as to Zee across the Jordan
to the land of Cad and Gilead. And
King Saul had done the best he could.
He had given the signal throughout
the land calling the fighting men to-
gether and sought by every means to
reassure the people.
At the very beginning Of the trou-
bic. soon after Jonathan. Sau's SON,
had thrown down the pillar OF the
Philistines which they had erected to
| indicate their rule over the country,
word had been sent to Samuel Of the
| critical condition OF affairs and he
had sent back word that he would
come within seven days. Day after
day Saul had waited, each day find-
ing the numbers and the courage OF
his army growing less until at last
on the night on which we find him
pacing back and forth before his tent.
he has grown angry and desperate.
Then came the messenger telling OF
the final assertions. and the sudden
resolve to take matters In his own
hands. And then began a struggle
with his conscience which ended only
with the coming Of daylight and the
assembling of the people in accord.
ance with his command.
All night long he fought the battle
in his heart. He felt uneasy and
troubled at the thought of assuming
the priestly function and offering the
sacrifices which It was lawful only
for the priest to offer. But on the
other hand, he argued, here were the
desperate exigencies of the situation.
and what was to be done? And as
king was he not over and above all
others in the kingdom? Who was there
to dare call into question his acts?
Had not Samuel failed him? Why
need he longer wait on him?s In fact.
all depended upon prompt action.
Thus reasoning In the pride and con-
ceit of his own heart, he forgot to
count God in as a vital factor to sue
cess. He remembered not THAT It was
safer to walt on God even to the very
brink of seeming misfortune than It
was to plunge forward trusting en-
tirely upon human strength and wis.
dom. He belittled the thought Of
God and exalted his own position be-
fore the people, so that 1t seemed at
least to him that his position and
authority were at stake, and that the
whole welfare of the nation centered
around his decisive action.
Thus 1t came to pass that with the
coming together of the remnant Of
his army on the following morning
Saul was prepared with proud and
willful spirit to make the offerings
which the people brought before him.
With punctilious care Saul per-
formed all the sacred functions while
the people looked on with admiring
and approving glances. So intent was
Saul upon the task in hand and so
J absorbed were the people watching
their king that they did not observe
the quiet approach Of figure wrap
ped close In his dark robe and NOV
ing slowly, but watching intently the
scene before him. Saul had just
laid the bleeding sacrifice upon the
smoking altar and had turned toward
the people as though he would bless
J them, when 10 before him he sees q
figure that causes him to start and
tremhle. At the same moment the
people catch sight of the new conner.
and observing the familiar form, they
shout:
/ Samuel has comet"
Samuel" are the faltering word-
. which drop from Saul's paling lips
, and he struggles to gain control o'
himself. He steps forward and 50
lutes the prophet deferentially, bu.
Samuel, with an imperious gerture.
J stops him, and in stern tones de-
mands:
Al What hast thou done?"
| because that saw that the PEG
, pie were scattered from me, and that
| thou earnest not within the days ap
!. pointed, and that the Philistines gath.
, cred themselves together at Mich
mash; therefore. said I, the Philistines
will come down upon me at Gilgal
: and have not made duplication unto
: the Lord. forced myself. therefore
. and offered q burnt Offering"
Thou hast done foolishly," Samuel
replied. Thou hast not kept the com
mandment Of the Lord thy God. which
he commanded thee: for now would
2 the Lord have established thy king
dom upon Israel forever. But nov
fhv hin 9dom aha11 not continue. thu