Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1907-07-24
resumed his pacing


to himsEG. Am l not hing: mo TO
WON should the people look for en-
enlargement but to the king?"
For nearly seven days now he had
held his little army together on the
promise and expectation that upor,
the coming of Samuel the fortune OF
the army of Israel would change But
each day as he had waited he lad
seen his army dwindle and he knew
that even those who remained wure
faint of heart, and unfit to enter into
Philistines.
The latter had gathered a strong
army and had come up upon the land
and encamped at Nichmash. the PEG
pie fleeing before the advancing host
and hiding in the rocks and .aves.
and the thickets and wheresoever
there was afforded shelter. In fact
many of the people became so ralic
stricken as to flee across the Jordan
to the land Of Cad and Gilead. And
King Saul had done the best he uolld.
He had given the signal throughout
the land calling the fighting mep to-
gether and sought by every means TO
reassure the people.
At the very beginning OF the trou.
bic, soon after Jonathan, Saurs 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 tho
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 desertions, aud the sudden
resolve to take matters in his own
hands. And then began 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 az
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? 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 vital factor to sue
cess. He remembered not that il was
safer to wait on God even to the very
brink of seeming misfortune than IL
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-
lore the people, so that ii seemed at
least to him that his position and
authority were at stake. and that the
whole welfare of the nation conferred
around his decisive action.
Thus il 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
absorbed were the people watching
their king that they did not observe
the quiet approach of figure wran.
ped close in his dark robe and NOV.
ing slowly, but watching intently the
scene before him. Saul had lust
laid the bleeding sacrifice upon the
smoking altar and had turned toward
the people as though he would bless
them, when 10 before him he sees a
figure that causes him TO start and
tremble. At the same moment the
people catch sight of the new conner
and observing the familiar form. they
shout:
Samuel has GOMEZ"
samuel! are the faltering WORDS
which drop from Sauls paling Inns
and he struggles to gain control OF
himself. He steps forward and ss
lutes the prophet deferentially. bu,
Samuel, with an imperious gesture
stops him, and in stern tones de-
mands:
What hast thou done?"
Because that saw that the peo
pie were scattered from me. and that
thou earnest not within the DAYS an.
pointed, and that the Phiistines gath.
cred themselves together at Mich
mash; therefore said !. the PhiIistincs
VIII come down upon me at GfgaI
and have not made suDpiication unto
the Lord. ] forced myself. therefore
and offered burnt Offering"
t.st.r.... -.
hou hast done foolishly." Samuel