The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-07-05
The hitter had gathered a sttone

Anu dt mith -
ple 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 SO panic
stricken as to fee 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
reassuHe the people.
At the very beginning Of the trou.
BILE, soon after Jonathan, Sauls son,
had thrown down the pillar OF the
Phaistines 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.
if.g 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, and the sudden
resolve to take matters in his "
hsnds. And then began a struggle
with his conscience which ended only
with the coming of daylight and the
assembling Of the people in accord
nce with his command.
All night long he fought the battle
in his heart. He felt uneasy and
troubled at the thought Of assuming
the priestiy function and Offering the
sacrifices which 1t was lawful only
for the priest to offer. But on the
desperate ~exlgencies 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? 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 suc-
cess. He remembered not that 1t was
safer to wait on God even to the very
brink of seeming misfortune than it
was to plunge forward trusting en-
tiroly 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 conferred
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
absorbed were the people watching
their king that they did not observe
the quiet approach Of a 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
MOLINE s1for and hal +,,,o,l to....-l |
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 comet"
Samuel" are the faltering words
which drop from Saul's paling lips.
and he struggles to gain control of
himself. He steps forward and sa.
lutes the prophet ~deferentially, but
Samuel, with an imperious gesture.
stops him, and in stern tones de.
mands:
WHdL Hast LHCu QOne /! |
Because that | saw that the peo.
pie were scattered from me, and that
thou earnest not within the days an
pointed, and that the Philistines gath
cred themselves together at Mich
mash; therefore, said /, the Philistines
will come down upon me at Gilgal.
and ] have not made supplication into
the Lord. | forced myself, therefore
and offered a 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
the Lord have established thy king
dom upon Israel forever. But now
thy kingdom shall not continue: the
Lord hath sought him a man afte,
his own heart, and the Lord hath
commanded him to be captain over
his people, because thou hast not kent
that which the Lord Commands
thee"
And Samuel without further word
arose and returned to Gibeah. leav.
ing Saul to ponder his words. the av.
full import Of which only the years IN
follow could unfold.