The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-07-23
SAUL REJECTED
BY THE LORD
Sunday School Lesson for July rs. 1908
Specially Prepared for This Paper

LESSON TEXT. / Samuel 1b.l3-2S
Memory Verse, 22
GOLDEN TEXT-'The Lord our God
will we serve and his voice will we obey"
Joshua PAPA
TIME-About 1919 n. G. Ussher), about
years after Saul began to reign. The
Revised Chronologles place It later.
PLACE.-oilgal In the Jordan valley.
Both reflections we're at this place. Sauls
capital was 0ibeah OF BENJAMIN. Ave or
SIX miles north of Jerusalem The re-
lisious center was at Shiloh, 1s miles
north OF Jerusalem.
PERsONS.-Samuel at Ramah. over 80
years of age. Saul holding court at Gi-
beah, about so years old Jonathan,
Saurs son, young prince. able to go to
war
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
In our last lesson we left Saul well
established ON his throne, with a wise
counsellor In Samuel. Several years
we're spent IN organizing the army, ar
ranging the government, in resisting
the encroachments OF the Philistines.
and IN various victorious campaigns in
self-defenso against the surrounding
nations. Saul showed himself to be a
skillful general, and proved that he
had in him the possibilities OF a great
king. Only the warlike Philistines
were able to resist him and his peo-
pie. and these we're very Troublesome
and oppressive. There are hints of a
royal court, aud those kingly exactions
OF which Samuel had forevarned the
people Compare 1 Sam. s:11 with 1
Sam. 14:5z).
The Inn0 MottInu II. tkot. 40.
perate circumstances neither king nor
people dared make a move without the
sanction OF God. Samuel had agreed
to come within seven days and offer
sacrifices and make known the will OF
God. Six days had gone, and the sew.
enth day was passing, yet no Samuel
appeared. To a commander like Saul,
who saw his army melting away like
snow In spring. and knew that the
enemy might swoop down upon them
at any hour, like the eagle from his
eyrie, or the wolf upon the fold: that
every moments delay weakened his
own forces and strengthened the en-.
emy-such a delay was almost intoier.
able. The temptation was very strong
to be his own priest, to offer the offer.
ings, contrary to Gods law and his
| agreement with Samuel, and press In.
to action. He yielded to the temptation
at the last moment, and offered the
burnt offerings.
The Sudden Appearance Of Samuel
The prophet had delayed his com
ing probably on purpose to test Saul
or he may have been unavoidably de-
talned.
Suddenly he appeared on the scene
Saul had failed in the hour Of trial
He did not trust God. He openly be
fore ali the people dlsobeyed a clear
commandment OF God. Samuel an
nounced the consequences to the king
The kingdom could not continue In his
family, nor reach its highest success
under him A portion of his posi-
bilities was lost; only "the second
best" remained to him. But he was
not deposed; other opportunities were
| open 10 him. Possibly he might re
trieve what was lost II he would.
A powerful nomadic tribe roaming
/ ONNl ouuNhblh anu NhH hNoNl
beyond, even as far as Sinai and the
Egyptian frontier-the Amalekites-
were a continual danger to Israel anC
to all that Israel stood for in the
progress of the world. Descended from
Esau's grandson. Amalek. a fierce, un
tamable race Of wanderers, Israel'
most harassing and unconquerable
enemies, these fierce marauders ICON
stantly lowered on the borders
swelled the Phllistine armies, or fol
lowed in the rear, like Tartar hordes
| pillaging and massacring, and as th'
Israelites had no cavalry, retreatet
without loss to the security of theil
deserts"
The Command.-Under Saul, for th'
first time, the nation was stronl
enough to assume the aggressive
Samuel brought a commandment o
the Lord to Saul that he should utter
ly destroy them and all their posses
sions, as one would destroy wild beasts
and poisonous serpents, or any rob
bers that we're running homes, ravish
ing wives and daughters. corruptinl
morals and religion.
Why was this right?
For the same reason that It Is righ
to punish criminals. In all wars, il
all punishments OF criminals. thsi
wives and their children suffer great
Iy. II is not the fault of the executor
of the law, but the fault OF those VIII,
break the law, and bring all these Sol
rows upon their families.
An Ancient Testimony.-"Such o
the wicked as escape immediate pur
ishment receive, not after long time
but during a long time. not a slower
but longer punishment. Such an on
is kept In life as in a prison that ha
no outlet or mode of escape; yet h
may enjoy frequent feasts, may tran
sact business, may receive present
and kindnesses, like the men who pla
with dice, or at draughts In prison
with the rope hanging over thei
heads."-Plutarch, in "The Delay c
Divine Justice"