The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1915-04-01

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GOLDEN TEXT-Behold. to obey Is bet
ter than sacrifice.-I Samuel 15:22.
Jonathan's victory (ch. iD brought
with It a SHINING on the part of the
hungry, harassed Israelites In that
they ate OF the spoils with the blood"
(14:3l, 32; Lev. 3:17. 1920. In the
emergency Saul erected "the first al
tar that he built unto the Lord (ch
H:35), a rather dilatory act on the
part Of God-anointed king. Saul had
resorted to the subterfuge OF com
manding the people TO roll great
stone" i.e., cut the throats OF the AMI.
mails Of which they had eaten that
they might bleed, and thus be an evi.
dence that the animals had died be.
fore being eaten. This the people did.
fearing Saul, but having no scruples
In transgresslng Gods commands.
These same people rescued Jonathan
from the foolish vow OF Saul. for II
was his faith and valor that had chief
ly brought about the victory.
!. Gods Sorrow, w. 1912. Samuel
had first revealed Gods purpose In
making Saul king, and likewise first
declared Gods purpose to dispose OF
Saul ". 10). Saul's actions (yv. 1-9)
had stamped him as being no longer
worthy OF Gods confidence. The
word "repenteth," meaning TO sigh"
". III, denotes q change OF feeling
due to Saul's actions and not to any
change in the character. purpose or
desires Of Good. God was sorry that
Saul had proved himself unworthy.
A halfway obedience OF Gods com
mand only heightened his guilt.
Whatever moral difficulties seem to
lie, for a later age, In Saul's commits.
sion against Amalek. there were none
such for him" (Vaughn). Mans re-
pentance involves a change OF mind
and purpose. In Saul's case God re
pented, changed the instrument of his
execution, because OF the change OF
circumstances and relation. God is
ever the same; II is man alone who
changes. Saul had given Samuel
cause for anger w. II X. W. but he
did the wise thing in taking 1t to God
In prayer. Arising early the next
morning Samuel hastened to acquaint
Saul with Jehovah's message. 1t lie
remarkable OF how many OF the great
men OF the Bible it is said that they
rose early, Abraham. Gideon, Joshua,
Job, Jacob, Moses. etc. not to forget
our Lord Jesus.
II. samuers Rebuke. w. 1918. II
must have been striking scene when
the aged Nazarite prophet faced the
proud but recreant king. A guilty
conscience is often covered by great
show of piety ". l3). but such acts
cannot stifle the conviction OF the
heart nor deceive the righteous Judge.
Sin proclaims itself even as Samuel's
sharp question brought conviction
from the lips OF Saul ". IL: Prov
2S:lS). Saul thought to deceive Sam
uel by using falsehood ". l5). The
only safe course is to confess our
sins FPS. 32:l5; l. John 1:9). There
is an interesting suggestion In the
way Saul uses the imrersonal they"
and I'VE" In verse 10, as II to lay
the guilt Of his acts upon others. II
Is easy for the sinner to blame others
and seek to minimize his own guilt
(Rom. 14:12). Verse 3 clearly in,
dlcates why Saul and the people had
spared the best of the cattle. To use
part only for God and the rest for
self In direct disobedlence to Gods
rights or the rights of others is to
incur his righteous wrath wv. %. 23).
Samuel did not tell Saul what he
thought Of him but simply and direct.
ly delivered words ". l6 |. c.). Re.
calling Saul's beginnings as king OF
Israel, emphasizing Gods mercy and
grace, Samuel recounts Gods com.
nand regarding the Amalekites
These are a type OF the flesh and for
such God has no mercy except that
OF Calvary (Gal. 5:2D. Samuel ef.
fectually swept aside Saul's sophistry
by his direct question ". 19) which
demand straightforward answer.
~. saul's self-ReI lection, w. 2c-23.
God set Saul aside because he had
rejected the right and chose the
wrong. Face to face with his sin
Saul could not dodge the issue. Sam
uels wherefore" ". 19) must have
aroused Saul's guilty conscience. 1t
is a question which should reach every
tempted soul. Samuel characterized
Saul's sin as being due to stubborn.
ness, rebellion, disobedience and a re-
lection OF God ". 19). Again Saul
seeks to evade his responsibility (vv.
20, 2D. Then Samuel speaks plainly
". 22) comparing his sin OF disobedi.
ence with witchcraft stubbornness,
iniquity and idolatry. Plainly he tells
Saul. Because thou hast rejected the
word of the Lord, he hath also reject.
ed thee from being king" ". 2S).
Driven thus to csrner Saul made
confession OF his guilt ". 24) but
spoiled It all by acknowledging that
he had greater fear of the people than
of God. His sorrow was that of the
man who was caught in an act OF
transgression and not because of the
sinfulness of his deed. God had for
saken Saul and therefore Samuel
parts company with him also wv. 25,
26). Sauls rendlng Of Samuel's gar
ment (vv. 27, 2S) is used as parable
of the forthcoming rent kingdom
Samuel takes occasion to suggest that
God Ohio Cfranpfh ~ Iaraal had