Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-03-21
lesson text ! Samuel l;45

As soon as Samuel saw that Saul as
king was properly acknowledged BY
a loyal people, he resigned his office
as Judge OF the nation making them
a farewell address His discourse
was under three heads: First he
called them 10 witness his own in
tegr!ty and fidelity; second, he re-
counted the wonderful things the
Lord had done for them, and their in
gratitude and uufaithfulue-s, ana
third, he warned them that the sue
cess ot the new kingdom depended
upon the obedience 20 Jehovah Of
both king and people. IF ye will fear
the Lord, and serve him and obey
his voice, and not rebel against the
commandment Of the Lord, hen shall
both ye and the king that reignctn
over you continue following the Lord
stlI DO whkedly, We shall be con-
slmed, both ye and your king
Saul's FIRST Mistake.
It now devolved upon Saul to show
! that he was worthy Of the trust re-
! posed in him. His first adventure at
Jabesh- -Glledd had been a brilliant
! success and the people were tuned up
! 10 expect great things Of him. The
! Phi!lstnes had long been depressing
! and harassing them and as they now
/ nla the king they had asked for 10
! lead them in battle. their first thought
| was % move against their traditional
| enemy on the west. So saul gathered
! a host 70 begin the campaign Of libcr-
alton. But here arose an unlO0ked-fOr
dIiticulty IN the Way Of scarcity Of
arms. The Hebrews had been an
agricultural people paying no atten-
r fr fyI Ig ID . har
even had TO g. 20 the blacksmiths OF
Fhil!st!a when their plows required
sharpening only the king and his
son Jonathan were properly armed
Tor battle. In the meantime Jonathan
had made successful incursiOn into
the eremy's territory at Geba the
effect OF which was TO anger the
Phlist.nes, and they gathered up
tremendous force 10 chastise this up.
start prince and teach Israel severe
lesson. When the unframed and un-
armed Hebrews saw themselves thus
threatened, they forsook Saul hiding
IN caves and pits and forest hooks,
some even placing the Jordan be-
tween them and danger. In this eX-
tremlty Saul went up 10 Gilgal and
sent for Samuel After waiting seven
days, during which the enemy sent
out three looung expeditions through
the country, Saul became impatient
and, taking matters into his own
hands, personally made a burnt sacri- F.
ice 10 the Lord, a thing which /,
Samuel had expressly cautioned him
not 10 do without his presence and .
sanction. Right upon the heels Of .
TINS presumption, Samuel put I'm an I
appearance and rebuked him for his .
disObedienCe, the penalty Of which /
was that his lineage should not be .
established on the throne Of Irsael |
Obedience Is the prime necessity in /
GODS service, and right here Saul's .
impatienCe had betrayed him into the
first Of the series Of blunders that
marked his subsequent reign. Yet
this was the same Saul who after
being annOinted king, had been con-
tented to follow the plow uncom-
plainingly until Gods time was ripe
for him 10 assume the crown. Many
a splendid private citizen makes a
deplOrable failure as a public official.
Jonathan's Strategy.
Samuel at once proceeded 10 review
the force under Saul's command. now
reduced by desertion from three
thousand TO only six hundred En-
against them were the 5000
Philistines with their chariots and
cavalry. But Jonathan IL seems did
not share in the lack Of faith mani ,
tested by his father and the people.
Tor he and his armOrbearer yentured
out Clandestinely against the enemy,
with only the assurance that there is
no restraint 10 the Lord to save by S
many or by few" And right here we q
must take off our hats TO that vigor- /
)us faith that would impel two men
% face many thousands, when even t
heir own people did not know Of the v
venture, and only the arm Of the Lord !
stood between them and ignominious I
ieath. The courage Of David going /
)ut to meet Goliath is small matter q
n comparison. But there was a pc
'uliar rocky formation in front Of the a
,nemys camp that enabled these two j
o get close to their lines before being
een, narrow spot where only few u
'ould come TO them at one time, and u
where the enemy could not see that o
hey did not have an army behind &
hem, SO Jonathan and mis- aide 5
climbed up to this narrow spot and +
s fast as men came to the attack p
hey slew them, until twenty pagans d
ay dead at their feet. Seeing this 1
laughter, and presuming that many "
more good fighters were behind G.
Onathan, the Phlistines were seized h
With a panic and began 10 run. in the C.
onfusion even killing one another by s.
mistake. u
The Popular Fayoritc. d
II there was any disappointment RI
mong the people at Saurs apparent "
IL was more than made a.
p for now by their faith in his son. M
eeing the enemy I'm a rout they is Y
ued forth from their hiding places n
nd Joined the faithful six hundred in 81
he pursuit and slaughter Of their ol
ated oppressOrs. So great was the n
loral effect Of this defeat that It was N
lany years before the people Of
hilistia again mustered up the n
Ourage 10 try conclusions with their
Iebrew neighbOrs But Saul was ,
eXed with his sons insubOrdination,
Though the happy result OF his ven
Ire left him no room to quarrel with
ne man whose faith in God had en- hi
bled him TO turn a hopeless distress di
ITO glorious victory Yet there was dr
mother matter In his desperate de- HI
TO make the battle de- di
sive the king had issued strict orders so
lat no one should stop TO eat a dr.
outhful OF food until the battle was id
'er. Not knowing Of this command.
)nathan had eaten wild honey i'm lir
lssing through a wood When told m
his breach Of orders. the young III
an spoke COntemptuously OF his ca
ther's superstitious folly Heartened rh
: his example and words many OF I'M
e soldiers slew the cattle they found all
Id ate the meat raw. which was a