The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-03-05

Because Of the acts of Samuel the
people petitioned for king (ch. $3.50.
They are told plainly what to expect
IL king is set in authority (ch. S:iS).
God, however, granted their petition
and spoke sin the ear" of Samuel, say
ing, Il will send thee a man." telling
him Of the work which this man is to
undertake (ch. 9;15, 16).
| !. samuel Saw Saul" w. 17-21. Saul
was a man to gaze at and to admire
Och. 9:2). His fruitless search for
his fathers asses leads him to the city
wherein Samuel was residing. There
he is advised to consult the man Of
God" about his difficulty--a good sug-
gestion for us all. This experience
| Och. 9:6-14) exhibits Samuel in new
| light. The word seer" indicates zone
who Sees" one who sees the things
God makes manifest in dreams (Num.
24:4-16). While the word is similar to
the modern term "clairvoyant" yet the
latter sre not the successors Of these
Old Testament "seers" or prophets"
They are rather the successors of the
| false prophets (Jer. 1919, and of
those who dealt with familiar spirits
q Chron. 10:13-14; lisa, s: 1920; 2
Kings 21:1, 2, g.. Saul evidently did
not know Samuel wv. 1919.
Samuel took Saul with him for the
night to take his mind off his fathers
asses and to prepare him to receive
the word from God Christians take
far too little time to withdraw them
selves and take their restless minds
off the things Of time and sense to be
still and hear the word of God. What
were few asses to Saul, to him "for
whom all that is desirable in Israel"
". 20 r. W? Christians who are
heirs to the heavenly kingdom ought
not to set their affections on the poor
possessions of earth (Col. 81, 2; 2 Cor.
4:1S). In response to Samueps infor-
nation, Saul disclaims any greatness;
indeed, is he not from one of the least
of the families Of one of the smallest
Of the tribes ". 21). Such humility
gave great promise for Sauls future
usefulness. Such was the mental and
spiritual attitude of the man whom
God chose to be king (ch. 15:1D. 1t
was later, when pride and power had
pulled him up, that the kingdom was
taken away from him (ch. 1928; 1851;
Luke 14:11; Heb. 13:D.
u. samuel Took Saul" w. 22-24.
Saul was then led into the guest cham
Der and placed in the chief seat. Read
our Lords parable found in Luke
14:7-11. Samuel then babe the cook
bring the thigh, which was a choice
piece of meat especially reserved for
those thus honored (Ezek. 24:4). Such
a portion belonged to the priest (Ley.
7:32). That which did not belong up
on the altar Saul was to eat ". 24).
Samuel and Saul may have had the
preference and eaten before the other
guests ". 13), and Saul is made &C
ferred upon him. Following the feast,
they return to Samuels home, where
Saul is conducted to a couch upon the
fat housetop (Acts 1921. Here Sam
uel had private converse with Saul
". rs r. W. What that converse
may have been we know not, but we
are reminded of one such nocturnal
conversation which gave to the world
Gods most precious summary of his
love (John 3:1-16).
Samuel poured oil upon Saul's head.
Prophets, priests, kings and cleansed
lepers were so anointed, type of the
amounting by the holy spirit Il Kings
1915, 16; Lev. S;12, 14:2, 1918; lisa.
ell; l John 2:20 R. W. This act
was also a symbol of entire consecra-
ton to God, and pointed forward to
the coming king messiah, Amounted
One) whom God himself would anoint
Cps. 45:D.
Saul was anointed to be "a prince"
and to save Gods people (ch. 9:16;
Acts 5:31). His ear is always open
to the cry of his people. Even though
they had sinned, and their sorrow was
because of their own disobedience, yet
God regarded their affection Cps.
1O6:43, 44). Only Gods anointed ones
can save lisa. 61:1-3).
Sauls selected task was to save
Israel out of the hands of the Philis-
tines (See Luke 1:69-71). Gods eye
sees the oppression of mankind and
his ear is always open to the cry Of
the poor and needy; of innocent chill
dren suffering because of the sins Of
parents; of men defrauded of justice.
But the delivering remedy will not
be brought by any earthly king. Man
kind is today crying for king (some-
times 1t is termed democracy and
will not have God to rule over them.
Needless of his warnings, blessed by
his bounty, they struggle and scheme
to heal their own hurt.
Sauls humility rapidly gave place to
pride and pride to ambition, ambition
to oppression, and finally to an un-
timely end, due to disobedience.
When our king comes the skillfully
constructed scheme of mans govern
ment. wherein graft and pride, ambi-
tion and lust, find such prominent
place, will be set aside for kingdom
wherein justice and love, equity and
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