The Green Forest tribune., 1915-04-02

LESSON TEXT-I Samuel 15:10-23
 GOLDEN TEXT-Behold, to obey is bet. ter than sacrifice.-I Samuel l5:22
 Jonathan's victory (ch. 14) brought with it shining on the part of the hungry, harassed Israelites in that they ate of the spells with the blood" Q4:31, 32; Lev. 3:17, 7:26). In the emergency Saul erected "the first al. tar that he built unto the Lord" (ch l4:35), a rather dilatory act on the part of God-anointed king. Saul had resorted to the subterfuge of com mandlng the people 'to roll a great stone, 1.e., cut the threats of the ami mals of which they had eaten that they might bleed, and thus be an evil dence that the animals had died be. fore being eaten. This the people did, fearing Saul, but having no scruples In transgressing Gods commands. These same people rescued Jonathan from the foolish VOW of Saul, for it 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 (v. 10). Saul's actions (vv. 1-9) had stamped him as being no longer worthy of Gods confidence. The word "repenteth," meaning ito sigh" (v. ID, denotes a change of feeling due to Sauls 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 later age, Tn Sauls commis- sion against Amalek, there were none such for him" (Vaughn). Mans re- pentance involves 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; it IS man alone who changes. Saul had given Samuel cause for anger (v. Il R. VI, but he did the wise thing in taking it to God in prayer. Arising early the next morning Samuel hastened to acquaint Saul with Jehovah's message. It is 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. Samuel's Rebuke, w. 13-19. It must have been a striking scene when the aged Nazarite prophet faced the proud but recreant king. A guilty conscience is often covered by great show of piety (v. 13), but such acts cannot stif1e the conviction of the heart nor deceive the righteous judge. Sin proclaims itself even as Samuels s sharp question brought conviction from the lips of Saul (v. IA; Prov. 2S:13). Saul thought to deceive Sam uel by using a falsehood (v. 15). The only safe course is to confess our sins CPS. 32:15; I. John 1:O. There is an interesting suggestion in the
 
 and "we' in verse 1e, as if to lay the guilt of his acts upon others. It is easy for the sinner to blame others and seek to minimize his own guilt (Rom 14:12). Verse clearly in- dicates 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 disobedience to Gods rights or the rights of others is to incur his righteous wrath (vv. 22, 23) :.
 III. SauIs SeIf-Rejection, w. 2o-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 uel's wherefore" (v 19) must have aroused Saul's guilty conscience. 1t is question which should reach every tempted soul. Samuel characterized Sauls sin as being due to stubborn ness, rebellion, disobedience and a re- jection of God (v. 19). Again Saul seeks to evade his responsibility (vv. 20, 2D. Then Samuel speaks plainly (v. 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" (v. 23).
 Driven thus to a corner Saul made B confession of his guilt (v. 2q but spoiled it all by acknowledging that he had greater fear of the people than of God.
 This is Easter Sunday, our reproach has been removed, not at Gilgal but on Calvary. The unchanging God hates sin, which is unchangeable, has condemned it on the Cross that the guilty sinner may live.
 The persistence of sin, the un- changeableness of God and his un- yielding hatred of sin are met by the continuation of Easter for, By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" (Rom. 5:19).
 The whole root of Saul's trouble was his attitude towards the word of God. Every mans destiny hinges upon what he does with the Living