The Dolores star., 1915-04-02

GOLDEN TEST-Behold, to obey is bet
ter than sacrifice.-I Samuel BE
Jonathan's victory tch. 40 brought
with 1t SHINING on the part Of the
hungry, harassed Israelites in that
they ate Of the spoils with the blood"
&l4:31. 80; Lev. 3:17, 1920. In the
emergency Saul erected the first al
tar that he built unto the Lord" (ch
1885, rather diIatory act on the
part of God-anointed king. Saul had
resorted to the subterfuge Of com.
handing the people ito roll q great
stone" i.e.. cut the threats OF the AMI.
mails of which they had eaten that
they might bleed. and thus be an evi.
denee that the animals had died be.
fore being eaten. This the people did.
Tearing Saul. but having no scruples
IN transgressing 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 ". 1O). Saul's actions wv. 1-9)
had stamped him as being no longer
worthy OF Gods confidence. The
word "repenteth." meaning TO sigh"
". III. denotes a change Of feeling
dino IN Saul,o o,tio,s and MT 60 anu
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. 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-
tented, 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 ". IL r. W. but he
did the wise thing in taking At to God
in prayer. Arising early the next
morning Samuel FASTENED to acQuaint
Saul with Jehovah's message. II 10
remarkable OF how many of the great
men Of the Bible It 10 said that they
rose early, Abraham. Gideon, Joshua,
Job. Jacob. Moses, etc. not to forget
our Lord Jesus.
u. samvsrs RsbUks, w. 1918. II
must have been . striking scspe when
the aged Naxarite prophet Aced the
proud but recreant king. A guilty
conscience Is often covered by q great
show OF piety ". 49,. but such acts
cannot stife the conviction Of the
heart nor deceive the righteous judge.
Sin proclaims itself even A. Ssmuel's
sharp question brought conviction
from the lips OF Saul ". II; Prov.
1913. Saul thought to deceive Sam.
uel by using q falsehood ". l5). The
only safe course Is to confess our
sins FPS. 32:15: I. John l:Y. There
IL an interesting suggestion In the
way Saul uses the impersonal they"
and we In verse ID. 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
from. 14:l0. 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 Tor
self In direct disobedience to Gods
rights or the rights OF others Is to
incur his righteous wrath wv. ~. 2al'
W. ssors ss",nsIees'o"' w. c<s.
"od set saul ASIDE because ne had
rejected the right ana chose tne
wrong. fsce 10 race WIN ms SIN
saul eoaid not ooose tne issue sam
ueis wherefore ~ ~ must nave
aroused saurs guilty conscience IL
!" . question ~h'cn shooid reach every
tempted SOUL samuel chsracterihed
sauis SIN as oeins que 10 stuooorn'
ness, rebeiiion. disooedience ana 70
lection OF GOD w. l0. AGAIN sau'
seeks TO esade MS responsibility wv
~ ~ Tnen samue' SPEAKS p'.ih,y