The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-04-02


er than sacritiCe.-I Samuel l5:22.
Jonathans victory (ch. 14) brought
With 1t SHINING on the part of the
hungry, harassed Israelites in that
hey ate of the spoils with the blood"
(14:31, 80; Lev. 3:17, 1920. In the
Saul erected the first al.
tar that he built unto the Lord (ch
1855, rather dilatory act on the
part of Godanointed king. Saul had
resorted to the subterfuge of com.
handing the people ito roll a 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.
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 ". 10Y. Saul's actions wv. 1-9) |
had stamped him as being no longer
worthy of Gods confidence. The
word "repenteth," meaning ito sigh
". ny, denotes 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, in Saurs commits
sion against Amalek, there were none
such for him" (Vaughn). Mans re-
pentance involves change OF nina
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 ". II R. W, but he
did the wise thing in taking it to God
in prayer. Arising early the next
morning Samuel fastened to acqualn'
= Saul with Jehovah's message. 1t 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 forge'
our Lord Jesus.
II. Samuel's Rebuke, w. 1919. Il
+ must have been striking scene Wher
the aged Nazarite prophet faced the
t proud but recreant king. A guilt!
l conscience is often covered by grea
o show of piety ". 13), but such act
cannot stifle the conviction OF tn
heart nor deceive the righteous judge
y Sin proclaims itself even as Samuel
u sharp question brought convictio
- from the lips of Saul ". IA; Prov
+ 2S:l3). Saul thought to deceive San
" uel by using falsehood ". 49,. In
only safe course is to confess on
re sins FPS. 32:15; L John 1:O. liner
III is an interesting suggestion in tt
IL way Saul uses the impersonal they
;, and I'VE" in verse Is. as ii to La
~, the guilt of his acts upon others.
no Is easy for the sinner to blame Othe
n. and seek to minimize his own gul
(Rom, 14:12). Verse 9 clearly !
dicates why Saul and the people hi
spared the best of the cattle. To III
a part only for God and the rest L
ne self in direct disobedience to Goo
cit rights or the rights of others Is
incur his righteous wrath (vv ~, q
s. III. sauPs seIf.Rejection, w. 2o'l
God set Saul aside because ne n
al rejected the right and chose I
or wrong. Face to face with his
Saul could not dodge the issue. sa
uers wherefore" ". 49, must ma
ow aroused saul's guilty conscience.
n'o is a question which should reach eve
tempted SOUL Samuel characterl2
Saul's sin as being due to stubDo
, sn ness. rebellion, disobedience and a
lection of God ". 1917. Again 81
seeks to evade his responsibility I
has 20, 21). Then Samuel speaks plal
". 22) comparing his sin of disob'
. ence with witchcraft, stubbornne
iniquity and idolatry. Plainly ne Il
Saul. Because thou hast rejected
nj word of the Lord, he hath also REL
ed thee from being king" ". 23).
> Driven thus to corner Saul m
q q confession of his guilt w. 24)
= spoiled it all by acknowledging I
NJ he had greater fear of the people I
ny of God.
~ This is Easter Sunday, our repro
On has been removed, not at Gilgal
on Calvary. The unchanging
re- hates sin, which is Interchangeable,
condemned it on the Cross that
st guilty sinner may live.
I'll The persistence Of sin, the
III changeableness of God and his
~ Welding hatred of sin are met by
-u elimination Of Easter for, by
obedience of one shall many be n
righteous" (Rom. SID.
ears The whole root Of SauPs tro
ins. was his attitude towards the wor
van val God, Every mans destiny hi
us. upon what he does with the Ii
ana Incarnate Word.