The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1915-04-03

A@AsoSC.N ~ Sdmuel lDslO-sJ
GOLDEN TENT-Bohold. TO obey is bet
tvr than saorifice.-I Samuel l5:22
Jonathan's victory (ch. ~ brought
with II a SHINING on the part OF the
hungry, harassed lsraelites in that
they ate OF the spoils with the blood"
u4:3l, 32; Lev. 3:17. 1920. In the
emergency Saul erected the first al.
tar that he built unto the Lord" (ch
1880. a rather dilatory act on the
part OF God-anointed king Saul had
resorted to the subterfuge of com.
manding the people ito roll great
stone fe., cut the throats 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 II
was his faith and valor that had chief
ly brought about the victory.
!. Gods Sorrow, w. 1912. Samuel
making Saul king, and likewise first
declared Gods purpose TO dispose of
Saul ". 10). 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 n 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 a 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 Sauls case God re-
pented. changed the instrument of his
execution, because of the change OF
circumstances and relation. God is
ever the same; II is man alone who
changes. Saul had given Samuel
cause for anger ". IL r. W, 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. 1t is
remarkable of how many of the great
men of the Bible 1t is said that they
rose early, Abraham, Gideon. Joshua
Job. Jacob, Moses, etc, not to forget
our Lord Jesus.
u. Samuel's Rebuke, w. 1919. II
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 ". 13D, but such acts
cannot stifle the conviction OF the
heart nor deceive the righteous judge
Sin proclaims itself even as Samuels
sharp question brought conviction
from the lips of Saul ". IA; Prov
2S:13). Saul thought to deceive Sam
uel by using falsehood ". l5). The
only safe course Is to confess our
sins (Ps. 32;15; |. John 1:9). There
Is an interesting suggestion in the
way Saul uses the impersonal they
and 'we' In verse Is, as IL to lay
the guilt of his acts upon others. II
Is easy for the sinner to blame others
and seek to minimize his own gull
(Rom. 14:12). Verse 9 clearly in
dicates why Saul and the people hat
spared the best of the cattle. To use
a part only for God and the rest fol
self In direct dlsobedience to Gods
rights or the rights of others is tC
incur his righteous wrath (vv. 22. 23)
| ~. Saul's Self-Re lection, w. 2o-23
God set Saul aside because he haC
rejected the right and chose tn,
| wrong. Face to face with his sir
Saul could not dodge the issue. Sam
| uel's wherefore" ". l9) must hav,
aroused Saul's guilty conscience. i
| is a question which should reach ever!
tempted soul. Samuel characterized
| Saul's sin as being due to stubborn
| ness, rebellion, disobedience and a re
| lection of God ". 19). Again Sau
| seeks to evade his responsibility wv
20, 2D. Then Samuel speaks plainl.
". 22) comparing his sin OF disobedi
ence with witchcraft, stubbornness
iniquity and idolatry. Plainly he tell
Saul, Because thou hast rejected tn,
word OF the Lord, he hath also reject
ed thee from being king ". 23).
| Driven thus to a corner Saul mad
| 4 confession of his guilt ". 24) bu
| spoiled It all by acknowledging tina
: he had greater fear of the people thar
Of God.
This is Easter Sunday, our reproacl
has been removed, not at Gilgal bu
on Calvary. The unchanging Coz
hates sin, which is unchangeable. ha
condemned It on the Cross that tn
guilty sinner may live.
The persistence OF sin. the IN
changeableness OF God and his un
\ yielding hatred OF sin are met by tn
! elimination OF Easter for, by tn
. obedience OF one shall many be mad
= q righteous" from. 5:lS.
. The whole root Of Saul's troubl
: = was his attitude towards the word ,
= jod. Every mans destiny hinge
I upon what he does with the Livinl