Evening star., 1915-04-03

possess a study of conscience unsurpa ssed
in the literature OF the world" He had
absolutely no loophole vet with hypo-
critical show of piety Saul stoutly tried
twice to cover his sin by his persistent
pretense Of having done the Lords will
and he defended his actions by trying to
compel Samuel to accept as correct his
interpretations of the divine decree.
There are too many protesting Chris
tlanS who pretend to be Christ's although
they insist on disrega riding His word, per-
vert His teachings even when they claim
the authority OF His teachings for their
dlsobedience. There was irony in Sam
uePs suggestion that the peculiar "calp'
OF the animals was an unconscious wit
ness against Saul.
meanness is found in the tendency of
the sinner. when discovered, to shift
the responsibility to others Sauls
apology showed his unf1tness to lead,
TOT II reveals him as mere tool in
the hands of the masses. His claim
that only the best were spared for the
sacrifices of Jehovah is, as one has
stated 1t, a charge of wastefulness
against God. We. too. try to soften
and remove some Of the commands Of
The king could not deceive the prophet,
who understood his delinquencies.
The age in which we live needs the
same lesson that was taught Israel by
the punishment of their king because
Of this rejection Of God. To all his
trumped up excuses Samuel brought
the fundamental law that Saul had
violated. that ITO obey Is better than
sacrifice"
The repentance Of Saul probably was
due to his being found out and not to
a change Of will about his sin. II he
had repented. God probably would not
have willed change. Nothing could
save Agag. for in a moment of high
religious excitement. the aged prophet
slew with his own hand the captive
king.
Saul's sin determined his destiny He
reaped what he sowed After praying
with him Samuel and he parted forever
In his last hours, Saul, who fell at the
hands Of an Amalekite. who. contrary
to Gods commands, he had spared,
cried out in agony. Bring me up
Samuel"
His trust was in men. especially in
himself. One OF the fundamental diff
ferences between the rejected Saul and
rejected Christ was that the former
sought to have his own will, while
Jesus sought always to do the will of
His Father. Saul's rejection separated
him from the Father, but Christ's re-
lection hastened his reunion with the
Father after His resurrection.
\
The Easter Lesson.
The special study assigned from the
gospel Of Matthew as an Easter les
son covers the citadel of Christianity
The vision seen by the women, who
came to the tomb of their Lord early
Sunday morning after His burial. con
frmed the teachings of the Christ,
whose prophetic messages concerning
His resurrection they evidently failed
to grasp or believe. for they came to
pay their last affectionate tribute of
service to the one they loved. Jesus
staked His mission, Messiahship and
message upon His resurrection, that
He pointed to as proof of His deity.
The gospel of the resurrection lifts the
veil of nature and promises future
life to all that believe In Christ as a
risen Savior.
Let US approach the empty tomb to
review the scene with the trembling
women, who have hardly ceased to
laid away in the new-made tomb in the
garden Of Joseph of Arimethea. The
guards, disturbed by the earthquake,
were filled with fear when the divinely
sent messengers. who were awaiting to
proclaim the resurrection, were OBJ
served by them in the empty tomb. Not
to the guards, but to the women, who
had proved their friendship for Christ
being the last to leave the place of
cruciflxion and the first TO reach the
Easter message.
The first Christian sermon upon the
resurrection, preached by the heaven
sent messengers to the broken heart
| ed women, sought to remove their
fears. present the evidence OF the
worlds great hope In the risen Lord
and sen the women forth to be the
| first human messenger of the glad
| tidings that Jesus, who died to save
| the world. was alive and longed to
meet the disciples again at the APP
| pointed meeting place in Gallilee. The
testimony Of the empty tomb filled
them with great Joy as they hastened
to tell His disciples that the Lord was
| risen.
| Facing the facts Of the resurrection
confirmed their faith. We have evil
dence that they did not possess that
1 ought to prove to US that our blessed
4 Lord won victory over the power OF
| death.
The church witnesses today. by It.
presence and power in the world, tc
the resurrection of our Lord. The OBJ,
is a weekly presentation to the worlG
of Christ's conquest over the grave
| and death.
| The New Testament is a byproduc
of the fact that He is risen. The powe,
of Christianity manifest in the Lord.
| word, day and people Is the most po
tent force in the history of the world
transforming the character Of man ant
, nations by its message OF cheer. com
fort and courage that proclaims Hi
triumph over the grave.
1t satisfies the religious cravings O.
the soul by its message of the livins
Christ calling us into His FELLOWSHIP
and service to proclaim that He haiti
been raised from the dead. "as H,