The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-04-02


Jonathan's victory (ch. 14) brought
with 1t a SHINING on the part of the
hungry, harassed Israelites in that
they ate of the spoils with the blood"
t14:31, 80; Lev. 3:17, 1920. In the
emergency Saul erected the first al
tar that he built unto the Lord" (ch
1885, a rather dilatory act on the
part Of God-anointed king. Saul had
resorted to the subterfuge of CON-
handing the people TO roll great
stone" ie., cut the Threats of the ami
mails 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
iy 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 ". 10). Saul's actions wv. 1-9)
had stamped him as being no longer
worthy of Gods confidence. The
word "repenteth," meaning ito sigh"
". III, denotes change Of feeling
due to Saul's 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 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; 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 acquaint
Saul with Jehovah's message. 1t is
remarkable of how many of the grelt
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. Samuels 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 ". 49,, but such acts
cannot stifie the conviction of the
heart nor deceive the righteous judge
Sin proclaims itself even as Samuel's
sharp question brought conviction
from the lips of Saul ". IA; Prov
2S:13). Saul thought to deceive Sam
uel by using falsehood w. 15). The
only safe course is to confess ouI
sins Cps. S2;15; /. John 1:9). There
is an interesting suggestion is the
way Saul uses the impersonal they
and I'VE" in verse Is, as if 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
from. 14:12). Verse clearly in
dicates why Saul and the people haC
part only for God and the rest fol
self in direct disobedience to Gods
rights or the rights of others is tC
incur his righteous wrath (vv. %, 23)
~. SauI's seIf-Re lection, 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 "whereforeV ". 19) must have
aroused Saul's guilty conscience. II
is a question which should reach every
tempted soul. Samuel characterized
Saul,s sin as being due to stubborn
ness, rebellion, disobedience and re
lection of God " 49, Again Saul
seeks to evade his responsibility (vv
20, 21). Then Samuel speaks plainly
". 22) comparing his sin of disobedi
enee with witchcraft, stubbornness
iniqufty and tdolatry. Plainly he tells
Saul, Because thou hast rejected the
word of the Lord, he hath also reject
ed thee from being king" ". 23).
Driven thus to corner Saul made
a confession of his guilt ". 2l) 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 Interchangeable, has
condemned it on the Cross that the
guilty sinner may live.
The persistence OF sin, the I'M
changeableness of God and his I'M
yielding hatred OF sin are met by the
elimination Of Easter for, by the
obedience OF one shall many be made
righteous" from. SID.
The whole root of Saul's trouble
was his attitude towards the word of
God. Every mans destiny hinges
Mn0n What doao NTH he i,f,,o