Americus times-recorder., 1920-06-01
LESSON FOR JUNE 6
SAUL'S FAILURE.

IOLDEN TEXT-For thou hast reject
60 the word of the Lord. and the Lord
hath rejected thee.-l Sam 1925
H-52
PRIMARY ToPIC-A King Who Dis.
obeyed God
JUNIOR TOPIC-How Saul Lost His
Kingdom
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
Why Saul Failed
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Strength and Weakness OF SauPs
Character
This Is one Of the saddest pictures
In Bible history. No one has had a
brighter prospect before him than Saul.
yet no one has made a greater failure
de possessed strong natural gifts the
qualities OF great king. He had fine
physique, which greatly favors ones
success In life, other things being
equal. He had the benefit of Samuers
advice and godly life, which was Of in
estimable value.
]. The Command to Saul (vv. l-3).
he is commanded to utterly extermi-
nate the Amalekites. leaving neither
people nor booty. The reason assigned
is their evil treatment Of Israel as
they came up out Of Egypt (Ex. II /;
Deut. 25 10. This command may seem
cruel, but we must remember that II
was given by the Lord, who has the
right to kill or to make alive. The
wickedness of this people was very
great Their judgment was only such
as their sin deserved It was not Is
raels act, but Gods, Israel only being
the sword in his hand.
II. The Disobedience Of Saul wv.
4-9).
He renders a partial obedience.
Agag, the king, is spared and the best
Of the goods is appropriated. The pur-
pose of Gods thoroughgoing command
was to show that 1t was a warfare OF
Judgment for wickedneSs, not for greed.
Saul only obeyed as far as his inclina-
tions led him. The obedience to God
which is limited by the hearts incli-
nation Is the worst kind of obedience.
III. Saul Rebuked by Samuel wv.
1925
l. Samuel cried to God ". 11). The
news of this diSgraceful act greatly dis
turbed Samuel causing him to cry to
the Lord all night
2. Saurs hypocritiCal pretense (vv.
Is, 16). Saul met Samuel with the
pretense Of having executed the Lords
commandment. This pretense carried
q lie upon its face. Those who are the
most willing to speak of their obedi-
ence are the ones who are conscious OF
disObedience, and their consciences
trouble them over it. Though dis
turbed by guilty conscience he tried
to coBciliate Samuel, the prophet, but
the very bleating Of the sheep and the
lowing of the herds betrayed him.
Thus betrayed, he tried to shift the
blame upon the people ". 15). This
is always the way. 1t matters not
what the crime may be, some excuse
can be made for 1t. He then played
the hypocrite by trying to make 1t
pass as an act Of devotion to God ".
15). He should have known that things
gained by disobedience to God are an
abomination to him. Offerings to God
Of ill-gOtten gains can never atone for
sins Of disobedience and neglect. Saul
tried to justify himself by pleading
that he was keeping the spirit Of the
commandment, while not literally car
rying out its requirements. He has
many successors today who do not be-
lieve in the literal Interpretation and
practice Of Gods Word.
8. Samuel rehearseS before Saul
Gods dealing with him (vv. 1929.
Samuel met this hypocrisy by bring
ing him to squarely face bis sin. God
ls more concerned in having his sub
jects render obedience unto his COM
mandments than lie Is for them to of
fer unto him sacrifices. Such an act
when the heart is In rebellion is as
hateful to God as withcraft and idola-
try.
". The Judgment upon Saul (vv. %
S5).
FOF lhe pEesuIlpIuouS OueEiuS VI
sacrifice the dynasty passed from
Sauls house, and for this act of fla
grant disobedience the kingdom Is rent
from him. It is taken from Saul and
given to his neighbOr, who is better
than he. He confessed his sin and
begged Samuel to still honor him be
fore the elders of the people This
further shows bis self-centered life.
His honor was more to him than the
glory of God. Samuel forsoOk him
and left him alone to suffer In dis
grace. He refused to punish the Anal,
ekite III Sam. 10Y. Unless we slay
our enemies they will slay us. Judg.
ment shall come sooner or later upon
those who sin. for "the wages Of sin
is death, but the gift Of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord"
(Rom. 6:23).