Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-05
BY REV. HUGH t. STEVENSON.

BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.
Saurs success resulted in 1sraers
enjoyment of national independence.
In the preceding chapter there is re-
corded in terse incisiveness an ac-
count Of his achievements that sum-
marizes the results of many hard
fought campaigns. The historians
tell US that Now. when Saul had
taken the kingdom over Israel, he
Fought against all his enemies on
the children of Ammon. and against
Edom, and against the kings of
Aobah, and against the Philistines;
and whithersoever he turned himself.
ne put them to the worse. And he
did valiantly. and smote the Amale-
Kites, and delivered Israel out of the
hands of them that despoiled them"
The series of victories seemed to jus
TRY the establishment of the monar-
chy and Saurs selection as king.
me strain of the years told upon
israefs first king SO that several un
nappy traits of character appeared
that resulted in his failure.
saul was not equal to his task. so
that he broke down mentally because
power made him presumptuous and
self-willed. His elevation was due to
the Lord. He assumed the kingship
realizing his responsibility to Jehovah
ana MS dependence upon his assist
ance Tor success. AS long as Saul
obeyed the divine commands he con-
tinued to grow in wisdom and power.
his first sacrilegious act was COM
mltted when he offered sacrifices in
stead OF waiting for Samuel. accord
ing TO GODS command. His moral de-
cay and apostasy was due to his re-
fusal to heed the warning of Jehovah.
perslsting in doing his own will and
establishing himself in power in spite
OF the earnest entreatieS of Samuel
and an the expressed orders of the Lord.
he was warned that by that sin he
mad prevented any member of his FAM
1ly from succeeding him as king. Be
cause Saul persisted in his sin of dis
obedience his house was rejected as a
permanent dynasty.
Samuel made clear to Saul that he
owed obedience to the Lord so that
he would cheerfully carry out Je-
hovah's commands for the complete
destruction of the Amalekites, who
were the ancient foes of Israel. They
had disputed their right to proceed to
Canaan and formed alliances against
Israel with the Moabites and INDIAN
ties. The command to destroy the
Amalekites must be judged by the
standards of that age. Saul did not
question the command, for he pro-
ceeded to carry out the Lords orders.
His obedience gave him victory. but
his failure to comply with the COM
mand to destroy the nation COM
pletely proved that he could no longer
be trusted to be obedient to God.
Small things reveal the sins of men.
His desire to spare the king indicates
his vanity, while the keeping of the
spoils of their victory proves his
Hn il
tive expedition into one for personal
possessions. He was a CRATER. God
could no longer trust Saul to carry
out His commands. He repented
Heretofore Jehovah had been favor
able to Saul, but when the latter by
his actions failed to obey the Divine
commands there was snly on thing
for the Lord to do in reference to
Saul. His rejection as a king did not
imply his rejection as man. The
way of repentance and restoration
was still open if Saul would turn
from following his own despotic path
that meant separation from Gods
service. Another must be chosen who
would obey Gods commands and do
His will Gods promises are all con
ditional. Saul failed to carry out the
divine command, so God Willed an al
formation or change in rulership.
Samuel was grieved when he learned
of Gods decision and he prayed all
night seeking to change the will OF
Jehovah. He pleaded, as did Moses for
Israel and Abraham for Sodom. Sauls
ambition for power. His refusal of
Samuers advice. His determination
to have his own way, claiming that
he had performed the commands of
the Lord and his evasive excuses, that
tried to place the responsibility upon
the people for the presence of the
king, and the valuable spoils that
hi
ness to lead the nation longer. The
one who does not surrender all to
Jehovah cannot carry out the COM
mands of the Lord. Obedience is the
test of loyalty and proof of love
among the followers of the Christ to-
day. as it was then in the case of Saul.
Saurs meanness is revealed in his
attempt to evade his obligation to
obey God. He was a coward. Sin
makes all men to fear. Saul exhibited
Ia repentance because he was found
out in doing wrong. 1t was not of
the heart. He did not desire to be
condemned by the people. He tried
to fiatter Samuel by fulsome greet
ings to approve of his course. He
tried to bride the prophet by his pre-
tentious proposition, that the focks
were to be sacrificed to SamueIs God
at Gilgal. This indicated that he had
put God out of his own heart. If
lucIc Adu uCSA q 6cHuiAto AopS HeoASS'
a sorrow for his guilt, he might not
have been rejected.
Saul sought to deceive Samuel.
claiming that he had atoned for his
failures by the great sacrifice when
the Lord wanted sign for repentance
from him to prove that Saul was
sorry in his heart that he had dis
obeyed Gods commands. Men can
not buy salvation by sacrifices. Men
may take their ill-begotten gains and
endow colleges. erect hospitals, build
cathedrals or even send missionaries
to the heather. but that will not make
them acceptable to God. Obedience is
worship or pretension to religious life
will compensate for the alienation of
the heart away from God. The one
who loves the Lord will obey His
commands. Saul owed all to Him. but
he was unwilling to do His will. His
rejection ought to warn men that
there is nothing SO displeasing to God
and SO fatal to spiritual life as the
living of a life of disobedience.
Saul had persisted SO long iR~hav-
ing his own way that he probably was
incapable of true repentance. There
donable because it is beyond the
mercies of God, but because it is
beyond the repentance of the men
who commit it. The result Of asso-
citations, habits and. practicing GER
e M.~,.e+o,.o aur