Evening star., 1920-05-22
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.


with all your heart
BY REV. HUGH r. STEVENSON.
Phillips Brooks has told US that
the call to Christian service includes
the call of God. of nature and of a
kingship of Israel met all three ele-
ments of divine call to service. He
was chosen of Jehovah. Saul was
well qualified physically. Those who
think he was deficient mentally.
morally and spiritually forget the
conditions of the country when ne
assumed the leadership of the nation
1sraefs need is seen in their division,
and desperate condi-
tion, that compelled them to ask
Samuel that a king be appointed.
SamueTs sons had neglected to fol-
low in the way of Jehovah. The
prophets age made him unfit for mil
itary leadership. When they request
ed the appointment of a king OF
Samuel they wanted a military lead
er. whose personality would inspire
them victorious over their enemies
that threatened them. The oppres-
sions of the Philistines had filled
them with the desire to have king
like other nations. 1t was the 1oun-
dation of their demands.
Samuel had opposed the selection
of king He recognized their error
in seeking to have king like otner
nations He understood that world
illness was at the root Of the 1mplous
request. A new generation. that knew
not how God had helped their fathers
piicity and spirituality of Samuels
services. They sought social distlnc-
tions and proved their worldliness by
seeking protection through worldly
power. They claimed that their re-
quest was based upon the plans OF
God. but were unwilling that oamuel
should make their wishes subject
of prayer Israel had tried the king
making business a century previous
when they made Abimelech their SOW
ereign with disastrous results. The
great-hearted elader sought help In
the nation was rejecting His leader
ship. not Samuei's. and that the
prophet was to assist in establishing
the kingdom.
Saul was selected by Providence. No
one can read the story of how he was
chosen without realizing tnat the ac-
cidents of his life were all providen-
tial. He was not a candidate for the
leadership of the nation. He had not
framed up the popular call or nodded
the circumstances that gave rise 10
the demand for a king. He inherited
the stature. He had nothing to 90
with the straying of the asses. The
search by Saul and his servants for
the straying stock took him all over
the section, where he had hoped TO
locate the lost animals. He was about
to quit and give up when his servant
suggested that he seek the AID OF
samuel the seer. whose appearance
r &c
record was not known to Saul 1t was
his servant who directed him to the
prophet
Samuel had been prepared by the
Lords revelation for the coming OF
Saul, whom he welcomed and sur
chosen him to be king over Israel
The prophet welcomed the stranger
because he saw that he met physl-
cally and in his personally the eie-
ments needed to make MN grea!
leader. He treated him as he would
any great and distinguished guest
because he was to be the king. He IN
formed him of Gods dealing with the
nation and tried to fit Saul to make
success of his administration. He
placed before the young man the
experience of his life. He pointed out
the problems of the hour, and now
their solution called for dependence
upon the power Of God. who alone
could make Saul Successful king.
Before they separated the next day
Samuel advised Saul to order the
servant to go on. so that he might
deliver to him the message OF ms di-
vine appointment. The prophet evil
IDENTIFY believed that the public should
not be informed of Gods choice so
that they might make the selection,
free from dictation, confirming the
call of Jehovah and approving the
prophets amounting of the coming
king. Alone upon the road Saul heard
from Samuel about his call. By a
symbolic act Samuel consecrated him
for the public service to which
] ehoyah had called Saul. He kissed
him as a mark of homage and recog-
milton of his sovereignty.
Saul was evidently surprised by the
wav his search for the asses had cul-
He doubted. the message, but
Samuel gave him several proofs of
the senuineness of the divine call, SO
that Saul might be prepared to accept
the popular call to be king. The
nrophet sought to win Saul to spirit
nal fellowship SO that he might work
in harmony with him in advancing
the kingdom. SamueIs devotion to-
the welfare of the nation and his
LOYALTY to the first King of Israel is
one of the most beautiful pictures
given to US in Scripture of patriotism
and piety.
saul became a changed man from
that hour. The responsibility of his
choice impressed him SO that he
sought fellowship with the prophets
that he might become better fitted for
his task. He awaited silently the de-
cision Of the populace. This indicated
his strength of character. A weaker
man would have talked about the de-
cision made by the Lord. Saul wait
ed. and when the people assembled at
Mizpah and selected him by lot in ac
cordance with the custom of those
days he could not be found. He was
not because he was coward
or unwilling to assume the task. He
was humbled as he faced the respon-
sibility of leadership.
When men recall the mistakes of
Saul they say that the choice proved
that God was opposed to their pro-
gram and that their qualifications,