Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-06-04

LESSON TEXT Sam. Is.
GOLDEN TEXT-For thou hast reject
ed the word of the Lord, and the Lord
hath rejected thee.-I Sam. 1925
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-I Sam. IA:
R-52
PRIMARY ToPIC-A King Who Dis
obeyed God.
JUNIOR ToPIC-How Saul Lost His
Kingdom.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Why Saul Failed.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Strength and Weakness OF Sauls
Character.
This is one of the saddest pictures
In Bible history. No one has had
brighter prospect before him than Saul,
yet no one has made greater failure.
He possessed strong natural gifts, the
qualities Of a great king. He had fine
physique, which greatly favors ones
success In life, other things being
equal. He had the benefit of Samuels
advice and godly life, which was of in
estimable value.
|. The Command to Saul wv. 1-3).
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. IT :8;
Deut. 25 I'D. This command may seem
cruel, but we must remember that it
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
| nr %Infp cfv r7n& T--
rael's act, but Gods, Israel only being
the sword in his hand. God is just as
well as love. His love should not be
emphasized at the expense of his
justice.
II. The Disobedience of Saul wv.
4e).
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 it 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.
L S0NI FlCb6NSd W Soih6Ci WV
1925.
1. 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. Sauls hypocritical pretense wv.
15, 16). Saul met Samuel with the
pretense Of having executed the Lords
| NJ. i
! a 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 conciliate 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. It matters not
= what the crime may be, some excuse
= can be made for it. He then played
= the hypocrite by trying to make 1
pass as an ace Of devotion to God "
> 15). He should have known that thing
). gained by disobedience to God are al
- abomination to him. Offerings to Coz
of ill-gotten gains can never atone fo
sins Of disobedience and neglect. Sau
tried to justify himself by pleadini
that he was keeping the spirit of tn
commandment, while not literally car
I rying out its requirements. He ha
many successors today who do not be
: lieve in the literal Interpretation an,
n practice Of Gods Word.
8. Samuel rehearses before SAT-
:. Gods dealing with him (vv. 1929.
y Samuel met this hypocrisy by bring
ing him to squarely face his sin. Go,
Is more concerned In having his sub
jects render obedience unto his com
!. mandments than he is for them to OF
- fer unto him sacrifices. Such an &C
>, when the heart is in rebellion is a
:. hateful to God as withcraft and idols
= try.
- - w. The Judgment upon Saul wv. q
e S5).
:. For the presumptuous offering G
~ sacrifice the dynasty passed frol
q Saul's house, and for this act of f1s
- grant disobedience the kingdom is rer
- from him. It is taken from Saul an
- given to his neighbor, who is bette
~ than he. He confessed his sin an
~ begged Samuel to still honor him bC
- fore the elders Of the people. Thi
8 further shows his self-centered lif,
~ His honor was more to him than th
- glory of God. Samuel forsook hi
nn and left him alone to suffer in di
~ " grace. He refused to punish the ANA
IL ekite (II Sam. 1 10Y. Unless we sls
or our enemies they will slay US. Jud
d. ment shall come sooner or later upo
those who sin. for "the wages of s.
is death, but the gift of God is eterni
life through Jesus Christ our Lord
Is. (Rom. 6 :23).
ed
is True Love.
in True love is not g passion; no mob
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