The Washington herald., 1921-08-08

w
fession? Who called himself that
short and insulting name? King
Saul, for one. Yes, 1t was King
saul. and you I. and a world full OF
others.
Saul was having one Of mis- Meet
ing fits Of remorse. He was getting
a momentary glimpse OF his own
moral ugliness. And the result OF
that fseeting glimpse was. tnat ne
exclaimed: II have played the fooi!
He was altogether right. we are
not disposed to dispute the WORD OF
a king, especially when the king Is
speaking the truth. In fact, this
confession Is not true simply OF one
single act of Sau1s life. II Is true
Of his life as whole IL Is Saufs 5
biography in a single sentence. Ana
II 1 should be called on to go over
to the Orient to<erect a monument
over the nameless grave-of King
Saul and they were to ask me Tor
a fitting epitaph, I know OF none that
would be so absolutely and pathetic
ally true as this: II have played the
fool" '-..
I have played the fool! And how
all but universal is this confession!
I feel sure that there is not single
one of us but what has made II. II
there is one who has not made II
for himself believe me. there have
been others who have made 1t for
you.
Same Confession Made Often.
have played the fool. Did ever
a man spit in the face of his own
conscience without making this con-
fession? Did ever a man come from
debauch without making II? Did
ever a young fellow finish a night
of wild oat sowing without making
IL? Did ever a man fling overheard
the faith of his childhood, that in his
soberer moments he did not say, 81
have played the fooI?"
| II all who have made that con-
fession were to say II together. ths
world would boom like cannonadt
and shake like an earthquake.
Now, not only was King Saul Z
fool, but most pathetic Of all, III
was a self-made fool. II you are ar
idiot by nature why the Lord ha'
made special provision for you and
you don't come in for condemnation
when you play your foolish part
But this man was a self-made fool
Forgot His God.
The truth OF the matter is. mos
fools we meet are of just that type
For instance, the Psalmist says tina
1.-The fool hath said in his heart
there Is no God" Now, II he haC
made this statement because he wa!
a natural idiot he would not have
been deserving of our pity. But yoI
notice he did not say II in his head
He said il in his heart. That is
the wish was father to the thought
God worried him. The thought o.
God troubled him. Therefore, HI
blotted Him out of His sky by re-
fusing to think of Him, to consider
Him, to believe in Him.
No. Saul was to blame for his
fcolishness because he was not nat
urally a fool He was gifted with
a magnificent physical body. He
stood head and shoulders above any
man in Israel. He was distinguished
looking.
| Then, too. he was a man of nc
mean intellectual capacity. And
with all this he was modest Splen-
did young yellow that he is. he &,
not too big to toll at a very lowly
task. When the donkeys get los,
Saul will go TO make a faithful and
diligent search for them.
| Saul Clean Morally.
And last of all young Saul was
clean morally. And throughout his
life he remained the cleanest king
&, in this respect that Israel ever had
And that is fine and altogether
praiseworthy.
Saul not only had an opportunity
ny virtue of what he was in him
self, but he had a wonderful oppor'
tunity through the grace of Goo
First, God gave him the splendid
benediction Of a great-souled friend
Samuel was Gods prophet. He wa'
loyal and courageous preacher
He was Gods spokesman. And ht
gave himself in whole-heartec
friendship to this young man. Saul
and put Himself with the treasure:
oT His divine wisdom. at his dis
posal.
Then, too, Saul had the oppor
tunity Of kingship. God choose hin
to be king. He was put in plac'
of leadership. He was offered al
opportunity of great and kingl!
service. He was a man in whom
God had invested much, and from
whom He expected much.
What did Saul do with his bil
opportunity? He played the foo
We cannot follow his whole stoT,
IN detail. Look at one of the biI
, adventures of his life. God ordere'
him to utterly destroy the Amale
kites. The measure of their mi
guilty was full. and they were to b
completely exterminated.
Led Victorious Army.
Saul gathered his army of $4,000
men and entered upon the expedi
tlon. He was completely victorious
but instead of carrying out his or
ders, he destroyed only that whicl
he did not want. The fat cattl'
and the fat sheep and King Agat
he kept for himself. He obeye'
only in so far as it suited MIN
In this he played the fool.
When Samuel heard that Saul ha'
cbeyed only half way. it broke hi
heart. and he lay awake all night
Not only that, but he got up In tn
IT orning and went to see him I
talk to Saul face to face.
And when Saul looked out an
saw Samuel coming. he put on hi
Sunday face and in the oiliest ton
he said. blessed be thou of tn
Lord. I have performed the com
mand." You see, he knew how t
talk reliyiously. He knew how {
1put on the pious tone. But piou
tone is a great deal easier than
pious life.
Then something happened. Tn
lantfIa hA- 60 md the Shee