The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-08-24
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
SAUL
"s-@ By HIGHT c. MOORE
SAUL

Sunday, Aug. 81.
/ Samuel 15:13-2G.
Golden Text - Behold, to
obey is better than sacrifice.
] Samuel 1922.
There were seven steps in the
establishment of the Hebrew
monarchy with Saul as, the first
king: G) The king was demand
ed; for messengers from all parts
of the land gathered at Ramah
and called for king. (2) The
king was described; for Samuel
told the people the cost of a king
Extended military equipment,
crown lands to be cultivated by
forced labor, a royal kitchen to
be maintained in style, royal es-
tates to reward the kings favor
ties, and heavy taxes to support
an Oriental court. 90 The king
was sanctioned; for both Jehovah
and Samuel yielded to the call.
C4) The king was discovered; for
Samuel recognized him on his
visit to Ramah. 60 The king
was developed; for Samuel gave
him both the private amounting
and extended instruction. TO-
The king was designated; for in
the great assemblage at Mizpah
he was acclaimed monarch CD
The king was directed; for Sam
uel prepared and wrote in book
a constitution for the new mon
archy.
The wars of Saul involved cam
paigns against Moab, Ammon,
Edom, Zobah and Philistia. The
divine command to eXterminate
the criminal and idolatrouS ma
ton of Amalekites was obeyed
by Saul only so far as it graft
fled his military ambition. On
his. return he offered to Samuel
the flimsy excuse which only ac-
centuated his disobedience. There
upon the prophet announced the
divine rejection of Saul from be-
ing king. himself executed the
spared king of Amalek, and lett
Saul for the last time.
THE SIN: DISOBEDlENCE
Conviction of sin was easy in
spite of profession. Saups ex-
PLANTATION of his conduct did not
explain. On the way homeward
he had erected at Carmel, south
of Hebron, a monument to his
own heroism. When Samuel
reached him at Gilgal, he greeted
the prophet in a way designed to
throw the aged seer off guard.
He gave Samuel his benediction
and claimed that he had obeyed
the commandment of Jehovah.
But at that very moment the ac-
cusing sheep and oxen lifted up
their vocies. This excited the in
cisive inquiry of the prophet.
Then the king sought to shift the
responsibility from his own
shoulders to that of the people.
1t was they, not he, who had
Spared the best" Yet he aver
red that the purpose was good
one, namely, that the saved ami
mails might be used for sacri-
fices. As for himself. he claimed
that he had fulfilled his mission
of determination In this unman-
ly subterfuge Saul reminds of
Adam, who shifted responsibility
upon Eve, and of Aaron, who
claimed to make the golden calf
in response to popular demand.
THE SENTENCE:
DETHRONEMENT
Condemnation of sin was de-
served in spite of protest. The
inquiry of Samuel went straight
to the soul of Saul, who seemed
impatiently to seek a turn in the
conversation. Had not Saul in
his humility been elevated to the
throne of Israel; and did not the
Lord who elevated him command
him to extemirnate the Amale-
kites? Why then did he disobey
and "fly upon the spoil" doing
evil in the sight of the Lord? In
answer Saul reiterated his YER
sion of what he had done and
also what the people had done.
Saul had obeyed; the people were
the sinners! Still, he again justi-
fled their conduct by claiming
| that they kept the best of the
sheen and oxen for a great
sacrifira1 Feast in Eilyol T.