The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-08-26

him both the private amounting
and extended instruction. co.
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 externinate
the criminal and idolatrous ma
tion 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 &C
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 left
Saul for the last time.
THE SIN: DISOBEDIENCE
Conviction of sin was easy in
spite of profession. Saul's ex-
PLANTATION of his conduct did not
explain. On the way homeward
he had erected at Carmel, south
of Hebron, 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 &C
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
sheep and oxen for great !
sacrifical feast in Gilgal. 1t was.
of course, a thin subterfuge and
a bald falsehood. The sentence
which Samuel now passed upon
Saul dealt directly with his hypo-
crisy, rebellion and rejection. His
was first denounced in
burning words. Obedience is bet
ter than sacrifice. His rebellion
is next held up in all it's hide
BUSINESS, for rebellion and stub
oornness are like witchcraft and
idolatry. His rejection follows,
as matter of course. He had
rejected God; therefore God re-
iected him.
Confession of sin, being be-
ated and insincere, was empty
n spite of prayer. Under the
stunning sentence of Samuel the
ling twice acknowledged his sin
md pleaded for mercy. In the
first instance he made his confess
ION merely in the hope of re-
aiming permanent power. With
what bitterness of soul Samuel
must have declined the remorse-
'ul but unrepentant plea of his
ling. A moment later the mon
.rch shrieked his plea for a post
,oned penalty. If he must lose,
he throne, let it be at a later
ime when it will not so shock
md disturb the nation. Under
his plea, Samuel for a moment
emained with the king, though
Without the slightest relaxation :
f the divine decree. i,
)ISOBEDIENCE BRINGS :
DISASTER
Cd Disobedience Arraigned.
Samuel came to SAUL" Did the
onqueror OF, fierce Amalek feel
afeaa Samuelsmsetsss niasAai .Gil- !,