p. 489 | The Sabbath-School by John W. Scoles

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 12, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 31.

The Sabbath-School.

By John W. Scoles

Notes on the International Lesson.

SAUL REJECTED BY THE LORD.

(August 18, 1 Sam. 15: 10-23.) THE events of the present lesson are separated from those of the last by quite an interval of time, during which Saul was gradually developing the character which caused him to be finally rejected as king over Israel. On at least one occasion previous to the present instance, Saul had directly transgressed the will of the Lord in presumptuously offering sacrifices for the people. 1 Sam. 13: 8-14. Because of this the Lord told him, through Samuel, that his kingdom, or rule, should not continue, and his subsequent departures from the paths of rectitude, culminating in the disobedience and rebellion described in our lesson to-day, show us that Saul was no longer worthy of the position which he occupied.

THE commission given to Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites came directly from God himself, and was in direct harmony with his will. The cup of their iniquity was at last filled up and mercy could no longer be extended to them. It was therefore just that, since they had abused his compassion, their punishment should fall upon them in full force. And inasmuch as Saul had been commanded to slay them utterly, there was no excuse whatever for his failure to comply with God's wishes.

AT the first thought, it might seem a matter of wonder, that such a wrong motive could have possessed Saul as to lead him to save any of the spoil; but we must remember that the Lord required sacrifices at the hands of his people, and they doubtless reasoned that if they could preserve the herds and flocks of the Amalekites from destruction, these animals would take the place of their own for purposes of sacrifice, and thus their property could remain in their own possession.

ONE object of the offerings which God required of his people was that they might show their loyalty to him by willingly making a sacrifice of a portion of their possessions. So that, even if the Lord had said nothing whatever about the disposition of the property of the Amalekites, it would not have been an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord in behalf of the children of Israel. But, under the circumstances, the thing was doubly wrong. The whole proceeding shows covetousness, selfishness, and disobedience in the highest degree, on the part of both king and people.

REBELLION may be said to be "as the sin of witchcraft" not only on account of its heinousness, but because it is so deceptive in its influence over us. It makes us think that we are walking in the counsel of God, when, in reality, we are only following our own course. Although directly transgressing the requirements of God by taking the course he did, Saul may have thought in his own mind that he was carrying out the spirit of the command which had been given him. But his so-called obedience was nothing but disobedience and rebellion against the Lord after all.

HOW many there are to-day who are imitating Saul's example. It is so much easier to do the things which are convenient, so much nicer to follow their own plans, than to walk in the paths of God's choosing, that thousands are turning to their own devices, and walking in their own counsel, persuading themselves perhaps, like Saul, that they are doing the will of the Lord, only to find

in the terrible future that they have deceived themselves, have been rejected of God, and are lost forever.

IT is neither right nor expedient to walk contrary to God's express commands. Disobedience of his requirements to-day is just as much sin as it was three thousand years ago. His divine law, the ten commandments, is the basis of his government as much as it ever was; and, although we may think it makes no difference what God's law says, just so we do what we think it means, let us remember that this is the very point where Saul made his mistake. All such worship as this is will-worship; that is, it is following our own will instead of the word of the Lord. If the Lord says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," he does not mean that we shall let our position or our possessions be exalted above him or his will in our minds. If he says, "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work," etc., he does not mean that we shall do our hardest labor on that day, and then worship him upon some other day which he has never commanded. And so on, all the way through. God means what he says. "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."

IF we are trampling any part of God's law beneath our feet, either willingly or unknowingly, may we have our minds turned to behold the "wonderful things" therein; may we be enabled, by God's grace, to so repent of our transgressions and turn away from them, that we may take hold upon the precious promises of the blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In his strength we may march onward to certain victory over sin, with the blessed assurance that a crown of rejoicing lies at the end of the race, and that in our Father's house where the "many mansions" are, we shall behold his face in righteousness, and be satisfied in his presence forever. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates, into the city." Rev. 22:14. J. W. SCOLES.