p. 14 | Untitled article by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Dec 20, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 51.

EDUCATION IN THE HOME. No. 29.

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

"POSSIBLE!" repeated John, "of course it's possible. Whatever it was that appeared that night to the woman of Endor, told Saul a falsehood, a lie!"

"Well; if that's a fact," replied Mr. Jones, "that settles the matter in my mind, because surely the spirit of a holy prophet could not lie."

"No," responded John, "more especially as it is claimed to have come directly from heaven on purpose for the instruction of the king. But in verse nineteen (1 Samuel 28) we find that this spirit told Saul very boastingly and tauntingly, 'And to-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me.'"

"Well, wasn't that true, young man,—wasn't that true, sir?" questioned Mr. Jones severely.

John only smiled as he replied quietly: "I think if you will read carefully the following chapter,—the nineteenth of First Samuel, and compare the last two verses of that chapter with the story we are considering, you will see clearly that Saul did not die in battle on the morrow, after his conversation with the so-called Samuel,—he could not have been killed that day, for the reason that the battle was not fought until afterward."

"You will observe," commented Brother Hartman, "that after Saul's departure from Endor, the narrative says that David undertook to march with the Philistines to battle against Israel. That, very evidently, was the day after the conference between Saul and the witch. But the armies were still some distance apart when David was entreated to return to Ziklag. But he did not start on his return journey, until still another day (verse 10, 11, chapter 29) so that the two armies could not have had the battle, and Saul and his sons could not have been slain, until after the time set by the familiar spirit had gone by. And, finally, Inspiration declares that God suffered him to die because he had sought counsel from an evil spirit."

"Is that possible? does the Bible say that?" questioned Mrs. Wilbur.

"It surely does. Will you please read 1 Chron. 10:13, 14?" and Mrs. Wilbur read slowly:

"So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, . . . and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit to inquire of it; and inquired not of the Lord, therefore He slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David."

Mr. Jones was very busy for a few moments, comparing the texts which had been cited. Then he looked frankly into John's merry blue eyes, and exclaimed heartily:

"Well, I think you're right, young man. That scripture has always been a bone of contention to my soul; because I thought—honestly thought, you see—that it gave the Spiritualist a pretty strong foundation. But it's plain enough now, and I really thank you and your good father here, for helping me out."

"We are all deeply gratified, I am sure," rejoined Brother Hartman.

"But," said Mrs. Wilbur, "I can't help wondering how King Saul felt, as the day in which he was to have fallen in battle (according to the familiar spirit) passed by with the battle still unfought, wherein, as was plainly insinuated by the spirit, he was to have perished," and the little woman smiled brightly.

"I can imagine, as hour after hour passed, and he found himself still alive, that he probably grew more reckless and soul-hardened than ever," commented grandma.

"May be he thought something as I should," remarked Billy, "that you couldn't depend very much on a witch, anyway."

"That is exactly correct, Billy," said Elsie; "you can't depend on the devil for correct information upon any subject. Sometimes he tells the truth when occasion happens to suit him, and sometimes he will tell just enough truth the more completely to deceive his victim, but—"

"But," interrupted grandma, "but he is a liar from the beginning, and abode not in the truth."

"A liar and the father of lies!" echoed Elsie.

Walter Gray had taken no part in the conversation for some time; but the lad had not been asleep by any means. Finally he spoke, while a look of mingled amusement and surprise shone in his bright, intelligent face.

"See here, father," he said, turning to Mr. Gray, "didn't you bring me up to believe that when a good man died he went directly to heaven, and that when a wicked one died, he went,—well, in the opposite direction?"

"Why yes, my son; that was the way I was taught to believe, and my father before me; and so of course I have taught you the same,—but I—"

"I see, father," interrupted Walter, "but I think you and I and mother will have to modify our ideas, if we are going to keep the truth of God on our side; don't you agree with me, mother?"

Mrs. Gray did not reply; she was too busy with her own thoughts. But her son did not wait for a reply:

"Now, see here, mother, King Saul was a wicked man at the time of the interview with the Endor woman, and surely the prophet Samuel was dead and must have been in heaven, according as we have always believed, and yet at the bare prospect of going to be with Samuel, in heaven, the next day (instead of having to go to hades) King Saul is convulsed with horror, just because the spirit had said, 'to-morrow you and your sons shall be with me.' Just think of it!" exclaimed Walter; while his mother only bowed her head and hid her face in her hands.

"Evidently we have been in great darkness," concluded Mr. Gray, "and have not half lived up to our privilege in the matter of the study of the Word, and may God forgive us all!"

"I think we have all been in the same condition," admitted Mr. Jones, frankly.

"But there is forgiveness with Thee that Thou mayest be feared," quoted grandma reverently.

"We will now close our evening's study," said Brother Hartman, "with a promise that if you will all come again next Wednesday evening, I will tell you a little story from my own experience; after which, our study will be 'The Destiny of the Wicked.'"

(To be continued.)