patriarchs and prophets-第163章
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executed。 To spare the life of his son would
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have been an acknowledgment on the part of Saul that he had sinned in making
so rash a vow。 This would have been humiliating to his pride。 〃God do so；
and more also；〃 was his terrible sentence： 〃thou shalt surely die；
Jonathan。〃
Saul could not claim the honor of the victory； but he hoped to be honored
for his zeal in maintaining the sacredness of his oath。 Even at the
sacrifice of his son； he would impress upon his subjects the fact that the
royal authority must be maintained。 At Gilgal； but a short time before； Saul
had presumed to officiate as priest； contrary to the command of God。 When
reproved by Samuel； he had stubbornly justified himself。 Now； when his own
command was disobeyedthough the command was unreasonable and had been
violated through ignorancethe king and father sentenced his son to death。
The people refused to allow the sentence to be executed。 Braving the anger
of the king； they declared； 〃Shall Jonathan die； who hath wrought this great
salvation in Israel？ God forbid： as the Lord liveth； there shall not one
hair of his head fall to the ground； for he hath wrought with God this day。〃
The proud monarch dared not disregard this unanimous verdict； and the life
of Jonathan was preserved。
Saul could not but feel that his son was preferred before him； both by the
people and by the Lord。 Jonathan's deliverance was a severe reproof to the
king's rashness。 He felt a presentiment that his curses would return upon
his own head。 He did not longer continue the war with the Philistines； but
returned to his home； moody and dissatisfied。
Those who are most ready to excuse or justify themselves in sin are often
most severe in judging and condemning others。 Many； like Saul； bring upon
themselves the displeasure of God； but they reject counsel and despise
reproof。 Even when convinced that the Lord is not with them； they refuse to
see in themselves the cause of their trouble。 They cherish a proud； boastful
spirit； while they indulge in cruel judgment or severe rebuke of others who
are better than they。 Well would it be for such self…constituted judges to
ponder those words of Christ： 〃With what judgment ye judge； ye shall be
judged： and with what measure ye mete； it shall be measured to you again。〃
Matthew 7：2。
Often those who are seeking to exalt themselves are brought into positions
where their true character is revealed。 So it was in
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the case of Saul。 His own course convinced the people that kingly honor and
authority were dearer to him than justice； mercy； or benevolence。 Thus the
people were led to see their error in rejecting the government that God had
given them。 They had exchanged the pious prophet； whose prayers had brought
down blessings； for a king who in his blind zeal had prayed for a curse upon
them。
Had not the men of Israel interposed to save the life of Jonathan； their
deliverer would have perished by the king's decree。 With what misgivings
must that people afterward have followed Saul's guidance！ How bitter the
thought that he had been placed upon the throne by their own act！ The Lord
bears long with the waywardness of men； and to all He grants opportunity to
see and forsake their sins； but while He may seem to prosper those who
disregard His will and despise His warnings； He will； in His own time；
surely make manifest their folly。
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Chapter 61
Saul Rejected
Saul had failed to bear the test of faith in the trying situation at Gilgal；
and had brought dishonor upon the service of God； but his errors were not
yet irretrievable； and the Lord would grant him another opportunity to learn
the lesson of unquestioning faith in His word and obedience to His commands。
When reproved by the prophet at Gilgal； Saul saw no great sin in the course
he had pursued。 He felt that he had been treated unjustly； and endeavored to
vindicate his actions and offered excuses for his error。 From that time he
had little intercourse with the prophet。 Samuel loved Saul as his own son；
while Saul； bold and ardent in temper； had held the prophet in high regard；
but he resented Samuel's rebuke； and thenceforth avoided him so far as
possible。
But the Lord sent His servant with another message to Saul。 By obedience he
might still prove his fidelity to God and his worthiness to walk before
Israel。 Samuel came to the king and delivered the word of the Lord。 That the
monarch might realize the importance of heeding the command； Samuel
expressly declared that he spoke by divine direction； by the same authority
that had called Saul to the throne。 The prophet said； 〃Thus saith the Lord
of hosts； I remember that which Amalek did to Israel； how he laid wait for
him in the way； when he came up from Egypt。 Now go and smite Amalek； and
utterly destroy all that they have； and spare them not； but slay both man
and woman； infant and suckling； ox and sheep； camel and ass。〃 The Amalekites
had been the first to make war upon Israel in the wilderness； and for this
sin； together with their defiance of God and their debasing idolatry； the
Lord； through Moses； had pronounced sentence upon them。 By divine direction
the history of their cruelty toward Israel had been recorded； with the
command； 〃Thou
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shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven； thou shalt not
forget it。〃 Deuteronomy 25：19。 For four hundred years the execution of this
sentence had been deferred； but the Amalekites had not turned from their
sins。 The Lord knew that this wicked people would； if it were possible； blot
out His people and His worship from the earth。 Now the time had come for the
sentence； so long delayed； to be executed。
The forbearance that God has exercised toward the wicked； emboldens men in
transgression； but their punishment will be none the less certain and
terrible for being long delayed。 〃The Lord shall rise up as in Mount
Perazim； He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon； that He may do His
work； His strange work； and bring to pass His act； His strange act。〃 Isaiah
28：21。 To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act。 〃As I
live； saith the Lord God； I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked； but
that the wicked turn from his way and live。〃 Ezekiel 33：11。 The Lord is
〃merciful and gracious； long…suffering； and abundant in goodness and truth；
。 。 。 forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin。〃 Yet He will 〃by no
means clear the guilty。〃 Exodus 34：6； 7。 While He does not delight in
vengeance； He will execute judgment upon the transgressors of His law。 He is
forced to do this； to preserve the inhabitants of the earth from utter
depravity and ruin。 In order to save some He must cut off those who have
become hardened in sin。 〃The Lord is slow to anger； and great in power； and
will not at all acquit the wicked。〃 Nahum 1：3。 By terrible things in
righteousness He will vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law。 And
the very fact of His reluctance to execute justice testifies to the enormity
of the sins that call forth His judgments and to the severity of the
retribution awaiting the transgressor。
But while inflicting judgment； God remembered mercy。 The Amalekites were to
be destroyed； but the Kenites； who dwelt among them； were spared。 This
people； though not wholly free from idolatry； were worshipers of God and
were friendly to Israel。 Of this tribe was the brother…in…law of Moses；
Hobab； who had accompanied the Israelites in their travels through the
wilderness； and by his knowledge of the country had rendered them valuable
assistance。
Since the defeat of the Philistines at Michmash； Saul had made war against
Moab； Ammon； and Edom； and against the
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Amalekites and the Philistines； and wherever he turned his arms； he gained
fresh victories。 On receiving the commission against the Amalekites； he at
once proclaimed war。 To his own authority was added that of the p
