patriarchs and prophets-第165章
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prophet to honor him before the elders and the people by publicly uniting
with him in a religious service。 By divine direction Samuel yielded to the
king's request； that no occasion might be given for a revolt。 But he
remained only as a silent witness of the service。
An act of justice； stern and terrible； was yet to be performed。 Samuel must
publicly vindicate the honor of God and rebuke the course of Saul。 He
commanded that the king of the Amalekites be brought before him。 Above all
who had fallen by the sword of Israel； Agag was the most guilty and
merciless； one who had hated and sought to destroy the people of God； and
whose influence had been strongest to promote idolatry。 He came at the
prophet's command； flattering himself that the danger of death was past。
Samuel declared： 〃As thy sword hath made women childless； so shall thy
mother be childless among women。 And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the
Lord。〃 This done； Samuel returned to his home at Ramah； Saul to his at
Gibeah。 Only once thereafter did the prophet and the king ever meet each
other。
When called to the throne； Saul had a humble opinion of his own
capabilities； and was willing to be instructed。 He was deficient in
knowledge and experience and had serious defects of character。 But the Lord
granted him the Holy Spirit as a guide and helper； and placed him in a
position where he could develop the qualities requisite for a ruler of
Israel。 Had he remained humble； seeking constantly to be guided by divine
wisdom； he
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would have been enabled to discharge the duties of his high position with
success and honor。 Under the influence of divine grace every good quality
would have been gaining strength； while evil tendencies would have lost
their power。 This is the work which the Lord proposes to do for all who
consecrate themselves to Him。 There are many whom He has called to positions
in His work because they have a humble and teachable spirit。 In His
providence He places them where they may learn of Him。 He will reveal to
them their defects of character； and to all who seek His aid He will give
strength to correct their errors。
But Saul presumed upon his exaltation； and dishonored God by unbelief and
disobedience。 Though when first called to the throne he was humble and
self…distrustful； success made him self…confident。 The very first victory of
his reign had kindled that pride of heart which was his greatest danger。 The
valor and military skill displayed in the deliverance of Jabesh…gilead had
roused the enthusiasm of the whole nation。 The people honored their king；
forgetting that he was but the agent by whom God had wrought； and though at
first Saul ascribed the glory to God； he afterward took honor to himself。 He
lost sight of his dependence upon God； and in heart departed from the Lord。
Thus the way was prepared for his sin of presumption and sacrilege at
Gilgal。 The same blind self…confidence led him to reject Samuel's reproof。
Saul acknowledged Samuel to be a prophet sent from God； hence he should have
accepted the reproof； though he could not himself see that he had sinned。
Had he been willing to see and confess his error； this bitter experience
would have proved a safeguard for the future。
If the Lord had then separated Himself entirely from Saul； He would not have
again spoken to him through His prophet； entrusting him with a definite work
to perform； that he might correct the errors of the past。 When one who
professes to be a child of God becomes careless in doing His will； thereby
influencing others to be irreverent and unmindful of the Lord's injunctions；
it is still possible for his failures to be turned into victories if he will
but accept reproof with true contrition of soul and return to God in
humility and faith。 The humiliation of defeat often proves a blessing by
showing us our inability to do the will of God without His aid。
When Saul turned away from the reproof sent him by God's
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Holy Spirit； and persisted in his stubborn self…justification； he rejected
the only means by which God could work to save him from himself。 He had
willfully separated himself from God。 He could not receive divine help or
guidance until he should return to God by confession of his sin。
At Gilgal； Saul had made an appearance of great conscientiousness； as he
stood before the army of Israel offering up a sacrifice to God。 But his
piety was not genuine。 A religious service performed in direct opposition to
the command of God only served to weaken Saul's hands； placing him beyond
the help that God was so willing to grant him。
In his expedition against Amalek； Saul thought he had done all that was
essential of that which the Lord had commanded him； but the Lord was not
pleased with partial obedience； nor willing to pass over what had been
neglected through so plausible a motive。 God has given men no liberty to
depart from His requirements。 The Lord had declared to Israel； 〃Ye shall not
do 。 。 。 every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes；〃 but ye shall
〃observe and hear all these words which I command thee。〃 Deuteronomy 12：8；
28。 In deciding upon any course of action we are not to ask whether we can
see that harm will result from it； but whether it is in keeping with the
will of God。 〃There is a way which seemeth right unto a man； but the end
thereof are the ways of death。〃 Proverbs 14：12。
〃To obey is better than sacrifice。〃 The sacrificial offerings were in
themselves of no value in the sight of God。 They were designed to express on
the part of the offerer penitence for sin and faith in Christ and to pledge
future obedience to the law of God。 But without penitence； faith； and an
obedient heart； the offerings were worthless。 When； in direct violation of
God's command； Saul proposed to present a sacrifice of that which God had
devoted to destruction； open contempt was shown for the divine authority。
The service would have been an insult to Heaven。 Yet with the sin of Saul
and its result before us； how many are pursuing a similar course。 While they
refuse to believe and obey some requirement of the Lord； they persevere in
offering up to God their formal services of religion。 There is no response
of the Spirit of God to such service。 No matter how zealous men may be in
their observance of religious ceremonies； the Lord cannot accept them if
they persist in willful violation of one of His commands。 PG 635
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〃Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft； and stubbornness is as iniquity and
idolatry。〃 Rebellion originated with Satan； and all rebellion against God is
directly due to satanic influence。 Those who set themselves against the
government of God have entered into an alliance with the archapostate； and
he will exercise his power and cunning to captivate the senses and mislead
the understanding。 He will cause everything to appear in a false light。 Like
our first parents； those who are under his bewitching spell see only the
great benefits to be received by transgression。
No stronger evidence can be given of Satan's delusive power than that many
who are thus led by him deceive themselves with the belief that they are in
the service of God。 When Korah； Dathan； and Abiram rebelled against the
authority of Moses； they thought they were opposing only a human leader； a
man like themselves； and they came to believe that they were verily doing
God service。 But in rejecting God's chosen instrument they rejected Christ；
they insulted the Spirit of God。 So； in the days of Christ； the Jewish
scribes and elders； who professed great zeal for the honor of God； crucified
His Son。 The same spirit still exists in the hearts of those who set
themselves to follow their own will in opposition to the will of God。
Saul had had the most ample proof that Samuel was divinely inspired。 His
venturing to disregard the command of God through the prophet was against
the dictates of reason and sound judgment。 His fatal presumption must be
attributed to satanic sorcery。 Saul had manifested great zeal in suppressing
idolatry an
