patriarchs and prophets-第129部分

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After　the　assembly　at　Gilgal；　Saul　disbanded　the　army　that　had　at　his　call
arisen　to　overthrow　the　Ammonites；　reserving　only　two　thousand　men　to　be
stationed　under　his　command　at　Michmash　and　one　thousand　to　attend　his　son
Jonathan　at　Gibeah。　Here　was　a　serious　error。　His　army　was　filled　with　hope
and　courage　by　the　recent　victory；　and　had　he　proceeded　at　once　against
other　enemies　of　Israel；　a　telling　blow　might　have　been　struck　for　the
liberties　of　the　nation。

Meanwhile　their　warlike　neighbors；　the　Philistines；　were　active。　After　the
defeat　at　Ebenezer　they　had　still　retained　possession　of　some　hill
fortresses　in　the　land　of　Israel；　and　now　they　established　themselves　in　the
very　heart　of　the　country。　In　facilities；　arms；　and　equipments　the
Philistines　had　great　advantage　over　Israel。　During　the　long　period　of　their
oppressive　rule　they　had　endeavored　to　strengthen　their　power　by　forbidding
the　Israelites　to　practice　the　trade　of　smiths；　lest　they　should　make
weapons　of　war。　After　the　conclusion　of　peace　the　Hebrews　had　still　resorted
to　the　Philistine　garrisons　for　such　work　as　needed　to　be　done。　Controlled
by　love　of　ease　and　the　abject　spirit　induced　by　long　oppression；　the　men　of
Israel　had；　to　a　great　extent；　neglected　to　provide　themselves　with　weapons
of　war。　Bows　and　slings　were　used　in　warfare；　and　these　the　Israelites　could
obtain；　but　there　were　none　among　them；　except　Saul　and　his　son　Jonathan；
who　possessed　a　spear　or　a　sword。

It　was　not　until　the　second　year　of　Saul's　reign　that　an　attempt　was　made　to
subdue　the　Philistines。　The　first　blow　was　struck　by　Jonathan；　the　king's
son；　who　attacked　and　overcame　their　garrison　at　Geba。　The　Philistines；
exasperated　by　this

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defeat；　made　ready　for　a　speedy　attack　upon　Israel。　Saul　now　caused　war　to
be　proclaimed　by　the　sound　of　the　trumpet　throughout　the　land；　calling　upon
all　the　men　of　war；　including　the　tribes　across　the　Jordan；　to　assemble　at
Gilgal。　This　summons　was　obeyed。

The　Philistines　had　gathered　an　immense　force　at　Michmash　〃thirty　thousand
chariots；　and　six　thousand　horsemen；　and　people　as　the　sand　which　is　on　the
seashore　in　multitude。〃　When　the　tidings　reached　Saul　and　his　army　at
Gilgal；　the　people　were　appalled　at　thought　of　the　mighty　forces　they　would
have　to　encounter　in　battle。　They　were　not　prepared　to　meet　the　enemy；　and
many　were　so　terrified　that　they　dared　not　come　to　the　test　of　an　encounter。
Some　crossed　the　Jordan；　while　others　hid　themselves　in　caves　and　pits　and
amid　the　rocks　that　abounded　in　that　region。　As　the　time　for　the　encounter
drew　near；　the　number　of　desertions　rapidly　increased；　and　those　who　did　not
withdraw　from　the　ranks　were　filled　with　foreboding　and　terror。

When　Saul　was　first　anointed　king　of　Israel；　he　had　received　from　Samuel
explicit　directions　concerning　the　course　to　be　pursued　at　this　time。　〃Thou
shalt　go　down　before　me　to　Gilgal；〃　said　the　prophet；　〃and；　behold；　I　will
come　down　unto　thee；　to　offer　burnt　offerings；　and　to　sacrifice　sacrifices
of　peace　offerings：　seven　days　shalt　thou　tarry；　till　I　come　to　thee；　and
show　thee　what　thou　shalt　do。〃　I　Samuel　10：8。

Day　after　day　Saul　tarried；　but　without　making　decided　efforts　toward
encouraging　the　people　and　inspiring　confidence　in　God。　Before　the　time
appointed　by　the　prophet　had　fully　expired；　he　became　impatient　at　the　delay
and　allowed　himself　to　be　discouraged　by　the　trying　circumstances　that
surrounded　him。　Instead　of　faithfully　seeking　to　prepare　the　people　for　the
service　that　Samuel　was　coming　to　perform；　he　indulged　in　unbelief　and
foreboding。　The　work　of　seeking　God　by　sacrifice　was　a　most　solemn　and
important　work；　and　God　required　that　His　people　should　search　their　hearts
and　repent　of　their　sins；　that　the　offering　might　be　made　with　acceptance
before　Him；　and　that　His　blessing　might　attend　their　efforts　to　conquer　the
enemy。　But　Saul　had　grown　restless；　and　the　people；　instead　of　trusting　in
God　for　help；　were　looking　to　the　king　whom　they　had　chosen；　to　lead　and
direct　them。

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Yet　the　Lord　still　cared　for　them　and　did　not　give　them　up　to　the　disasters
that　would　have　come　upon　them　if　the　frail　arm　of　flesh　had　become　their
only　support。　He　brought　them　into　close　places；　that　they　might　be
convicted　of　the　folly　of　depending　on　man；　and　that　they　might　turn　to　Him
as　their　only　help。　The　time　for　the　proving　of　Saul　had　come。　He　was　now　to
show　whether　or　not　he　would　depend　on　God　and　patiently　wait　according　to
His　command；　thus　revealing　himself　as　one　whom　God　could　trust　in　trying
places　as　the　ruler　of　His　people；　or　whether　he　would　be　vacillating　and
unworthy　of　the　sacred　responsibility　that　had　devolved　upon　him。　Would　the
king　whom　Israel　had　chosen；　listen　to　the　Ruler　of　all　kings？　Would　he　turn
the　attention　of　his　fainthearted　soldiers　to　the　One　in　whom　is　everlasting
strength　and　deliverance？

With　growing　impatience　he　awaited　the　arrival　of　Samuel　and　attributed　the
confusion　and　distress　and　desertion　of　his　army　to　the　absence　of　the
prophet。　The　appointed　time　came；　but　the　man　of　God　did　not　immediately
appear。　God's　providence　had　detained　His　servant。　But　Saul's　restless；
impulsive　spirit　would　no　longer　be　restrained。　Feeling　that　something　must
be　done　to　calm　the　fears　of　the　people；　he　determined　to　summon　an　assembly
for　religious　service；　and　by　sacrifice　entreat　the　divine　aid。　God　had
directed　that　only　those　consecrated　to　the　office　should　present　sacrifices
before　Him。　But　Saul　commanded；　〃Bring　hither　a　burnt　offering；〃　and；
equipped　as　he　was　with　armor　and　weapons　of　war；　he　approached　the　altar
and　offered　sacrifice　before　God。

〃And　it　came　to　pass；　that　as　soon　as　he　had　made　an　end　of　offering　the
burnt　offering；　behold；　Samuel　came；　and　Saul　went　out　to　meet　him；　that　he
might　salute　him。〃　Samuel　saw　at　once　that　Saul　had　gone　contrary　to　the
express　directions　that　had　been　given　him。　The　Lord　had　spoken　by　His
prophet　that　at　this　time　He　would　reveal　what　Israel　must　do　in　this
crisis。　If　Saul　had　fulfilled　the　conditions　upon　which　divine　help　was
promised；　the　Lord　would　have　wrought　a　marvelous　deliverance　for　Israel；
with　the　few　who　were　loyal　to　the　king。　But　Saul　was　so　well　satisfied　with
himself　and　his　work　that　he　went　out　to　meet　the　prophet　as　one　who　should
be　commended　rather　than　disapproved。

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Samuel's　countenance　was　full　of　anxiety　and　trouble；　but　to　his　inquiry；
〃What　hast　thou　done？〃　Saul　offered　excuses　for　his　presumptuous　act。　He
said：　〃I　saw　that　the　people　were　scattered　from　me；　and　that　thou　camest
not　within　the　days　appointed；　and　that　the　Philistines　gathered　themselves
together　at　Michmash；　therefore　said　I；　The　Philistines　will　come　down　now
upon　me　to　Gilgal；　and　I　have　not　made　supplication　unto　the　Lord：　I　forced
myself　therefore；　and　offered　a　burnt　offering。

〃And　Samuel　said　to　Saul；　Thou　hast　done　foolishly：　thou　hast　not　kept　the
commandment　of　the　Lord　thy　God；　which　He　commanded　thee：　for　now　would　the
Lord　have　established　thy　kingdom　upon　Israel　forever。　But　now　thy　kingdom
shall　not　continue：　the　Lord　hath　sought　Him　a　man　after　His　own　heart；　and
the　Lord　hath　commanded　him　to　be　captain　over　His　people。　。　。　。　And　Samuel
arose；　and　gat　him　up　from　Gilgal　unto　Gibeah　of　Benjamin。〃

Either　Israel　must　cease　to　be　the　people　of　God；　or　the　principle　upon
which　the　monarchy　was　founded　must　be　maintained；　and　the　nation　must　be
governed　by　a　divine　power。　If　Israel　would　be　wholly　the　Lord's；　if　the
will　of　the　human　and　earthly　were　held　in　subjection　to　the　will　of　God；　He
would　continue　to　be　the　Ruler　of　Israel。　So　long　as　the　king　and　the　people
would　conduct　themselves　as　subordinate　to　God；　so　long　He　could　be　their
defense。　But　in　Israel　no　monarchy　could　prosper　that　did　not　in　all　things
acknowledge　the　supreme　authority　of　God。

If　Saul　had　shown　a　regard　for　the　requirements　of　God　in　this　time　of
trial；　God　could　have　worked　His　will　through　him。　His　failure　now　proved
him　unfit　to　be　the　vicegerent　of　God　to　His　people。　He　would　mislead
Israel。　His　will；　rather　than　the　will　of　God；　would　be　the　controlling
power。　If　Saul　had　been　faithful；　his　kingdom　would　have　been　established
forever；　but　since　he　had　failed；　the　purpose　of　God　must　be　accomplished　by
another。　The　government　of　Israel　must　be　committed　to　one　who　would　rule
the　people　according　to　the　will　of　Heaven。

We　do　not　know　what　great　interests　may　be　at　stake　in　the　proving　of　God。
There　is　no　safety　except　in　strict　obedience　to　the　word　of　God。　All　His
promises　are　made　upon　condition　of　faith　and　obedience；　and　a　failure　to
comply　with　His

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commands　cuts　off　the　fulfillment　to　us　of　the　rich　provisions　of　the
Scriptures。　We　should　not　follow　impulse；　nor　rely　on　the　judgment　of　men；
we　should　look　to　the　revealed　will　of　God　and　walk　according　to　His
definite　commandment；　no　matter　what　circumstances　may　surround　us。　God　will
take　care　of　the　results；　by　faithfulness　to　His　word　we　may　in　time　of
trial　prove　before　men　and　angels　that　the　Lord　can　trust　us　in　difficult
places　to　carry　out　His　will；　honor　His　name；　and　bless　His　people。

Saul　was　in　disfavor　with　God；　and　yet　unwilling　to　humble　his　heart　in
penitence。　What　he　lacked　in　real　piety　he　would　try　to　make　up　by　his　zeal
in　the　forms　of　religion。　Saul　was　not　ignorant　of　Israel's　defeat　when　the
ark　of　God　was　brought　into　the　camp　by　Hophni　and　Phinehas；　and　yet；
knowing　all　this；　he　determined　to　send　for　the　sacred　chest　and　its
attendant　priest。　Could　he　by　this　means　inspire　confidence　in　the　people；
he　hoped　to　reassemble　his　scattered　army　and　give　battle　to　the
Philistines。　He　would　now　dispense　with　Samuel's　presence　and　support；　and
thus　free　himself　from　the　prophet's　unwelcome　criticisms　and　reproofs。

The　Holy　Spirit　had　been　granted　to　Saul　to　enlighten　his　understanding　and
soften　his　heart。　He　had　received　faithful　instruction　and　reproof　from　the
prophet　of　God。　And　yet　how　great　was　his　perve