patriarchs and prophets-第130部分

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prophet　of　God。　And　yet　how　great　was　his　perversity！　The　history　of
Israel's　first　king　presents　a　sad　example　of　the　power　of　early　wrong
habits。　In　his　youth　Saul　did　not　love　and　fear　God；　and　that　impetuous
spirit；　not　early　trained　to　submission；　was　ever　ready　to　rebel　against
divine　authority。　Those　who　in　their　youth　cherish　a　sacred　regard　for　the
will　of　God；　and　who　faithfully　perform　the　duties　of　their　position；　will
be　prepared　for　higher　service　in　afterlife。　But　men　cannot　for　years
pervert　the　powers　that　God　has　given　them；　and　then；　when　they　choose　to
change；　find　these　powers　fresh　and　free　for　an　entirely　opposite　course。

Saul's　efforts　to　arouse　the　people　proved　unavailing。　Finding　his　force
reduced　to　six　hundred　men；　he　left　Gilgal　and　retired　to　the　fortress　at
Geba；　lately　taken　from　the　Philistines。　This　stronghold　was　on　the　south
side　of　a　deep；　rugged　valley；　or　gorge；　a　few　miles　north　of　the　site　of
Jerusalem。　On　the　north　side　of　the　same　valley；　at　Michmash；　the　Philistine
force　lay　encamped　while　detachments　of　troops　went　out　in　different
directions　to　ravage　the　country。

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God　had　permitted　matters　to　be　thus　brought　to　a　crisis　that　He　might
rebuke　the　perversity　of　Saul　and　teach　His　people　a　lesson　of　humility　and
faith。　Because　of　Saul's　sin　in　his　presumptuous　offering；　the　Lord　would
not　give　him　the　honor　of　vanquishing　the　Philistines。　Jonathan；　the　king's
son；　a　man　who　feared　the　Lord；　was　chosen　as　the　instrument　to　deliver
Israel。　Moved　by　a　divine　impulse；　he　proposed　to　his　armor…bearer　that　they
should　make　a　secret　attack　upon　the　enemy's　camp。　〃It　may　be；〃　he　urged；
〃that　the　Lord　will　work　for　us：　for　there　is　no　restraint　to　the　Lord　to
save　by　many　or　by　few。〃

The　armor…bearer；　who　also　was　a　man　of　faith　and　prayer；　encouragement　the
design；　and　together　they　withdrew　from　the　camp；　secretly；　lest　their
purpose　should　be　opposed。　With　earnest　prayer　to　the　Guide　of　their
fathers；　they　agreed　upon　a　sign　by　which　they　might　determine　how　to
proceed。　Then　passing　down　into　the　gorge　separating　the　two　armies；　they
silently　threaded　their　way；　under　the　shadow　of　the　cliff；　and　partially
concealed　by　the　mounds　and　ridges　of　the　valley。　Approaching　the　Philistine
fortress；　they　were　revealed　to　the　view　of　their　enemies；　who　said；
tauntingly；　〃Behold；　the　Hebrews　come　forth　out　of　the　holes　where　they　had
hid　themselves；〃　then　challenged　them；　〃Come　up　to　us；　and　we　will　show　you
a　thing；〃　meaning　that　they　would　punish　the　two　Israelites　for　their
daring。　This　challenge　was　the　token　that　Jonathan　and　his　companion　had
agreed　to　accept　as　evidence　that　the　Lord　would　prosper　their　undertaking。
Passing　now　from　the　sight　of　the　Philistines；　and　choosing　a　secret　and
difficult　path；　the　warriors　made　their　way　to　the　summit　of　a　cliff　that
had　been　deemed　inaccessible；　and　was　not　very　strongly　guarded。　Thus　they
penetrated　the　enemy's　camp　and　slew　the　sentinels；　who；　overcome　with
surprise　and　fear；　offered　no　resistance。

Angels　of　heaven　shielded　Jonathan　and　his　attendant；　angels　fought　by　their
side；　and　the　Philistines　fell　before　them。　The　earth　trembled　as　though　a
great　multitude　with　horsemen　and　chariots　were　approaching。　Jonathan
recognized　the　tokens　of　divine　aid；　and　even　the　Philistines　knew　that　God
was　working　for　the　deliverance　of　Israel。　Great　fear　seized　upon　the　host；
both　in　the　field　and　in　the　garrison。　In　the　confusion；　mistaking　their　own
soldiers　for　enemies；　the　Philistines　began　to　slay　one　another。

624


Soon　the　noise　of　the　battle　was　heard　in　the　camp　of　Israel。　The　king's
sentinels　reported　that　there　was　great　confusion　among　the　Philistines；　and
that　their　numbers　were　decreasing。　Yet　it　was　not　known　that　any　part　of
the　Hebrew　army　had　left　the　camp。　Upon　inquiry　it　was　found　that　none　were
absent　except　Jonathan　and　his　armor…bearer。　But　seeing　that　the　Philistines
were　meeting　with　a　repulse；　Saul　led　his　army　to　join　the　assault。　The
Hebrews　who　had　deserted　to　the　enemy　now　turned　against　them；　great　numbers
also　came　out　of　their　hiding　places；　and　as　the　Philistines　fled；
discomfited；　Saul's　army　committed　terrible　havoc　upon　the　fugitives。

Determined　to　make　the　most　of　his　advantage；　the　king　rashly　forbade　his
soldiers　to　partake　of　food　for　the　entire　day；　enforcing　his　command　by　the
solemn　imprecation；　〃Cursed　be　the　man　that　eateth　any　food　until　evening；
that　I　may　be　avenged　on　mine　enemies。〃　The　victory　had　already　been　gained；
without　Saul's　knowledge　or　co…operation；　but　he　hoped　to　distinguish
himself　by　the　utter　destruction　of　the　vanquished　army。　The　command　to
refrain　from　food　was　prompted　by　selfish　ambition；　and　it　showed　the　king
to　be　indifferent　to　the　needs　of　his　people　when　these　conflicted　with　his
desire　for　self…exaltation。　To　confirm　his　prohibition　by　a　solemn　oath
showed　Saul　to　be　both　rash　and　profane。　The　very　words　of　the　curse　give
evidence　that　Saul's　zeal　was　for　himself；　and　not　for　the　honor　of　God。　He
declared　his　object　to　be；　not　〃that　the　Lord　may　be　avenged　on　His
enemies；〃　but　〃that　I　may　be　avenged　on　mine　enemies。〃

The　prohibition　resulted　in　leading　the　people　to　transgress　the　command　of
God。　They　had　been　engaged　in　warfare　all　day；　and　were　faint　for　want　of
food；　and　as　soon　as　the　hours　of　restriction　were　over；　they　fell　upon　the
spoil　and　devoured　the　flesh　with　the　blood；　thus　violating　the　law　that
forbade　the　eating　of　blood。

During　the　day's　battle　Jonathan；　who　had　not　heard　of　the　king's　command；
unwittingly　offended　by　eating　a　little　honey　as　he　passed　through　a　wood。
Saul　learned　of　this　at　evening。　He　had　declared　that　the　violation　of　his
edict　should　be　punished　with　death；　and　though　Jonathan　had　not　been　guilty
of　a　willful　sin；　though　God　had　miraculously　preserved　his　life　and　had
wrought　deliverance　through　him；　the　king　declared　that　the　sentence　must　be
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

626

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