patriarchs and prophets-第132部分

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burnt　offerings　and　sacrifices；　as　in　obeying　the　voice　of　the　Lord？　Behold；
to　obey　is　better　than　sacrifice；　and　to　hearken　than　the　fat　of　rams。　For
rebellion　is　as　the　sin　of　witchcraft；　and　stubbornness　is　as　iniquity　and
idolatry。　Because　thou　hast　rejected　the　word　of　the　Lord；　He　hath　also
rejected　thee　from　being　king。〃

As　the　king　heard　this　fearful　sentence　he　cried　out；　〃I　have　sinned：　for　I
have　transgressed　the　commandment　of　the　Lord；　and　thy　words：　because　I
feared　the　people；　and　obeyed　their　voice。〃　Terrified　by　the　denunciation　of
the　prophet；　Saul　acknowledged　his　guilt；　which　he　had　before　stubbornly
denied；　but　he　still　persisted　in　casting　blame　upon　the　people；　declaring
that　he　had　sinned　through　fear　of　them。

It　was　not　sorrow　for　sin；　but　fear　of　its　penalty；　that　actuated　the　king
of　Israel　as　he　entreated　Samuel；　〃I　pray　thee；　pardon　my　sin；　and　turn
again　with　me；　that　I　may　worship　the　Lord。〃　If　Saul　had　had　true
repentance；　he　would　have　made　public　confession　of　his　sin；　but　it　was　his
chief　anxiety　to　maintain　his　authority　and　retain　the　allegiance　of　the
people。　He　desired　the　honor　of　Samuel's　presence　in　order　to　strengthen　his
own　influence　with　the　nation。

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〃I　will　not　return　with　thee；〃　was　the　answer　of　the　prophet：　〃for　thou　hast
rejected　the　word　of　the　Lord；　and　the　Lord　hath　rejected　thee　from　being
king　over　Israel。〃　As　Samuel　turned　to　depart；　the　king；　in　an　agony　of
fear；　laid　hold　of　his　mantle　to　hold　him　back；　but　it　rent　in　his　hands。
Upon　this；　the　prophet　declared；　〃The　Lord　hath　rent　the　kingdom　of　Israel
from　thee　this　day；　and　hath　given　it　to　a　neighbor　of　thine；　that　is　better
than　thou。〃

Saul　was　more　disturbed　by　the　alienation　of　Samuel　than　by　the　displeasure
of　God。　He　knew　that　the　people　had　greater　confidence　in　the　prophet　than
in　himself。　Should　another　by　divine　command　be　now　anointed　king；　Saul　felt
that　it　would　be　impossible　to　maintain　his　own　authority。　He　feared　an
immediate　revolt　should　Samuel　utterly　forsake　him。　Saul　entreated　the
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　man