_Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel._ THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE The sacred historian prefaces the account of the War of Independence with a statement as to Saul’s age and reign. The Revised Version thus gives it: “Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign; and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel._ AGGRESSION UPON THE CAMP OF EVIL The spiritual application of this incident teaches us that every man in the Church is a soldier acting under Divine leadership, or human leadership Divinely appointed, and that the solemn and unchangeable duty of the gr... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed._ THE IMPATIENCE OF MAN AND THE LONG-SUFFERING OF CHRIST (with 1 Timothy 1:16):--The figure of Samuel is scarcely ever presented to us alone. In childhood it is ever set in contrast with the wicked practices of those so... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed._ PRINCIPLE AND EXPEDIENCY What a solemn and impressive condemnation have we here of that far too common practice--deserting principle to serve expediency. I don’t like to tell a lie, someone... [ Continue Reading ]
_I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering._ THE RIGHT AND THE WRONG OF SAUL’S CONDUCT “I forced myself therefore”; “could not help it”; “my poverty but not my will consents.” This not tenable in Christian morality. (Romans 12:1 fin.; 1 Corinthians 10:13.) The prophet was mouthpiece... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord._ FOLLY ILLUSTRATED BY THE CHARACTER OF SAUL We perhaps, had we possessed no ulterior information, might have been disposed to expect that, when the Searcher of hearts cast His eye over the twelve tri... [ Continue Reading ]
_The spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies._ THE SPOILERS Saul is reproved for his haste, his presumption, and his disobedience. Samuel then departs to Gibeah, and the nation are for a time, notwithstanding Saul’s valour, reduced to great straits under the rule of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel._ THE BLACKSMITH’S CAPTIVITY What a scalding subjugation for the Israelites! The Philistines had carried off all the blacksmiths, and torn down all the blacksmith’s shops, and abolished the blacksmith’s trade in the land of Israel. Th... [ Continue Reading ]