THE KING’S BUSINESS
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6. Saul was given the shoulder (symbol of strength), and not the breast (symbol of love). 7. Samuel gave Saul the oil of consecra tion, and the kiss of congratulation. 8. The story of Saul’s life is told in few
words, under the following heads: The Cry of Israel. The Choice of God.
The Consecration. The Corruption. The Casting Away.
MARCH 14, 1915.
LESSON XI.
S aul G ains H is K ingdom .
1 Sam. 11 (Commit vs. 12, 13). G olden T ex t : "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” —Prov. 16:32. DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Monday, March 8—1 Sam. 11:1-8. (The Lesson). Tuesday, March 9.—I Sam. 11:9-15. (The Lesson). Wednesday, March 10.—1 Sam. 10:2-8. Samuel’s prophecy. Thursday, March 11.—Psalm 145:1-3. An Everlasting Kingdom. Friday, March 12.—Prov. 16:5-18. Established in righteousness. Saturday, March 13.—Prov. 16:19-33. ’’Better than the mighty.” Sunday, March 14.—Psalm 99. ’’The Lord reigneth.” EXPOSITION AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
v. 1. “Then Nahash the Ammonite came up to encamp against Jabesh-Gilead.” We may expect just as soon as we get in line with God’s will that we will meet with op position from the enemy, and the foe against whom we shall have to fight is no mean and contemptible enemy. Nahash was a mighty man and our enemy is even mightier, “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places** (Eph. 6:12 R. V.). But while he that was against Israel was mighty, He that was for them was Almighty. And while he that is against us is mighty, altogether too strong for the strongest of us and too cunning for the wisest of us, our God and our Saviour is more than a match for him. “A ll the men of Jabeshi said unto Na hash, Make a covenant with us and we will serve thee. ’ The men. of Jabesh were do ing a very foolish thing in offering to make a covenant with Nahash; for they were dis obeying a positive commandment of God
(Exod. 23:32). Of all peoples Ammon were especially under the ban (Deut. 23:3) but the men of Jabesh were in great straits and willing to risk the anger of God rather than the anger of Nahash. Just so today; many churches in their extremity are will ing to make compromise with the world and the Devil. Nothing is ever gained by this compromise. v. 2. “And Nahash the Ammonite an swered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.” It is evident that Nahash held the men of Jabesh-Gilead in utter ,con tempt, and the world holds the church in contempt when it seeks a compromise with it. However much the world with its lips may praise a “broad-minded” Christian who seeks to compromise with it, in its heart it despises him utterly. The condition that Nahash offered was a hard one, the world and the Devil are always hard masters. They do for the compromising Christian just what Nahash demanded he might do for the men of Jabesh-Gilead, they thrust
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