585 him, sent him on a mission, given him definite instructions, (Prov. 10:29) "Tlie way of the Lord is strength to the up right; but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.” There was no excuse for Saul’s dis obedience. There is never any excuse for disobedience. Saul told a half truth which is a devil’s lie. (Gen. 3:12, 13; Ex. 32:21, 23). God had prohibited the sacrifice of devoted things. (Deut. 13:15) “Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroy ing it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.” (3) GOD REJECTS SAUL, vs. 20-26. Saul seeks self-justification by partial obedience, like the young man who came to Jesus (Matt. 19:20). “The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up.” He lays the blame upon the peo ple, as did Aaron (Ex. 32:21, 23) “And Aaron said, Let n o t'the anger of my lord wax hot; thou knowest the people that they are set on mischief. . . . And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold let them break it off. So they gave it to me; then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.” Then he seeks to justify the wrong doing of the people. Saul was a big man physically, he had many good traits, but in the sight of God, he looks pretty small. How many of us would stand such a test? Samuel now gives to Saul— and to us — a heart-searching message: (1) Obedience is better than sacri fice. (2) Obedience must be full and whole-hearted. (3) Obedience is based upon what God says. (4) Disobedience is as the sin of rebellion and witchcraft. Disobedience is Satanic. When we disobey we are subject to demoniac power. God counts it as idolatry (Deut. 18:9-12) “And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that stand- eth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die; and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel/* This is a solemn lesson. Witches were in partnership with demons. Idolatry
THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S 6 :3). We cannot play fast and loose with God. (Num. 14:17) “ How long shall I hear with this evil congrega tion?” God’s patience with Pharaoh ended in his destruction in the Red Sea. His patience will be exhausted with the world, and this age will end with judg ment. God’s righteousness demands vindication. Samuel spent the night in prayer. This gives us an insight into the char acter of Samuel. One might think that Samuel would have been glad because of Saul’s downfall, but on the contrary his soul was filled with grief. As Christ wept over Jerusalem. A night of prayer is the best possible remedy for a heart that is not in fel lowship with God’s will. (2) GOD REBUKES SAUL, vs. 13-19. Saul plays the hypocrite. He assumes a pious attitude and asserts that he has obeyed God’s command. He had erected at Carmel a monument to commemo rate his victory. The meeting with Samuel takes place at Gilgal (meaning “ death to the flesh” ). Here the kingdom was estab lished (11 :15 ); here Saul had been warned and rebuked (13:13). Saul is the Pharisee of the Old Tes tament. Samuel confronts him with a telltale fact, v. 14. (Luke 19:22). “And he saith unto them, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant.” (1 Cor. 4:5) “Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God.” Saul was a rebel. He assumed the right to set aside God’s command and issue his own. He offers four excuses: He craved Agag as a trophy of his prowess; he feared the people; he pro posed as a substitute for God’s utter destruction an offering of the devoted things; he laid the blame upon the people. Samuel tells him that he has a mes sage froth the Lord. God had called
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