518 • disaster in proportion to the influence of the individual. Had the opportunity been properly taken advantage of, the power of the Philistines might have been broken. The victory which was due to Jonathan’s faith and courage could not be followed up because of Saul’s rash vow. The opportunity once lost was not regained during his life time. There was war with the Philis tines all his days. A quaint old writer speaks of the grievous ship-wrecks of some great ships. Some boards and planks lying in the mud at low water, that is all, but that was Saul. THURSDAY, May 27. 1 Sam. 14:47-52. Saul Victorious. In the choice and coronation of Saul, God was giving the people their desire and the succeeding history was the working out of the experiment. A standing army was a new thing in Israel and a humiliating confession for the nation whose boast had been that no arm of flesh was needed to protect or defend them. Saul however was only following the dictates of human wis dom and the custom of other nations. Obedience had been their safety and God had been their defense. Saul began wrong. He was commanded to stay at Gilgal until Samuel came to offer the necessary sacrifices. His followers began to desert him and from distrust he passed to disobedience. His punish ment may seem severe but his offense was great. It was nothing else but open defiance of the authority of Jehovah. FRIDAY, May 28. Psalm 62. God Our Defense. God sustained Israel first by His Spirit and afterward by the bread from heaven. We would look for the reverse order. We might expect that God would first fortify the Outward gates and then strengthen the inward citadel. But no amount of manna will perma nently satisfy the body, if there is hun-
T HE K I N G ’ S B US I NE S S ger in the soul. No material defense will be adequate if there is disloyalty and rebellion within. The glory of Israel was not in her manna but in her mind. Her defense was not in her standing armies but in her God. The" first demand of God upon subject and sovereign was unconditional and un questioning obedience. When this con dition was met their position was im pregnable and their armies invincible. One should chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight. Otherwise the sound of a shaken leaf should put them to flight. SATURDAY, May 29. 1 Pet. 4:1-14. Rejoicing in Trials. Peter exhorts to constancy and endur ance under the fiery trial of persecu tion. It was severe but they shared the reproach of their Master because they suffered as Christians. They could rejoice because they were on this account in -fellowship with Christ. It also' contributed to their encouragement and fidelity to know that thé Spirit of glory and of God rested upon them and gave them the assurance of an eternal heritage of future glory. One should praise God that he is considered worthy to suffer in such a cause as this. There is no enjoyment in the experience of suffering but it becomes endurable and even an occasion for praise in view of present and future compensations. Heb. 12 : 11 . SUNDAY, May 80. 1 John 2:13-20. Overcoming. The victorious life is ah explanation of the uses of adversity. A large part of the Bible deals with trouble. God permits it to come to us that we may be weaned from the world, and that we may seek His help and consolation. It makes God real and heaven near. More over trouble is a great character-builder. The two pillars on which character rests are faith in Christ as the Son of God and fellowship with Christ as the Son of
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