APRIL 13, 1947 BASES OF NATIONAL GREATNESS 1 S amuel 9:1,2; 11:12,13; 15:1, 22-26, 34,35
Early in the morning, upon the third day after Jesus’ death, Mary Magdalene came running to Peter and John, telling them that the tomb (sepulcher), where Jesus’ body had been placed, was empty. Quickly Peter and John ran to the place where Jesus had been buried. When Peter entered the tomb, he saw the graveclothes of Jesus lying there, but Jesus was gone. Who could have stolen the Saviour’s body? Sorrow fully, the two disciples returned to their homes. That evening the disciples were meeting in an upper room. The doors were closed because the Jews were trying to find the friends of Jesus to punish them for following Him. Suddenly Jesus Himself came "and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (vs. 19-21). Jesus lives! His disciples were glad; Christians all over the world today are happy too. “Because I live, ye, too, shall live.” How do we know that He lives? God’s Word tells us the story and the hearts of Christians tell them that He lives.. Do you know this living Lord as your own' Saviour from sin? How the Lord Jesus would rejoice if you would receive Him as your Saviour upon this day of His resurrection (coming to life from the dead)! If you already know Him, tell some member of your family or a friend about your risen Lord that he, too, might know the real meaning of the Easter story. WANTED: PRAYER HELPERS We believe that the power and effective ness of our school will be increased as more people pray for us. We will send the Doorstep Evangel, a four- page monthly, to you regularly if you will put us on your prayer list. Write today. MULTNOMAH I j \ School of the B I B L E Willard M. Aldrich, Th.D., President B. B. Sutcliffe, D. D. John G. Mitchell, D. D. Chairman of Trustee Board Vice-President 703 N .E . Multnomah S t., Portland 12, Ore.
Outline and Exposition S aul ’ s G ood B eginning (9:1 ,2 ) .
Saul interposed, saying, “The Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel.” He would not take credit for himself, but gave the honor to God. This ap peared to be humility but, alas, it was but a passing emotion. Later on, he went so far as to try to slay his own son, because he was jealous of the people’s preference for that son. Saul was told clearly what the Lord required to complete the ex termination of the Amalekites. But Saul was so proud of his position and of the victory God had given him that he failed to obey the command, and thus missed the greatness he might have had. When it was revealed that he had failed to follow the Lord’s command, he was told that offerings were nothing compared to obedience and that rebellion and stubbornness would not be overlooked because of sacrifices. Then he was warned that because he had rejected the Lord, the Lord had rejected him as king (vs. 22, 23). He had feared and obeyed the people rather than God (v. 24). Then he planned to conceal his rejection by God from the people and still retain their good opinion by getting Samuel to join him in pub lic worship of God (vs. 24, 26). The outcome of this deception was that Saul continued his downward course; Samuel returned to his home; and God regretted that He had made Saul king (vs. 34, 35). God does not change, but man’s conduct affects the Lord’s attitude toward him, and His dealings with him. Points and Problems “And there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he” (1 Sam. 9:2). One wonders how such a man could make a fail ure of his life. He had a background of influence and wealth (v. 1). His name meant “asked,” suggesting that he may have been born in an swer to prayer. He possessed a mag nificent physique and an attractive personality. He had other advantages, but they did not keep him from making shipwreck of his life. He is a glaring example of what happens in the lives of apparently good men who do not allow the grace of God to operate in their hearts. Ofttimes the higher men rise in earthly suc cess, the lower they fall spiritually, because of their misplaced trust. “And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel” (1 Sam. 11:13). Such mag nanimity on the part of Saul in this T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S S aul ’ s R ebellion (15:1, 22-26, 34,35)
Saul’s ancestry was of the best, and physically he was all that could be desired, “a choice young man, and a goodly” (v. 1). Head and shoulders taller than his fellows, of splendid X | "Someone is absent,” the X | Shepherd said, X r As over my classbook bent X Y His head; Y I "For several Sundays absent, Y A tOO, I X So tell me, teacher, what did A X you do?” A v “I didn’t call as perhaps I j Y should, V* Y I wrote some cards, but they Y I did no good. Y X I’ve never heard and she A X never came, X | So I decided to drop her X X name.” y Y He answered gravely, “A Y Y flock was mine, Y X A hundred—no, therewere Y X ninety and nine, X X For one was lost in the dark X X and cold, X X So I sought that sheep which y Y had left the fold. Y Y The path was stony and Y X edged with thorns; I X My feet were wounded and A X bruised and tom, X y But I kept on seeking, nor X counted the cost, X Y And oh, the joy when I X I found the lost!” X Thus spoke the Shepherd in 1 X tender tone, A X I looked, and lo—I was all I X alone; A Y But God a vision had sent X Y to me, X I To show His will toward the X A absentee. y physique, he looked every inch a king (v. 2). But the fine ancestry and goodly appearance hid a heart that was self-centered. Finally his pride ruined him. S aul ’ s A pparent H umility (11:12,13) The people had not evidenced great loyalty to Saul until after he won a notable victory; then they were ready to curry favor with the victor by loudly demanding the death of those who had been bold enough to oppose the crowning of Saul. But For Sunday School Y X Teachers
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