Faithfulness Leads to Honor at the End—The honor accorded him who is concluding his work is of far more worth than the applause and congratulations which those receive who are just entering upon their duties, and who have yet to be tested. One may easily lay off his burdens, when even the enemies of truth acknowledge his fidelity. But how many of our great men close their official labors in disgrace, because they have sacrificed principle for gain or honor. The desire to be popular, the temptations of wealth or ease, lead them astray. Men who connive at sin may appear to prosper; they may triumph because their undertaKings seem crowned with success; but God′s eye is upon these proud boasters. He will reward them as their works have been. The greatest outward prosperity cannot bring happiness to those who are not at peace with God or with themselves (The Signs of the Times, July 27, 1882).
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14. Perpetual Obligation of the Law—The law of God was not given to the Jews alone. It is of world-wide and perpetual obligation. “He that offendeth in one point is guilty of all.”James 2:10. Its ten precepts are like a chain of ten links. If one link is broken, the chain becomes worthless. Not a single precept can be revoked or changed to save the transgressor. While families and nations exist; while property, life, and character must be guarded; while good and evil are antagonistic, and a blessing or a curse must follow the acts of men—so long must the divine law control us. When God no longer requires men to love Him supremely, to reverence His name, and to keep the holy Sabbath; when He permits them to disregard the rights of their fellow men, to hate and injure one another—then, and not till then, will the moral law lose its force (The Signs of the Times, January 19, 1882).
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8-10. God Was Revealing Saul′s True Character—In detaining Samuel, it was the purpose of God that the heart of Saul should be revealed, that others might know what he would do in an emergency. It was a trying position in which to be placed, but Saul did not obey orders. He felt that it would make no difference who approached God, or in what way; and, full of energy and self-complacency, he put himself forward into the sacred office.
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The Lord has His appointed agencies; and if these are not discerned and respected by those who are connected with His work, if men feel free to disregard God′s requirements, they must not be kept in positions of trust. They would not listen to counsel, nor to the commands of God through His appointed agencies. Like Saul, they would rush into a work that was never appointed them, and the mistakes they would make in following their human judgment would place the Israel of God where their Leader could not reveal Himself to them. Sacred things would become mingled with the common (The Youth′s Instructor, November 17, 1898).
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9. Saul Could Have Offered Prayer—He [Saul] could have offered humble prayer to God without the sacrifice; for the Lord will accept even the silent petition of a burdened heart; but instead of this, he forced himself into the priesthood (The Youth′s Instructor, November 17, 1898).
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11. Blaming Samuel Led to Further Sin—Saul endeavored to vindicate his own course, and blamed the prophet, instead of condemning himself.
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There are today many who pursue a similar course. Like Saul, they are blinded to their errors. When the Lord seeks to correct them, they receive reproof as insult, and find fault with the one who brings the divine message.
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Had Saul been willing to see and confess his error, this bitter experience would have proved a safeguard for the future. He would afterward have avoided the mistakes which called forth divine reproof. But feeling that he was unjustly condemned, he would, of course, be likely again to commit the same sin.
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The Lord would have His people, under all circumstances, manifest implicit trust in Him. Although we cannot always understand the worKings of His providence, we should wait with patience and humility until He sees fit to enlighten us. We should beware of taking upon ourselves responsibilities which God has not authorized us to bear. Men frequently have too high an estimate of their own character or abilities. They may feel competent to undertake the most important work, when God sees that they are not prepared to perform aright the smallest and humblest duty (The Signs of the Times, August 10, 1882).
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13, 14. Saul′s Folly Leads to Rejection—Saul′s transgression proved him unworthy to be intrusted with sacred responsibilities. One who had himself so little reverence for God′s requirements, could not be a wise or safe leader for the nation. Had he patiently endured the divine test, the crown would have been confirmed to him and to his house. In fact, Samuel had come to Gilgal for this very purpose. But Saul had been weighed in the balance, and found wanting. He must be removed to make way for one who would sacredly regard the divine honor and authority (The Signs of the Times, August 3, 1882).
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After Whose Heart?—Saul had been after the heart of Israel, but David is a man after God′s own heart (The Signs of the Times, June 15, 1888).
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1, 6, 7. Jonathan an Instrument of God—These two men gave evidence that they were moving under the influence and command of a more than human general. To outward appearance, their venture was rash, and contrary to all military rules. But the action of Jonathan was not done in human rashness. He depended not on what he and his armor-bearer themselves could do; he was the instrument that God used in behalf of His people Israel. They made their plans, and rested their cause in the hands of God. If the armies of the Philistines challenged them, they would advance. If they said, Come, they would go forward. This was their sign, and the angels of God prospered them. They went forward, saying, “It may be that the Lord will work for us”(1 Samuel 14:6) (The Youth′s Instructor, November 24, 1898).
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11-15. Armies of Heaven Aided Jonathan—It would have been an easy matter for the Philistines to kill these two brave, daring men; but it did not enter into their minds that these two solitary men had come up with any hostile intent. The wondering men above looked on, too surprised to take in their possible object. They regarded these men as deserters, and permitted them to come without harm....
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This daring work sent a panic through the camp. There lay the dead bodies of twenty men, and to the sight of the enemy there seemed hundreds of men prepared for war. The armies of heaven were revealed to the opposing host of the Philistines (The Youth′s Instructor, November 24, 1898).
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24, 25. Honey of God′s Providing—This rash oath of Saul′s was a human invention. It was not inspired of God, and God was displeased with it. Jonathan and his armorbearer, who, through God, had wrought deliverance for Israel that day, had become weak through hunger. The people also were weary and hungry.
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“And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.”1 Samuel 14:25. This honey was of God′s own providing. He desired that the armies of Israel should partake of this food, and receive strength. But Saul, who was not under the direction of God, had interposed his rash oath (The Youth′s Instructor, December 1, 1898).
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Man-invented Tests Dishonor God—There are many who will lightly regard the tests which God has given, and will assume the responsibility of creating tests and prohibitions, as did Saul, which bring dishonor to God and evil to men (The Signs of the Times, June 1, 1888).
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37. Saul Did Not Sense His Own Guilt—When the people had satisfied their hunger, Saul proposed to continue the pursuit that night; but the priest suggested that it would be wiser first to ask counsel of God. This was done in the usual manner; but no answer came. Regarding this silence as a token of the Lord′s displeasure, Saul determined to discover the cause. Had he properly realized the sinfulness of His own course, he would have concluded that he himself was the guilty one. But failing to discern this, he gave command that the matter be decided by lot (The Signs of the Times, August 17, 1882).
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