patriarchs and prophets-第141节

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signet　of　Heaven。　He　was　honored　by　the　world's　Redeemer；　under　whose
guidance　he　ruled　the　Hebrew　nation。　But　the　people　had　become　weary　of　his
piety　and　devotion；　they　despised　his　humble　authority　and　rejected　him　for
a　man　who　should　rule　them　as　a　king。

In　the　character　of　Samuel　we　see　reflected　the　likeness　of　Christ。　It　was
the　purity　of　our　Saviour's　life　that　provoked　the　wrath　of　Satan。　That　life
was　the　light　of　the　world；　and

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revealed　the　hidden　depravity　in　the　hearts　of　men。　It　was　the　holiness　of
Christ　that　stirred　up　against　Him　the　fiercest　passions　of　falsehearted
professors　of　godliness。　Christ　came　not　with　the　wealth　and　honors　of
earth；　yet　the　works　which　He　wrought　showed　Him　to　possess　power　greater
than　that　of　any　human　prince。　The　Jews　looked　for　the　Messiah　to　break　the
oppressor's　yoke；　yet　they　cherished　the　sins　that　had　bound　it　upon　their
necks。　Had　Christ　cloaked　their　sins　and　applauded　their　piety；　they　would
have　accepted　Him　as　their　king；　but　they　would　not　bear　His　fearless　rebuke
of　their　vices。　The　loveliness　of　a　character　in　which　benevolence；　purity；
and　holiness　reigned　supreme；　which　entertained　no　hatred　except　for　sin；
they　despised。　Thus　it　has　been　in　every　age　of　the　world。　The　light　from
heaven　brings　condemnation　on　all　who　refuse　to　walk　in　it。　When　rebuked　by
the　example　of　those　who　hate　sin；　hypocrites　will　become　agents　of　Satan　to
harass　and　persecute　the　faithful。　〃All　that　will　live　godly　in　Christ　Jesus
shall　suffer　persecution。〃　2　Timothy　3：12。

Though　a　monarchical　form　of　government　for　Israel　had　been　foretold　in
prophecy；　God　had　reserved　to　Himself　the　right　to　choose　their　king。　The
Hebrews　so　far　respected　the　authority　of　God　as　to　leave　the　selection
entirely　to　Him。　The　choice　fell　upon　Saul；　a　son　of　Kish；　of　the　tribe　of
Benjamin。

The　personal　qualities　of　the　future　monarch　were　such　as　to　gratify　that
pride　of　heart　which　prompted　the　desire　for　a　king。　〃There　was　not　among
the　children　of　Israel　a　goodlier　person　than　he。〃　1　Samuel　9：2。　Of　noble
and　dignified　bearing；　in　the　prime　of　life；　comely　and　tall；　he　appeared
like　one　born　to　command。　Yet　with　these　external　attractions；　Saul　was
destitute　of　those　higher　qualities　that　constitute　true　wisdom。　He　had　not
in　youth　learned　to　control　his　rash；　impetuous　passions；　he　had　never　felt
the　renewing　power　of　divine　grace。

Saul　was　the　son　of　a　powerful　and　wealthy　chief；　yet　in　accordance　with　the
simplicity　of　the　times　he　was　engaged　with　his　father　in　the　humble　duties
of　a　husbandman。　Some　of　his　father's　animals　having　strayed　upon　the
mountains；　Saul　went　with　a　servant　to　seek　for　them。　For　three　days　they
searched　in　vain；　when；　as　they　were　not　far　from　Ramah；＇*　SEE　APPENDIX；
NOTE　9。＇　the　home　of　Samuel；　the　servant　proposed　that　they　should　inquire
of　the　prophet　concerning　the　missing　property。　〃I　have　here　at　hand

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the　fourth　part　of　a　shekel　of　silver；〃　he　said：　〃that　will　I　give　to　the
man　of　God；　to　tell　us　our　way。〃　This　was　in　accordance　with　the　custom　of
the　times。　A　person　approaching　a　superior　in　rank　or　office　made　him　a
small　present；　as　an　expression　of　respect。

As　they　drew　near　to　the　city　they　met　some　young　maidens　who　had　come　out
to　draw　water；　and　inquired　of　them　for　the　seer。　In　reply　they　were　told
that　a　religious　service　was　about　to　take　place；　that　the　prophet　had
already　arrived；　there　was　to　be　an　offering　upon　〃the　high　place；〃　and
after　that　a　sacrificial　feast。　A　great　change　had　taken　place　under
Samuel's　administration。　When　the　call　of　God　first　came　to　him　the　services
of　the　sanctuary　were　held　in　contempt。　〃Men　abhorred　the　offering　of　the
Lord。〃　1　Samuel　2：17。　But　the　worship　of　God　was　now　maintained　throughout
the　land；　and　the　people　manifested　an　interest　in　religious　services。　There
being　no　ministration　in　the　tabernacle；　sacrifices　were　for　the　time
offered　elsewhere；　and　the　cities　of　the　priests　and　Levites；　where　the
people　resorted　for　instruction；　were　chosen　for　this　purpose。　The　highest
points　in　these　cities　were　usually　selected　as　the　place　of　sacrifice；　and
hence　were　called　〃the　high　places。〃

At　the　gate　of　the　city　Saul　was　met　by　the　prophet　himself。　God　had
revealed　to　Samuel　that　at　that　time　the　chosen　king　of　Israel　would　present
himself　before　him。　As　they　now　stood　face　to　face；　the　Lord　said　to　Samuel；
〃Behold　the　man　whom　I　spake　to　thee　of！　this　same　shall　reign　over　My
people。〃

To　the　request　of　Saul；　〃Tell　me；　I　pray　thee；　where　the　seer's　house　is；〃
Samuel　replied；　〃I　am　the　seer。〃　Assuring　him　also　that　the　lost　animals　had
been　found；　he　urged　him　to　tarry　and　attend　the　feast；　at　the　same　time
giving　some　intimation　of　the　great　destiny　before　him：　〃On　whom　is　all　the
desire　of　Israel？　Is　it　not　on　thee；　and　on　all　thy　father's　house？〃　The
listener's　heart　thrilled　at　the　prophet's　words。　He　could　not　but　perceive
something　of　their　significance；　for　the　demand　for　a　king　had　become　a
matter　of　absorbing　interest　to　the　whole　nation。　Yet　with　modest
self…depreciation　Saul　replied；　〃Am　not　I　a　Benjamite；　of　the　smallest　of
the　tribes　of　Israel？　and　my　family　the　least　of　all　the　families　of　the
tribe　of　Benjamin？　wherefore　then　speakest　thou　so　to　me？〃

Samuel　conducted　the　stranger　to　the　place　of　assembly；　where　the　principal
men　of　the　town　were　gathered。　Among　them；　at

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the　prophet's　direction；　the　place　of　honor　was　given　to　Saul；　and　at　the
feast　the　choicest　portion　was　set　before　him。　The　services　over；　Samuel
took　his　guest　to　his　own　home；　and　there　upon　the　housetop　he　communed　with
him；　setting　forth　the　great　principles　on　which　the　government　of　Israel
had　been　established；　and　thus　seeking　to　prepare　him；　in　some　measure；　for
his　high　station。

When　Saul　departed；　early　next　morning；　the　prophet　went　forth　with　him。
Having　passed　through　the　town；　he　directed　the　servant　to　go　forward。　Then
he　bade　Saul　stand　still　to　receive　a　message　sent　him　from　God。　〃Then
Samuel　took　a　vial　of　oil；　and　poured　it　upon　his　head；　and　kissed　him；　and
said；　Is　it　not　because　Jehovah　hath　anointed　thee　to　be　captain　over　His
inheritance？〃　As　evidence　that　this　was　done　by　divine　authority；　he
foretold　the　incidents　that　would　occur　on　the　homeward　journey　and　assured
Saul　that　he　would　be　qualified　by　the　Spirit　of　God　for　the　station
awaiting　him。　〃The　Spirit　of　Jehovah　will　come　upon　thee；〃　said　the　prophet；
and　thou　〃shalt　be　turned　into　another　man。　And　let　it　be；　when　these　signs
are　come　unto　thee；　that　thou　do　as　occasion　serve　thee；　for　God　is　with
thee。〃

As　Saul　went　on　his　way；　all　came　to　pass　as　the　prophet　had　said。　Near　the
border　of　Benjamin　he　was　informed　that　the　lost　animals　had　been　found。　In
the　plain　of　Tabor　he　met　three　men　who　were　going　to　worship　God　at　Bethel。
One　of　them　carried　three　kids　for　sacrifice；　another　three　loaves　of　bread；
and　the　third　a　bottle　of　wine；　for　the　sacrificial　feast。　They　gave　Saul
the　usual　salutation　and　also　presented　him　with　two　of　the　three　loaves　of
bread。　At　Gibeah；　his　own　city；　a　band　of　prophets　returning　from　〃the　high
place〃　were　singing　the　praise　of　God　to　the　music　of　the　pipe　and　the　harp；
the　psaltery　and　the　tabret。　As　Saul　approached　them　the　Spirit　of　the　Lord
came　upon　him　also；　and　he　joined　in　their　song　of　praise；　and　prophesied
with　them。　He　spoke　with　so　great　fluency　and　wisdom；　and　joined　so
earnestly　in　the　service；　that　those　who　had　known　him　exclaimed　in
astonishment；　〃What　is　this　that　is　come　unto　the　son　of　Kish？　Is　Saul　also
among　the　prophets？〃

As　Saul　united　with　the　prophets　in　their　worship；　a　great　change　was
wrought　in　him　by　the　Holy　Spirit。　The　light　of　divine　purity　and　holiness
shone　in　upon　the　darkness　of　the　natural　heart。　He　saw　himself　as　he　was
before　God。　He　saw

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the　beauty　of　holiness。　He　was　now　called　to　begin　the　warfare　against　sin
and　Satan；　and　he　was　made　to　feel　that　in　this　conflict　his　strength　must
come　wholly　from　God。　The　plan　of　salvation；　which　had　before　seemed　dim　and
uncertain；　was　opened　to　his　understanding。　The　Lord　endowed　him　with
courage　and　wisdom　for　his　high　station。　He　revealed　to　him　the　Source　of
strength　and　grace；　and　enlightened　his　understanding　as　to　the　divine
claims　and　his　own　duty。

The　anointing　of　Saul　as　king　had　not　been　made　known　to　the　nation。　The
choice　of　God　was　to　be　publicly　manifested　by　lot。　For　this　purpose　Samuel
convoked　the　people　at　Mizpeh。　Prayer　was　offered　for　divine　guidance；　then
followed　the　solemn　ceremony　of　casting　the　lot。　In　silence　the　assembled
multitude　awaited　the　issue。　The　tribe；　the　family；　and　the　household　were
successively　designated；　and　then　Saul；　the　son　of　Kish；　was　pointed　out　as
the　individual　chosen。　But　Saul　was　not　in　the　assembly。　Burdened　with　a
sense　of　the　great　responsibility　about　to　fall　upon　him；　he　had　secretly
withdrawn。　He　was　brought　back　to　the　congregation；　who　observed　with　pride
and　satisfaction　th